Cambridgeshire mayor's push to treble tax bills for better buses could become reality
The plans would see council tax bills rise from £12 to £36 a year
Last updated 30th Jan 2024
Taxpayers in Cambridgeshire could see their bills rise as part of improving the county's bus services.
Mayor Dr Nik Johnson wants to increase the Combined Authority's (CAPCA) portion of the council tax bill from £12 to £36 a year for Band D homes.
The mayoral precept was introduced last year to provide a lifeline to buses that would have otherwise stopped running.
Dr Johnson said that this year it will help fund route 5, connecting Peterborough and Yaxley, and improve services for Eye and Thorney as well as a review of options for orbital services linking “key destinations” outside Peterborough’s city centre.
“My argument is that for less than 10p a day per average household the Combined Authority can invest £11m per year in our bus network, enabling more routes and more frequent services, serving far more people more conveniently than is currently the case,” Dr Johnson said in his budget proposals.
“What’s more, this will accompany a huge reduction in the price of travel for everyone under the age of 25, with bus fares cut in half from £2 to £1.”
The Labour politician has also said that the £11m net budget expected from the precept will go towards improving bus stops and shelters throughout the region.
We've been speaking to people in Godmanchester on their thoughts to the plans:
Sophie, whose husband often catches a bus from Godmanchester to Cambourne, told us: "If putting more money into it means they're more reliable, I'm all for that."
Kevin said: "I've just reached the age where we've got our free bus pass so we might be using them better in the future."
However, one person who's against the rise said: "The money will be raised and thrown away on meetings and decisions before any of it gets spent on what it needs to be spent on."
Tax rise could be the start of further bus improvements
The mayor’s budget, which includes the suggested precept rise, will be debated by CPCA’s board tomorrow (Wednesday).
It doesn’t need to pass a vote to be implemented, but can be vetoed.
Budget documents suggest that the authority expects more cash to be generated from the precept in future years; the fund is projected to rise to £11.2m in 2025/26, to £11.4 in 2026/27 and £11.7m in 2027/28.
The amount of money raised depends on how many houses there are in the region and what rate of council tax they pay.
In the upcoming financial year, the CPCA expects to charge Band A houses £24, Band B £28, Band C £32, Band D £36, Band E £44, Band F £52 and Band G £60.
Dr Johnson also wants to see bus franchising in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, which would allow CAPCA to set routes, fares and branding.
The authority is currently considering the case for franchising against the case for an ‘enhanced partnership’ with bus companies, in which they would retain some control over operations.