Proposed Provision of Bus and Coach Services Legislative Competence Order

Response from Councillor Mayer

I fully support this initiative

1. Do you agree with the principle that legislative competence for "the provision of bus and coach services” in Wales should be conferred on the National Assembly for Wales?

2. If you agree with the principle, do you think that the wording of the proposed legislative competence order is correct, or do you think it is too broad or too narrow?

Yes! Personally I think it is too narrow but I appreciate that this is still a bold and important step forward and can appreciate that we need to do this incrementally. We are still light years behind nearly every other European state in terms of our access to public transport.

3. Do you think that the National Assembly for Wales should be given competence over some or all of the exceptions listed above in relation to the provision of bus and coach services in Wales?:

All of the exceptions. These need to be part of the same system to avoid duplication and confusion

4. What are your views on the main objective of the proposed LCO which is to introduce a bus franchising system in Wales?

I agree! It is essential that we have control over all routes and operators in a systematic and balanced way that will ensure quality provision and protect passengers.

5. What are your views on the use of the proposed LCO to provide the Assembly with the necessary powers to improve school transport safety?

Absolutely essential. I believe that effective, safe and inexpensive home to school transport is a priority. Ensuring drivers and couriers are well trained and police checked etc is something that needs a centralised register in order to be effective (actually a National Register is preferable but lets start in Wales first)

Another benefit is that most schools are constrained by the high cost of transport when they wish to organise trips even to events and places of interest within their boundaries (Museum, Tredegar House, Wetlands Roman Museum etc in the case of Newport) This would give us the opportunity to have a viable school service to local and national establishments.