The under-threat community bus service in the Western Isles has won a reprieve until
next spring.
Councillors at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar reversed a decision to cut £120,000 funding from the community transport budget in the Western Isles.
In Feburary, 18 councillors voted in favour of slashing the funding which would have
devastated the minibus services run by local groups - with Uist and Barra organisations
- where public service transport is most limited - taking the heaviest hit and may
mean potential redundancies it is feared.
However, at a meeting of the full council on Wednesday, a motion was unanimously approved which effectively throws the service a lifeline until the next financial year.
The motion from Cllr Susan Thomson, seconded by Cllr Gordon Murray and supported by the Uist and Barra Independent Group of Councillors, who had tabled a similar notice of motion, proposed allocating at least £120,000 from the from Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Funding to the comhairle’s community transport budget for 2024/25.
At the meeting the combined motion which passed read: “That the comhairle acknowledges
the savings agreed in setting the 2024/25 budget. That lobbying by the comhairle
has led to a one-off Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Fund increase being allocated
for this year and therefore there is a material change of circumstance.
“Following the announcement of the allocation of Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Funding for 2024/25 from the Scottish Government to support additional island costs, that the comhairle, in order to meet the vital needs for community transport in rural areas throughout the Western Isles, allocate at least £120K from the Islands Cost Crisis Emergency Funding to the community transport budget for 2024/25, subject to the confirmation of the level of funding and any conditions attached.”
Susan Thomson, who is also standing as the SNP’s general election candidate, commented: “ It is really welcome that the Scottish Government have set aside extra funding to mitigate the higher costs of living experienced by islanders.
“And it is entirely right that these vital transport services in rural areas should benefit from this funding.”
She added: “The SNP Group on the council had opposed a budget cut in February which would have seen swingeing cuts to community transport, and have a negative impact on the lives of vulnerable groups, whilst losing posts and volunteering opportunities.
“These services provide lifelines to people with health and mobility problems or those without access to other transport, whether that is for medical appointments or respite, hospital, education, shopping or social events.
“I am delighted that this proposal was accepted by colleagues across the chamber.”
Ahead of the u-turn, Tagsa Uibhist had warned they faced a 50% cut in funding for
their vital community transport service serving Uist and Benbecula which - if it
had proceeded - would have meant a negative impact on the lives of vulnerable people
in Uist.
Tagsa Uibhist provides a door-to-door service for people who do not have transport
and require assistance to medical appointments, to hospital, to education, shopping,
and social events, collecting medication and transport people to respite.
Voluntary Action Barra and Vatersay would have suffered a 53% cut, reducing its grant funding by a “significant drop” from £45,000 to £20,000.
The community Bus Bharraigh travels 50,000 miles annually, aiming to cover the gap in the “very limited” public transport service assisting the “most vulnerable” people including those with dementia, frail, or are elderly, as well as adults with learning disabilities, physical impairment, and mental health problems to day care centres.
Reprieve for community bus service
4 May 2024
