Councillor calls for members to go to meetings by bus:

...ONE MEMBER’S CALL AS COUNTY EXPENSES SYSTEM SAID TO FAVOUR USE OF CARS

COUNCILLORS should be made to use the bus or other forms of public transport and be barred from claiming a mileage rate when using their own vehicles.

That was the call made by Dylan Fernley (pictured), during a full meeting of Gwynedd Council on Thursday.

Cllr Fernley, who represents Bangor’s Marchog ward, said staff are currently “encouraged” to drive cars because of the 45p mileage rate offered for using private vehicles when working.

But in his view, more should be done to encourage public transport use for those living and travelling along frequently used bus routes.

“While I appreciate the transport policies of the bus companies, I want to know why we are encouraging people to use cars at 45p a mile,” Cllr Fernley said.

“I come from Bangor, which is 10 miles down the road (from Caernarfon) and in theory I should be able to claim £9 for coming here and back today.

“It costs £3.50 return on the bus, which travels every 20 minutes.

“While I appreciate there are many who have no other way of getting here, equally there must be many who can use the bus.

“I think we should be taking the lead. In Sweden, cabinet ministers have to use public transport and I was wondering what we as a council are doing to promote this.”

Last year, as part of a raft of savings worth £300,000, the authority scrapped a “perk” allowing council workers to claim business miles for journeys to and from work.

Previously, all staff working for Gwynedd Council were able to claim all the miles to their destination and back if travelling from home on council business.

But since July 2018, they are only authorised to claim back the miles above and beyond that to their usual place of work.

Responding to Cllr Fernley, the council leader conceded that he was raising “valid points” and there was room for improvement in that regard.

As a first step, Cllr Dyfrig Siencyn added, the authority is evaluating the county’s transport network and arrangements of travelling between offices.

He added that discussions were under way with the Welsh Government regarding the future of the Traws Cymru service, including faster travelling times between Bangor and Dolgellau.

Cllr Siencyn, addressing the meeting in Caernarfon, concluded: “One problem, as someone who lives in a very rural area, is that the public transport provision is not fit for purpose to reach meetings on time.

“It’s possible that we should be looking at our bus timetables and considering our meeting times as a result.

“I think there’s room for us to work on this but in the long run we need a sustainable and carbon free public transport system, which will need much investment, I accept.”