Agenda item

Consideration was given to Motion No. 160 moved by Councillor M Storey, and seconded by Councillor P Storey of which notice had been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rules No. 53-60 as follows:

 

Fairtrade Motion

 

Middlesbrough achieved Fairtrade Town Status in 2007. The Council reaffirms its support for Fairtrade and recognises the role of the Middlesbrough Fairtrade Group in promoting Fairtrade in Middlesbrough.

 

Middlesbrough Council remains fully committed to using Fairtrade products, including tea, coffee, and sugar, in meetings, at events and in public Council venues. Furthermore, the Council will continue to promote and participate in the town’s programmes of Fairtrade events and activities.

 

Middlesbrough Council also recognises the role Fairtrade plays in assisting producers in developing countries to address the impacts of climate change, for example through tree planting and water conservation schemes.

 

Councillor M Storey spoke in support of the motion.

 

Following a vote, the motion was unanimously CARRIED.

 

Consideration was given to Motion No. 161 moved by Councillor Furness, and seconded by Councillor Gavigan of which notice had been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rules No. 53-60 as follows:

 

Motion against the closure of Middlesbrough train station’s ticket office 

 

Council notes with dismay the news that the Department for Transport (DfT) and the thirteen train companies have announced plans to close almost all staffed ticket offices in England, totalling nearly one thousand, following changes to the Government’s guidance relating to ticket office opening hours and operation.

 

Council believes that ticket offices provide a vital service to residents in Middlesbrough and support passenger safety, security, and accessibility. Having a central place in the station for people requiring advice and assistance provides certainty and confidence for customers who may struggle to otherwise locate station staff and acts as a point of safety for passengers.

 

Not all are able to use ticket vending machines or online ticketing platforms. Many passengers require human assistance to successfully purchase the most appropriate and cheapest tickets, and do not incur penalties from mis-booked tickets which is common owing to the complex railway ticketing system. Ticket office staff have a wealth of knowledge which ensures that customers get appropriate advice and the cheapest fare for their whole journey.

 

Council is particularly concerned the closure of ticket offices will disproportionately affect older passengers and those with disabilities who use Middlesbrough train station, as well as those with poor IT skills and those whose first language is not English. Council also notes the possible implications for employment, believing that the closure of ticket offices could lead to a de-staffing of rail stations, thus raising unemployment in Middlesbrough.

 

Council believes the staffed ticket office at Middlesbrough station positively contributes to the appeal of travelling by train in and out of Middlesbrough. Therefore, the loss of the ticket office will make train travel in and out of Middlesbrough less appealing, which may push people towards travelling by high-pollution methods such as private road vehicle and negatively hurt our local economy if people chose not to travel at all as a result.

 

Council therefore resolves to:

 

·        Requests the Chief Executive writes to the Secretary of State for Transport, expressing Middlesbrough Council’s opposition to the closure of the staffed rail ticket office at Middlesbrough train station.

 

·        Requests the Chief Executive writes to Transpennine Express, who manage Middlesbrough Station, expressing Middlesbrough Council’s opposition to the closure of the staffed ticket office at Middlesbrough train station.

 

Councillors Furness and Branson spoke in support of the motion.

 

Councillor Smiles advised that she recognised much of what Councillor Furness had stated with regard to the ticket office, however she queried whether it was possible to find out how well used the ticket office was, and whether the public would be best served by having staff on the concourse to deal with any customers queries.

 

The Monitoring Officer clarified that if Councillor was suggesting an amendment to the Motion, then members were required to give two clear days’ notice of any amendments to ordinary motions.

 

Following a vote, the motion was unanimously CARRIED.