Running out of Steam?

Tomorrow’s Plymouth council meeting considers Plymouth’s children & young people’s plan, a three year review of the Gambling Act 2005 statement of principles and amendments to scrutiny committees’ terms of reference. But by far the most important item of business will be the sale to Go Ahead of Plymouth Citybus.

Yesterday saw what some describe as a last gasp attempt at influencing Plymouth council before tomorrow’s crucial debate. Some say as many as 100 marched from Plymouth Hoe to the city centre to voice support for the status quo. Others say there was less than half that number present. It certainly was nowhere near the 25,000 people who’ve signed a petition to keep Citybus in public ownership. Nor was it the 5,000 people who elected to join the Facebook page. May be the weather had something to do with it. Or may be the campaign has run out of steam.

The Plymouth council report recognises that many Citybus staff are generally opposed to the sale. It optimistically states, “However, they would no doubt acknowledge that the future of the company and their employment is dependent on the company’s financial performance. The commitment in relation to future employment for local bus drivers is more then they benefit from now under council ownership. Additionally it is anticipated that Go Ahead’s approach in relation to pensions will be welcomed.”

Whether or not Unite’s drivers see it like that is open to debate. Yesterday’s protest is nevertheless unlikely to have any real influence and, tomorrow, the sale is expected to be voted through. On the basis of…

• The sale is probably a dead certainty
• Guarantees given by Go Ahead
• Risks to profitability & dividend following competition from First Devon & Cornwall
• The need to replace some 50 vehicles ahead of the 2016 DDA cut-off
• A windfall equivalent to 50 years’ dividends (a dividend the council feels may not be matched in the future)
• Protection for drivers and possibly Citycoach & the engineering wing

… the council is likely to vote to sell. So, in the next 24 hours, the Plymouth situation is likely to change. Whether this is for better or worse will be open to debate for many years to come.