Funding threat to mobility service
ELDERLY and disabled shoppers could face a price rise under plans to save a council-run scooter hire service from being scrapped.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council could scrap its Shopmobility service to save £11,000 as part of £21 million budget cuts for 2013/14.
But members are considering several options to keep the service running – including demanding the Potteries Shopping Centre, where it is based, contributes toward the annual bill.
Charges of £2 per use, which is on top of a £24 yearly membership fee, could increase to £3.
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Other options include moving the service to John Street car park to draw in more customers from the new bus station – a move which officers say would be unlikely to save any money.
The service has been running since 1996 and is used 6,000 times a year, but the number of people using it has fallen since charges were introduced in 2011.
It costs £51,000 a year to run including staff and electricity, and raises £20,000 in income – half the amount council leaders expected when charges were first imposed. The authority said the same service is provided without subsidy at shopping centres in 'many other towns' and some members have called on the Potteries Shopping Centre to pick up the bill.
Bosses have so far not agreed to pay anything towards the service.
Capital Shopping Centres, owners of the Potteries Shopping Centre, criticised the council last year after it refused to sell land needed for a full expansion project in order to protect the planned £350 million City Sentral development.
Councillor Matt Wilcox, chairman of the city renewal scrutiny committee, overseeing the changes, said: "I would imagine they greatly benefit from having Shopmobility based within the shopping centre.
"It's such a big company. Is it a case of the council supporting a private company despite being under budget pressure from cuts?
"The shopping centre is always busy. It would also be good PR for them to pay."
Councillor Ruth Rosenau, cabinet member for regeneration, planning and transport, said: "Currently they don't provide any funding but they do give up the space.
"Because it is based in the shopping centre, they do get a lot of benefits from the service. We have cost pressures and we do need to address them.
"We have spoken to the manager who is very supportive, but we are not getting very far."
Councillor Randy Conteh, independent member for Penkhull and Stoke, said: "Moving the service is pointless because it will not save any money – it is just a dig at the Potteries Shopping Centre.
"To close it would be targeting the most vulnerable. The service has to be retained and we'll have to fund the £20,000 if the negotiations don't come to fruition.
"I can't support an increase in charges as a matter of principle."
Shopping centre manager Paul Francis said: "It's a council service and they fund it. Rather than just say no we are looking at ways we can support them."
4 Comments
by Slindy
Tuesday, February 05 2013, 11:25PM
“I'm sorry Bucknall Mel that you can't use a bus due to your issues, however if you find your way to Shopmobility via car or taxi that needn't be altered simply because the scheme has moved, I think however that you've probably never used the service and just fancy a moan. Just for information the customers of Shopmobility do have to complete a proficiency test and are only allowed to use the equipment if they are competent and as for your utterly incomprehensible comment about not entering into shops where the aisles are too narrow, what in fact should happen is that those particular shops should be reported for breaching the DDA, no person with a disability should be expected to stay away from shops simply because the shop isn't disabled friendly, and frankly I'm shocked that someone who professes to be disabled would make such a ridiculous statement.”
by Potter46
Saturday, February 02 2013, 1:24PM
“I,ve never heard of this before, but I think the council are right on this one. The shopping centre is benefiting from this.”
by BucknallMel
Saturday, February 02 2013, 1:23PM
“Actually, rubbish idea moving it to John Street. I'm disabled, and I literally cannot use the bus, for many reasons (including being unable to stand during the journey and having got seriously sick of watching bus after bus roll up full to the doors). I do think users get off cheaply and what's more they should have to do a scooter driver test to make sure they can use them safely and with courtesy for others (and with the common sense not to go into shops where the aisles are too narrow for them). But to move it does smack of sour grapes from the council against the Potteries Centre for daring to compete with S*itty Sentral. And of course their continuing vendetta against the disabled - Terry Crowe, when are you going to stop being the front man for them and tell them they should stop the disabled hate campaign?”
by mommanoesbest
Saturday, February 02 2013, 11:24AM
“Excellent idea moving it to John Street Car Park for those using buses to Hanley but who cannot walk very far. This service needs to be more widely advertised too.”