The Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee met on Friday 26 June 2026, electing Councillor Long as Joint Chair (Cornwall) and Councillor Stephens as Joint Chair (Plymouth). The committee rejected a proposal to increase the Tamar Tag monthly administration fee from £0.80 to £2.00, and approved the 2025/26 outturn report and the draft Annual Governance Statement.

Tamar Tag Fee Increase Proposal Consultation

The committee considered a report on a public consultation regarding an increase to the Tamar Tag administration fee. The consultation revealed that a large majority of respondents were against the proposed increase from £0.80 to £2.00 per month. Despite previous committee support for the proposal, and advice from officers that the increase was prudent for sustainable business operations and to encourage government funding, members expressed concerns. Councillor Long proposed, and Councillor Candy seconded, a motion to reject the proposal. An amendment to defer the decision until after financial modelling was completed was proposed by Councillor Parsonage and seconded by Councillor Pascoe, but this amendment was withdrawn. Ultimately, the committee voted to reject the proposed increase. A recorded vote was requested, with all present members voting in favour of the rejection.

Arguments raised during the debate included the view that the tag administration fee should not necessarily cover the full costs of the scheme, but that sustainable operations would help secure government funding. It was also noted that increasing the fee would penalise locals who use the crossings and that it was important to signal opposition to the cost of using the crossings to locals to the government. Members also highlighted that while officers focus on business needs, members should focus on residents' needs. The urgency for government funding, potentially in the form of debt relief, was also emphasised, with some members suggesting this was a more important issue than the tag administration fee increase. Concerns were also raised that other similar infrastructure in the country is maintained by National Highways or through other mechanisms without tolls.

Chief Officer's Quarterly Report

The committee received and noted the Chief Officer's Quarterly Report, which included an assessment of the True Value of the Tamar Crossings. The report indicated that the Open Road Tolling business case was nearing finalisation and would be shared with members for consideration at a future workshop. Members emphasised the importance of holding a general stakeholder meeting as soon as possible to ensure open communication and to gather input on policy. Officers advised that such meetings needed clear goals to avoid being counter-productive. Discussions also touched upon delays in sharing a report on hydrogen fuel use for the ferries, and the Visitor and Learning Centre, with some members questioning if commuters should subsidise its activities. Concerns were raised about the potential negative impact on Tamar Crossings' income from parent authorities' environmental goals to reduce car use. The importance of maintaining the ferries' operational efficiency was stressed, particularly for residents of Torpoint, where significant house building is increasing ferry and bridge usage. The committee agreed that any correspondence with the Department for Transport would be shared promptly. Issues regarding the non-functioning of electronic signage on the A374 and staff sickness levels on the ferries were also discussed.

The committee resolved to note the report, the social and economic impact assessment, and to receive an updating report at the next meeting.

Budget Outturn Report 2025-2026

The committee considered the Budget Outturn Report for 2025-2026. Officers advised that holding finance training sessions for members prior to future workshops would be prudent. An audit of Tamar Crossings was scheduled to begin the week after the meeting. The current financial reserve of £1.41 million was noted, alongside a prudent target of £3 million. Members discussed the low levels of capital expenditure and the potential benefit of government financial support. The strategic risk register was noted to be under constant review, particularly in light of the parent authorities' financial responsibility should reserves be exhausted. The report highlighted that not charging tolls to buses resulted in an annual loss of around £100,000 in revenue, a decision made previously to encourage bus service operation. Concerns were also raised about discrepancies in bus fare prices across the Cornwall-Devon border and the need for a more integrated public transport scheme.

The committee approved the 2025/26 outturn report, subject to audit, and approved the draft Annual Governance Statement.

Budget Monitoring Report 2026-27

The committee reviewed the Budget Monitoring Report for the first two months of the 2026-27 financial year. Officers indicated that savings would be made where possible and that the impact of international instability, such as the conflict in Iran, was yet to be fully determined. Members noted that the figures covered April and May, including bank holidays and Easter holidays, and that trends would be closely monitored. The report also mentioned that local MPs had expressed a view that the cost of travel for locals should be minimised, emphasising the crucial role of government alongside officers and members.

The committee resolved to note the revenue forecast and capital programme for 2026/27.

Public Questions

Four questions were received from members of the public. Mrs Carter questioned the lack of an option to postpone capital expenditure projects to reduce costs, given the public opposition to the proposed tag account increase. She also enquired about the possibility of a formal recorded vote on critical issues. Mr Carter proposed reducing the discount on loss-making ferry crossings to 10% to generate additional income. Mr Slavin requested clarification on attendees and minutes from a meeting with MPs, and enquired about the recognition and action being taken regarding the requirements for a deliverable cheaper tolls for locals policy. Mr Miller questioned why the results of the consultation on the tag fee increase appeared to be ignored, despite a strong public rejection of the original proposal. Responses from officers indicated that the committee could reject recommendations, that future finance workshops would consider various options, and that notes from the meeting with MPs would be published. It was also stated that the consultation was to inform the committee's decision, which had not yet been made.

Chairman's Announcements

The Joint Chairman (Plymouth) welcomed members and officers, highlighting the co-operation between Plymouth City Council and Cornwall Council. Councillor Freeman discussed her work on updating the Joint Committee's Terms of Reference to improve public transparency, inviting suggestions from members. The Joint Chairman (Plymouth) reported on a productive meeting with MPs and officers regarding future pathways, emphasising the need for government involvement in any fundamental change to the funding model. He also praised a recent meeting with the Tamar Toll Action Group and suggested further meetings. The Joint Chairman (Cornwall) stated that future meetings would alternate between Plymouth and Cornwall.