The Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee were scheduled to meet on 19 September 2025 to discuss the Chief Officer's quarterly report, the statement of accounts and audit findings for 2024/25, and the budget monitoring for 2025/26. The meeting was to be held in the Warspite Room at Plymouth City Council.

Chief Officer's Quarterly Report

The Chief Officer's Quarterly Report was scheduled to provide an update on general and operational matters related to the Tamar Bridge and the Torpoint Ferry. The report covered data from 1 June 2025 to 31 July 2025, with commentary on key issues that occurred after this period.

Items to be discussed included:

• Torpoint Ferry Operations: Ferry availability, the number of trips, and the reasons for any significant impacts on availability.
  • Ferry availability for the reporting period was 92.13%, against a target of 99%. Significant impacts on ferry availability were due to the Lynher II ferry's late return from a planned refit, chain replacement on the Tamar II, and prow wire replacements.
  • Eastbound tolled traffic volume for the period was 171,332 vehicles, a 2.1% increase from the previous year.
  • There were three incidents of recorded anti-social behaviour on Joint Committee property, including a Vehicle Verbal Assault Afloat - Customer to Employee .
• Torpoint Ferry Engineering & Assets: Planned maintenance activities, including the Lynher II's return from refit and the Tamar II's south chain replacement.
• Torpoint Ferry Decarbonisation Programme: Updates on funding and partnerships for decarbonisation efforts.
• Tamar Bridge Operations: Eastbound tolled traffic volume for the reporting period was 1,280,378 vehicles, a 1.7% increase from the previous year.
  • Full bridge closures and lane availability were impacted by the National Highways Tunnel Technology Upgrade.
  • Journey times had increased due to a 30mph speed limit on the A38, a diversion route, and single-lane operation eastbound on the main deck.
  • There was one major road traffic collision involving a vehicle striking the toll plaza infrastructure.
• Tamar Bridge Engineering & Assets: Planned maintenance, including painting, cleaning, and steelwork repairs.
• Visitor and Learning Centre: Key activities included a Women in STEM event in partnership with the YMCA, the Crossing Lives project in partnership with Fotonow, and the introduction of virtual reality headsets for tours of the Tamar Bridge.
• General and Corporate Matters: Staffing statistics, including the number of staff, sickness absence, and employee turnover.
  • There were 113 members of staff. Total sickness absence was 147 days.
• Tamar 2050: Key activities included an income optimisation study, a social and economic impact assessment, stakeholder engagement, and open road tolling.
• Toll Revenue: Toll revenue for the reporting period was £3,211,348, a 16.5% increase from the previous year.
  • Tag usage was 77.8% during weekday peak times and 60.3% overall.
  • Card payments accounted for 67.4% of full-price crossings, while cash settlements accounted for 13% of overall tolled payments.
• Health and Safety: One minor, non-reportable staff accident and five minor, non-reportable near misses were recorded.
• Communications and Engagement: Communications activity supported the return of the Lynher to service, the appointment of new Joint Chairs, and the launch of a new partnership with Action for Children.

The report recommended that it be noted and that an updating report be presented at the next meeting.

Statement of Accounts and Audit Findings 2024/25

The committee were scheduled to consider the Statement of Accounts and Audit Findings for the financial year 2024/25.

The report included:

• Annual Governance Statement: This statement acknowledges responsibility for ensuring a sound system of governance, assesses the effectiveness of key elements of the governance framework, provides an opinion on the level of assurance that the authority's governance can provide, and includes an agreed action plan.
• Audit Findings: Cornwall Council's Internal Audit service reviewed the Joint Committee's financial governance framework and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
  • The review's objectives were to ensure the accounts are free from material misstatement and that an appropriate control framework is in place.
  • The review evaluated controls in place for the governance framework, accounting policies, accounting estimates, year-end creditors, debtors, asset valuations, year-end reconciliations, and arrangements for securing economy, efficiency, and effectiveness.
  • The Internal Audit was satisfied that the Joint Committee has appropriate governance and reporting arrangements, that the financial statements present a true and fair view, and that appropriate arrangements are in place to secure economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in its use of resources.
• Draft Statement of Accounts 2024/25: The draft statement includes a Statement of Responsibilities, an Explanatory Foreword, the Main Financial Statements, and notes.
  • The net revenue outturn for 2024/25 was a net deficit of £0.786m, which is a £0.599m adverse variance compared to the original deficit budget of £0.187m.
  • The Comprehensive Income and Expenditure Statement (CIES) shows a surplus of £1.275m on the provision of services and a total comprehensive income and expenditure deficit of £11.363m.
  • The Joint Committee's total capital expenditure for the year was £3.366m.
  • Capital advances to the Joint Committee outstanding at the end of March 2025 were £39.589m, a decrease of £0.088m from the previous year.
  • The Joint Committee's net pension liability at 31 March 2025 was £12.649m, an increase from £0.219m in March 2024.

The Joint Committee was asked to note the audit findings and endorse the draft Statement of Accounts, subject to external audit adjustments.

Budget Monitoring 2025/26

The committee were scheduled to receive a budget monitoring statement and forecast outturn position based on information available at the end of July 2025.

The report indicated that:

• The revenue position currently shows an overall deficit of £0.043m, an adverse variance of £0.529m year to date. The forecast position at the end of March 2026 is an overall surplus of £0.596m.
• Capital expenditure to date is £2.354m against the latest forecast for the year of £12.588m.
• The forecast reserve position based on the current estimate is a surplus of £1.512m as at 31 March 2026.

Specific variances were noted in the Bridge and Ferry cost centres, including employee expenses, bridge painting, vehicle and ferry maintenance, and income from cash and concessionary tolls. The delay in implementing the toll increase was cited as a significant factor contributing to the adverse income variance.

The Joint Committee was asked to note the revenue forecast and capital programme for 2025/26.