The Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee met on Friday 13 March 2026 to discuss operational performance, budget monitoring, and pay policy. Key decisions included the approval of the 2026/27 Pay Policy and the noting of the 2025-26 Budget Monitoring report, which indicated a projected surplus. The committee also received updates on various operational aspects of the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry, including maintenance, traffic volumes, and ongoing projects.

Chief Officer's Quarterly Report

The committee received a comprehensive quarterly report from the Chief Officer, Philip Robinson, covering the period from 1 November 2025 to 31 January 2026. The report detailed operational performance for both the Torpoint Ferry and the Tamar Bridge, highlighting key performance indicators (KPIs) such as ferry availability and traffic volumes.

For the Torpoint Ferry, ferry availability stood at 96.9%, below the target of 99%, resulting in a RED status. The number of trips completed was 15,991, with 513 missed trips. Eastbound tolled traffic volume saw an increase of 3.6% compared to the previous year. No road traffic collisions or anti-social behaviour incidents were recorded within the Torpoint Ferry traffic control area during the reporting period. Planned maintenance included work on gantries and the replacement of a propulsion motor drive. Significant maintenance impacts noted were Plym II prow defects, which were subject to repair, and the telehandler leased through Cormac being declared beyond economic repair. Capital programme updates included progress on chain tension gantries, platform management system upgrades, ferry office refurbishment, and ferry traffic management systems. The Bridge to Zero decarbonisation study was progressing, with a final report and draft strategy expected to be presented to the committee in June or September 2026.

For the Tamar Bridge, eastbound tolled traffic volume decreased by 1.9% compared to the previous year. Lane availability was below the target KPI of 99.5% at 95.73%, impacted by overnight lane closures for the National Highways Tunnel Technology Upgrade and severe weather. Toll plaza downtime was within the target at 99.28%. Journey times through the tidal flow corridor remained at 7 minutes for both eastbound and westbound traffic, exceeding the target of under 5 minutes and 45 seconds, attributed to ongoing tunnel works and speed limit changes. Road traffic collisions on the Tamar Bridge and Saltash tidal flow system totalled 28 for the financial year to date. Planned maintenance included general cleaning, minor repairs, and gantry inspections. Capital programme activity included ongoing supplementary cable repairs, completed toll booth replacements, and rocker remedial works.

The Visitor and Learning Centre hosted a temporary Torpoint Ferry exhibit, introduced workshops for home-educated families, provided early careers support, and focused on encouraging schools to book engineering tours.

In General and Corporate matters, staff sickness absence averaged 4.6 days per employee for the period. Employee turnover year-to-date was 10.6%. The Pay Policy for 2026-27 was presented for approval, with limited changes including updates to local agreements regarding additional duties payments. The voluntary Foundation Living Wage had increased to £13.45 per hour. The Tamar 2050 programme was progressing, with a Social and Economic Impact Assessment nearing completion and a new Communications and Engagement Strategy being developed. Development of the Open Road Tolling Business Case was ongoing. Toll Revenue for the reporting period showed an increase of 12.4% compared to the previous year, influenced by the toll increase in May 2025. Other toll revenue statistics indicated a continued decline in cash and card payments, with tag usage remaining stable. Health and Safety reported two accidents and five near misses, all minor. There were no significant environmental issues to report. Communications and Engagement activities supported recruitment, promoted the decarbonisation project, and focused on community engagement. The Tamar Tag Monthly Fee Consultation had launched earlier than scheduled on 3 March, with a closing date of 6 April, and an independent consultant was managing the process. Budget Management included a summary of savings and cost reductions. Communication with Central Government involved a letter sent to the Secretary of State for Transport and local MPs requesting an Infrastructure Revenue Grant, with a summit meeting arranged for May.

The committee noted the report and approved the 2026/27 Pay Policy. An updating report was requested for the next meeting.

2025-26 Budget Monitoring Report

The committee considered the 2025-26 Budget Monitoring report, presented by the Finance Analyst Manager. The report indicated a current overall surplus of £0.902 million, a favourable variance of £0.082 million year-to-date compared to the revised forecast. The forecast for the end of March 2026 was an overall surplus of £0.576 million. Capital expenditure to date was £3.502 million against a forecast of £6.959 million for the year. The forecast reserve position at 31 March 2026 was a surplus of £1.492 million.

Officers clarified that compensation from National Highways for their ongoing works on the Saltash Tunnel was not possible, and the impact on overall traffic numbers was difficult to quantify. Government grants received directly by Tamar Crossings totalled £75,000.

The report highlighted several forecast revisions, including increases in bridge employee expenses due to superannuation calculation corrections and premises costs, and reductions in bridge painting costs due to capitalisation of works. Ferry employee costs showed reductions due to unfilled vacancies. Cash toll income continued to be volatile, with a reduction in receipts.

The committee noted the revised revenue forecast and capital programme for 2025/26.

2026-27 Revenue Budget and Capital Programme

The committee considered the 2026-27 Revenue Budget and Capital Programme report. Officers confirmed that the monthly administration fee for Tamar tags, unchanged since 2014, was suggested to be increased from £0.80p to £2.00 per month to offset costs and reflect inflation. Tamar Crossings had approximately 90,000 tags in use, with an estimated lifespan of seven years. The cost of purchasing new tag devices was £15.50 per device, with no charge for faulty devices but a £20 cost-covering charge for lost ones. A government grant of £75,000 was a revenue grant for 2025/26 and not capital expenditure. There were no plans to introduce charges for additional tag devices or for larger vehicles, as this would penalise local businesses and frequent customers. Tamar Crossings, as a subsidiary of Cornwall Council and Plymouth City Council, held ring-fenced financial reserves. Members were advised that a generational change of toll collection system would be necessary regardless of whether open road tolling was pursued.

The committee approved the 2026/27 revenue budget and capital programme and the draft 2026/27 business plan, and noted the longer-term revenue forecast to 2029/30.

Pay Policy Statement 2026-27

The committee considered and approved the draft 2026-27 Pay Policy statement. The policy outlines Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee's policies relating to pay for all staff. Key aspects include the adoption of the Living Wage Foundation Living Wage as the minimum pay rate, and the use of job evaluation schemes to ensure equal pay responsibilities. The policy details remuneration arrangements for Chief Officers and senior officers, as well as general employees paid under Local Government Services (Green Book) terms and conditions. It also outlines the pay structure, job evaluation processes, pay on appointment, and provisions for recruitment payments, pensions, and other terms and conditions. Allowances and payments for overtime, weekend work, public holidays, shift work, and out-of-hours work are detailed in Appendix B.

Public Questions

Several members of the public submitted questions regarding the proposed increase in the TamarTag administration fee, the justification for the increase, the impact of account closures on congestion, alternatives to the monthly fee, the cost of public consultations, and the potential for toll-free crossings. Responses from officers addressed the self-financing nature of the crossings, the need to balance budgets, the cost-effectiveness of the tag scheme even with an increased fee, and ongoing efforts to secure government funding for toll abolition. The committee was informed that an economic impact assessment, similar to one conducted for the Humber Bridge, had been commissioned and a draft report was available, mirroring findings of the Humber Bridge study. Further consideration of cost savings, including postage costs for tag devices, was ongoing.

The committee also received updates on the ongoing National Highways works on the Saltash Tunnel, which were nearing completion. Discussions were ongoing regarding leasing or purchasing a telehandler, and delays had been encountered in obtaining an appropriate welder. A serious accident had occurred on the bridge, contributing to traffic delays. The potential closure of the Torpoint ferry office and the establishment of a drop-in service were being considered. Staff sickness was being reviewed, with higher levels on the ferry attributed to the physically demanding nature of the work. Improvements in data collection for un-tolled traffic and pedestrian/cyclist usage were being worked towards. The committee expressed gratitude for cost savings shown in the supplementary agenda. Future public consultation meetings would involve relevant Tamar Crossings officers and Joint Chairs. Clarification was provided on the monitoring of westbound bridge traffic and the ongoing ferry decarbonisation study.

The committee resolved that the Chief Officer would undertake a consultation and engagement exercise on increasing the monthly tag account fee and associated matters, with a summary of feedback to be reported back. A budget of up to £10,000 was approved for this exercise, funded from existing allocations. The Joint Chairs were tasked with urgently arranging a meeting with local MPs, council leaders, portfolio holders, and key officers to discuss government support for Tamar Crossings and work towards toll abolition. A letter would also be sent to the Secretary of State for Transport and relevant MPs requesting an Infrastructure Revenue Grant of £499,999 per annum.

The meeting concluded with the noting of the revised revenue forecast and capital programme for 2025/26.