and Labour blocks free travel for under-22s – again.
Speaking after the Strategy & Resources Committee meeting on 2 September 2026, Cllr Douglas Johnson said,
“It’s incredibly disappointing that Labour’s mayor is not funding free bus and tram travel for kids in Sheffield – so the council is having to dip into its own reserves.
“We all support free bus travel for young people because it can transform lives and open up opportunities.”
The Committee heard a report on a trial for free travel for under-18s from February 2027 to September 2027, using £8 million of council reserves, because the Labour mayor is not providing funding.
Douglas Johnson added,
“This is an unprecedented spending of Sheffield’s reserves to support Labour’s “manifesto pledge.”
“An earlier report to the same meeting said the council now has “the lowest level of reserves held by the Council for many years.” This doesn’t really support the decision to spend council reserves when it is something that the transport authority should be funding. It is a real blow to the people of Sheffield that the South Yorkshire Mayor is not committed to this, despite a clear direction from all parties on Sheffield City Council and two full council motions in February.
“Greens have been calling for free travel for people up to the age of 22 and I am disappointed that Labour blocked my call to discuss this as it would help 18 to 21 year olds getting to work or college.
“Greens support all measures to make it easier for young people to get around on public transport. This includes free buses and also easy ticketing, better routes, more frequent services and less congestion. And bus passes are only useful on bus routes that still run. Lots of bus routes have already been cut, like the number 11 through Heeley Green and the number 135 through Walkley – this has cut communities off from essential amenities like GP surgeries, the post office and shops.”
Cllr Alexi Dimond, who chairs the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Committee, said:
The government gives huge sums to SYMCA because they are the regional transport authority and have control of transport schemes. This is not something that Greens agree with as we believe in more local decision making and funding. Sheffield has made a direct ask to SYMCA to fund travel for young people. Greens, Labour and all other political parties got behind this in February. It shouldn’t have to be like this. The regional transport authority has all the power but when Sheffield requests something for the benefit of our young people – they say “no”. We don’t know why SYMCA is not funding it, especially given that funding was provided to Barnsley towards a similar scheme.
It is also very concerning that the Labour mayor has given no commitments to bring in a proper scheme at the end of the trial next September, so it could be £8 million spent on subsidising private bus operators with no long-term benefit.”
Cllr Angela Argenzio, Green Group Leader said,
“The Labour Leader prevented proper scrutiny by bringing the report during PERP (the pre-election period) and blocking questions. This meant Councillors did not get answers why SYMCA – which has just received £1.3 billion in funding from the government – is not funding the pilot itself and is instead asking the council to dip into its already depleted reserves. I think this is a really important question that needed to be asked – and answered.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
- The Transport Authority for Sheffield, responsible for bus and tram services, is the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA)
- Green councillors proposed a scheme to look into free bus and tram travel for under-22s at the council meeting in February 2026.
- According to SYMCA, £2 million would be spent on administration – i.e. every £4 spent on bus or tram fares would cost £1 to administer.
- The Labour and Green motions on free bus travel in February 2026 can be found at https://democracy.sheffield.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=154&MId=9710
