HCT : CT+ : CIC : CT4N : U C? Pt 1

 Is It Really Four Years Ago?

You might expect an operation called Hackney Community Transport to be running buses in Hackney for "The Community", being aimed at passengers who might struggle with a conventional bus.

And that is how things began.

But soon an unusual logo began appearing on "ordinary" London buses.

HCT rebranded itself as CTPlus and developed significant bus operations for TfL. TfL banned large logos and prescribed an all red livery with a minimalist operator name.

fbb has not attempted to put the company's operations into correct date order, nor has he tried to unravel the intertwined subsidiary companies and brands that were developed.

Operations in West Yorkshire began with 'genuine' community services ...

... but morphed into a whole range of tendered to routes. A joint fare promotion was enjoined with South Pennine Community Transport, hence the placards below.

Operations expanded to the Channel Islands with Guernseybus ...

... and Liberty Bus in Jersey.

Activity started in Bristol with a deal between CTPlus and The Big Lemon (yes, that is the Big Lemon in Brighton)

Again more tendered services were operated.

Then there was Manchester Community Transport!

Meanwhile in South Yorkshie, CTPlus bought local operator Powells ...

... again with tendered services as its main business. Below is a bus in CTPlus livery working a tram replacement service in Sheffield ...

... but branded for a hospital shuttle in Doncaster.

In some ways, the oddest CTPlus contract was in Bristol. The Metro bus scheme was delayed, but the services were all to be operated by majority Bristol incumbent, First Bus.

Here is the launch of M1 ...

... clearly with First Bus in the destination box. But, on closer inspection and on the side of the bus, between the two rows of windows, we observe ...

... the CTPlus logo and the name Bristol Community Transport. First had sub-contracted this prestigious service to Hackney Community Transport which arrived on the scene in a very thin disguise.

Then in 2022 the whole house of bus operating cards collapsed almost overnight.

Some areas were aware of trouble at't'mill and replacements came quickly, but for joe public there were days of mystery, chaos and travel frustration ...

... as each subsidiary operation announced its demise.

So what went wrong?

In delightfully simple terms, the company ran out of money to pay its bills and nobody wanted to give it some more.

The process of administration and liquidation was long and complex for the Yorkshire subsidiary ...

.. but it began with the "registration if a charge" in June 22. fbb thinks that is the formal way someone says, "We want our money back, like what you promised".

But of money there was none!

If these things excite you, you can read every single one of the documents in the list above on the Companies House web site under:-

Have fun!

Community Interest Company (CIC)

... is somewhat different from a Charity.  A charity is very tightly controlled by The Charity Commissioners and has to show that all its activities are genuinely charitable. 

A CIC is just like a normal Limited Company except that profits are NOT distributed to shareholders. Its day-to-day management cannot be its shareholders. Its shareholders are best thought of as trustees to ensure that the CIC genuinely "serves the community".

The CIC has to submit annual accounts as does any limited liability company. Generally, however, the trustees are protected from all liabilities if the company fails. Lest you are concerned, trustees are NOT absolved if they oversee any illegal activity.

The idea is that any profits will be either re-invested in the company's community activity OR donated to some other community charitable work.

So running a huge national bus operation may not be community related in itself, but the profits are either re-invested or donated. Staff just get their salary!

=======================

So why write about CTPlus; that's old news?

Because it has happened again, suddenly, less spectacularly but equally disruptively - and equally unhappily for its loyal staff, now out of work.

Pt2 2morrow!

 Next Community Transport blog : Wed 19 Aug