Issue - meetings

Cabinet received a report on the ‘Bus Back Better’ National Bus Strategy that required Local Authorities to enter into Enhanced Partnerships with bus operators.

RESOLVED –

(1)               That it be agreed, in principle, to commit to Enhanced Partnerships with local bus operators, as required by the ‘Bus Back Better’ National Bus Strategy by 30 June 2021.

(2)               That the development of a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) by 31 October 2021 be agreed, to secure long term funding for vital bus services.

(3)               That an Enhanced Partnership with bus operators be entered into no later than 31 March 2022.

Cabinet received a report on the ‘Bus Back Better’ National Bus Strategy that required Local Authorities to enter into Enhanced Partnerships with bus operators. The Government announced a £3 billion fund to improve bus services. The aims of the National Bus Strategy were to make buses more frequent, more reliable, easier to understand and use, better co-ordinated and cheaper and gives a greater role for the Local Authorities in the planning and provision of services.

The Cabinet Member for Transport introduced the report as follows:-

·         A commitment to entering into Enhanced Partnerships with bus operators was required by the end of June 2021. The commitment was to establish Enhanced Partnerships with operators under the Bus Services Act, or (for authorities with an elected Mayor) begin the statutory process of franchising services. From 1 July 2021, only LTAs and operators who meet these requirements would continue to receive the COVID-19 Bus Services Support Grant (CBSSG), or any new sources of funding

·         The Government also expected publication of Bus Service Improvement Plans by 31 October 2021 to outline how these partnerships would improve services. These Plans would have to be updated annually.

·         The Enhanced Partnership was required to be in place by April 2022.

During discussion by Cabinet Members the following points were noted:-

·         An Enhanced Partnership not only meant being more reliable etc but also more integrated with good connection links with neighbouring authorities. There should be no barrier to making travel difficult by ensuring that journeys between different providers were seamless. The Service Area was currently having conversations about transport routes. 

·         It would also be good to modernize the fleet with electric/hydrogen buses to work towards being zero carbon. However, bus services which were run by private operators could not be told to buy a green fleet and it would be up to the Council to work with operators to incentivize them to help towards that target although no funding had been provided for this. A comment was made about school buses turning off their engines whilst waiting outside schools.

·         Reference was made to the recommendation securing long term funding for vital bus services and what that meant for rural areas where the volume of use would be lower. The Cabinet Member for Transport reported that it would be impossible to provide a regular bus service for every village but they would ensure that the right routes were as frequent and deliverable as possible. In terms of obtaining local information they would be having conversations with Community Boards and exploring gaps in services.

·         A Cabinet Member commented that the Council was already providing a pilot bus service but the pilots had been allocated to more urban areas. This was important to identify demand.

·         A Deputy Cabinet Member asked that the Service Area speak to areas providing community buses which provide fantastic services locally. The Cabinet Member reassured Members that they provided a vital service which was part of the network who also would be able to provide information on any  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9