Issue - meetings

Cabinet had received and agreed a report on 29 June, 2021, on the ‘Bus Back Better’ National Bus Strategy that required Local Authorities to enter into Enhanced Partnerships with bus operators.  Actions included agreeing a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) by 31 October 2021 to secure long term funding for vital bus services.  An Enhanced Partnership with bus operators would have to be entered into by no later than 31 March 2022.

RESOLVED –

(1)               That the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) be approved, as set out in Appendix 1, to support long term funding for bus services.

(2)               That the submission of the BSIP to the Department of Transport by the 31 October 2021 deadline, as well as publishing it on the Council’s website, be agreed.

(3)               That authority be delegated to the Director for Transport Services, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport, to make minor amendments to the plan if required for accuracy or updating.

(4)               That the Council’s agreed commitment to entering an Enhanced Partnership with bus operators by no later than 31 March 2022 be noted, as the mechanism for prioritising and delivering measures in the BSIP.

Cabinet had received and agreed a report on 29 June, 2021, on the ‘Bus Back Better’ National Bus Strategy that required Local Authorities to enter into Enhanced Partnerships with bus operators.  Actions included agreeing a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) by 31 October 2021 to secure long term funding for vital bus services.  An Enhanced Partnership with bus operators would have to be entered into by no later than 31 March 2022.

The Cabinet Member for Transport introduced a report and explained that the National Bus Strategy identified two alternative approaches to delivering bus service improvements: franchising and enhanced partnerships.  Buckinghamshire Council had opted to enter into an Enhanced Partnership with Bus Operators in June 2021 as the franchising option was not considered appropriate.

An Enhanced Partnership was a statutory arrangement under the 2017 Bus Services Act which could specify, for example, bus priority, timetables and multi-operator ticketing,  This was a more formal extension of the joint working that had existed in Buckinghamshire for a number of years, which had led to a number of successful initiatives including introduction of the High Wycombe ‘SMART zone’ multi-operator ticketing scheme and coordinated timetables on two bus corridors via Bus Qualifying Agreements.

The BSIP represented the Bus Strategy for Buckinghamshire and was required by the DfT to include a number of objective, priorities and targets for the whole of the LTA’s entire bus service network.  To benefit from new funding, LTAs would be expected to implement ambitious bus priority schemes and draw up ambitious BSIPs.  Statutory traffic management guidance would be updated to make promoting bus reliability an integral part of highway authorities’ Network Management Duty.  However, it should be recognised that the guidance of BSIP was focused on more densely populated urban areas.

The Buckinghamshire BSIP had been developed in line with and followed the structure set out in DfT guidance and had included engaging with bus operators.  The Council had met individually with every bus operator in Buckinghamshire to identify their challenges, opportunities and priorities to improve the future of bus services in Buckinghamshire.   Buckinghamshire had a strong network of urban and inter-urban bus services that were operated by a range of large and smaller bus operators including Arriva; Carousel; First Bus; Langston and Tasker; Red Group (Red Eagle, Redline, Red Rose); Stagecoach East; Star Travel; Thames Valley; Transport for London, and Z & S Travel.

A Task and Finish group had been established, chaired by the Cabinet Member for Transport, and was comprised of elected Members representing the broad geographical area of the county. The group had helped to monitor progress of the development of the BSIP and identified member priorities for improving bus services in Buckinghamshire.  A total of five meetings had taken place to date.

Further information was provided on the “Your Voice” survey that had run between August and 3 September, aimed at all members of the public, including bus users.  One of the DfT’s requirements for the BSIP was to include priorities from members of the public  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9