Purpose

"Bus Back Better" is the Government’s National Bus Strategy for England and was launched on 15 March 2021. This sets out a new approach to transform the bus sector, following the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure it becomes the mode of choice for shorter distance travel. It advocates the development of Enhanced Partnerships between Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) and bus operators and requires the development and introduction of ambitious bus priority schemes, changes to fares and ticketing, improved infrastructure, better and greener buses and promotion and marketing, amongst other detailed points covered in the strategy.

To benefit from the funding in this strategy, Local Transport Authorities are expected to decide whether to move towards an Enhanced Partnership giving a Notice of the intention to prepare the Plan and Scheme and draw up ambitious Bus Service Improvement Plans.

A decision is required as to how to proceed. There are two options.  To look at using franchising powers or make an Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme, a statutory arrangement under the 2017 Bus Services Act which can specify, for example, timetables and multi-operator ticketing, and allows the Local Transport Authorities to take over the role of registering bus services from the Traffic Commissioners.

A decision is also required to proceed with a Bus Services Improvement Plan.

The timescales are short and resource implications significant.

Decision

The Leader of the County Council and the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport approved the recommendations as set out in the report.