Purpose

"Bus Back Better" is the Government’s National Bus Strategy for England and was launched on 15 March 2021. It advocates the development of Enhanced Partnerships between Local Transport Authorities and bus operators to deliver the strategy's objectives.

A decision was taken on 23 December 2021 on behalf of Cabinet under the county council's urgency procedures that notice be given to operators of qualifying local bus services that a draft Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme have been prepared and giving a period of not less than 28 days within which objections may be made. The objection period commenced on 14 January 2022 and concluded on 16 February 2022.

Also that, subject to no objections being received, a consultation be undertaken with all statutory consultees as required by legislation.

No admissible objections from operators were received and so the consultation process was started with all statutory consultees and wider stakeholders. The consultation ran between 1 March 2022 and 17 March 2022.

Five responses from the statutory consultees and stakeholders have been received by the 17 March deadline. These are from the Competition and Markets Authority, the Lancaster Bus Users Group, Transport Focus, Fylde Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council.

Decision

The Cabinet approved the recommendation(s) as set out in the report.