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To direct award funding to local bus operators
to allow for reduced cost youth bus travel during August
2025.

Reasons for the decision

The Bus Service Improvement Delivery Plan, as
approved by Executive Committee in March 2025, included a youth
discount scheme for the summer 2025.
This direct award of funding allows the executive decision to be
implemented from a procurement perspective. All local bus operators
who will be running registered local bus services within the
borough during August 2025 were invited to take part. It is not
possible to tender as the subsidy is to bridge the gap been the
promotional offer and the commercial fare. Subsidy amounts are
based on forecast numbers travelling. All subsidies remain below
threshold for open tendering.

Alternative options considered

Do nothing
Three quote which was rejected as this is not possible for this
type of promotional offer. However, all operators who run
qualifying registered bus services in the borough were invited to
participate.