The Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning, Councillor Jennifer Warren, approved the submission of an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Department for Transport's Bus Franchising Support Fund. This decision was made to explore potential bus franchising models for Warwickshire and to ensure the council meets future funding requirements.

Future Bus Service Delivery and Expression of Interest to DfT's Bus Franchising Support Fund

Councillor Jennifer Warren, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning, approved the submission of Warwickshire County Council's Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Department for Transport's (DfT) Bus Franchising Support Fund. The council will apply for up to £500,000 to conduct a Franchising Pre-Feasibility Assessment. This assessment will gather evidence on the costs and benefits of different bus franchising models for Warwickshire, helping to determine if franchising is the most suitable option for delivering bus services in the county.

The decision was made under urgency procedures due to the tight deadline for submitting the EOI, which is 8 April 2026. Failure to submit the EOI would impact the funding available for this crucial assessment.

The council is also progressing with an Enhanced Partnership Plus, which strengthens the current Enhanced Partnership. This is a necessary step to meet the minimum requirements set by the DfT for drawing down Local Authority Bus Grant funding from 2027/28 onwards.

During the discussion, Councillor Sam Jones asked for clarification on how the progress of this work would be monitored. Margaret Smith, Service Manager Transport Planning, assured that discussions would continue with the Bus Service Improvement Project Task & Finish Group, and updates would be provided at their six-weekly meetings. Councillor Jones also requested information on the annual expenditure on Stagecoach services in Warwickshire and the amount subsidised for specific stops. It was agreed that officers in the delivery team would provide this information.

The report outlined several options for future bus service delivery, including the current Enhanced Partnership (EP), an Enhanced Partnership Plus (EP+), a municipal bus operation, and bus franchising. The review found that while the EP has delivered incremental improvements, it offers limited control over commercial routes, fares, and service standards. An EP+ could offer achievable improvements without legislative change. A municipal bus operation would provide direct control but involves significant financial and operational risks, with estimated investment costs exceeding £25 million. Franchising offers the greatest opportunity for transformation but carries substantial risk, cost, and complexity, with preparation costs potentially exceeding £0.5 million and ongoing management costs around £300,000 per year.

The decision to submit the EOI was made to allow for a thorough pre-feasibility assessment, the findings of which are expected to inform future decisions on whether to bid for further DfT funding or undertake a formal franchising assessment. The outcome of the EOI is anticipated in May 2026, with the pre-feasibility assessment commencing in late 2026-27, allowing time for the results of DfT pilot franchising studies and confirmation of the future of Local Government Reform in Warwickshire to be considered.

The submission of the EOI is fully funded by the Department for Transport, with no match funding required from the council. The development of the EOI itself was covered by existing staff costs.

The decision was formally resolved as follows:

• The Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning approves the submission of Warwickshire County Council's Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Department for Transport's Bus Franchising Support Fund for up to £500,000 to be used to undertake a Franchising Pre-Feasibility Assessment.
• The Executive Director for Communities is authorised to finalise and submit the Expression of Interest to the Department for Transport by the deadline of 8 April 2026.
• The approach of progressing with an Enhanced Partnership Plus to meet the minimum requirements set out by the DfT for drawdown of Local Authority Bus Grant funding from 2027/28 onwards is noted.

This decision is documented in the Signed decision - 01.04.26.pdf document¹.