Agenda item

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Environment and Transport concerning the implementation of ‘Bus Back Better’ the National Bus Strategy (NBS), setting out the financial implications and seeking approval for the Leicestershire Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) which would inform the proposals for an associated Enhanced Partnership plan and scheme.  A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda item 6’, is filed with these minutes.

Members noted that the costings accompanying the BSIP were still ‘indicative’ as very little time had been available to develop detailed figures. The Director emphasised that the extent of delivery of the ambitious plans would be dependent on the level of Government funding available and added that, in the short-term, the existing Passenger Transport Policy and Strategy would be used to assess the need for support where bus services were no longer commercially viable.

Mr. O’Shea CC added that the publication of the NBS was a radical change in Government transport policy. He welcomed the Leicestershire BSIP and commended officers for the work undertaken in such a short timeframe.

RESOLVED:

(a)        That the initial financial implications and ongoing funding requirements arising from implementing the NBS and associated Leicestershire BSIP, including the appointment of an Enhanced Partnership Scheme Manager and support team, as set out in paragraph 14 of the report, be noted;

(b)        That the outcomes of the public engagement survey undertaken by the Authority in respect of the NBS, as attached at Appendix A and summarised in paragraphs 36 to 47 of the report, be noted;

(c)        That the Leicestershire BSIP, as attached at Appendix B and summarised in paragraphs 53 to 59 of the report, be approved;

(d)        That the Director of Environment and Transport be authorised to submit the Council’s longer-term BSIP funding requirement (as set out in Appendix C and summarised in paragraphs 60 to 65 of the report) to the Department for Transport by 31 October 2021;

(e)        That with regard to the Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme (EPS) for Leicestershire (set out in paragraphs 48 to 52 of the report) -

i.            The requirement to issue a statutory notice of the EPS to Bus Operators in November, providing them with a 28-day period for objection, be noted;

ii.           That subject to no objections being received during this period, the undertaking of a public consultation on the EPS be approved;

(f)          That the Council’s Passenger Transport Policy and Strategy be amended to take account of the formal establishment of the EPS and the delivery of the BSIP;

(g)        That a further report be submitted to the Cabinet in March 2022 presenting the outcomes of the consultation, progress with implementation of the NBS and the associated formalisation of an Enhanced Partnership.

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION:

To comply with the requirements of the NBS and the guidance, which requires the County Council to publish its BSIP by the end of October 2021. Compliance with the NBS and the guidance will ensure the Authority is still able to access DfT bus recovery funding, be eligible for the NBS implementation support funding and also be eligible to access a further share of the £3bn funding that the Government is making available to fund delivery of the NBS.

Engagement with stakeholders is an important part of the process for developing an approach to the delivery of bus services. It helps to ensure that the Authority takes account of customer and user expectations and delivers the most appropriate service levels, consistent with the budget available.

As a new approach for the delivery of improvements to bus services, flexibility is required to enable the Authority to be ‘fleet of foot’ in evolving the BSIP in light of experience with its implementation, whilst still ensuring appropriate levels of oversight and governance are in place. The delegations in place to the Director regarding the future review and update of the BSIP will achieve this.