Local transport authorities (LTAs) in England will be expected to include proposals and priorities for the four-year period between FY2025/26 and FY2028/29 in their Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) update work for 2024, the Department for Transport (DfT) has underlined to those bodies.
Those efforts will create what DfT previously described as a “shop window” of ambitious but as-yet unfunded proposals for the years after FY2024/25.
More detail of the expanded expectation around longer-term bus service planning are contained in a Q&A document published by the Department based on engagement with LTAs around the BSIP update work.
It says that the ambitions and proposals section within guidance on the update work refers to those for the four years in question and ‘nests’ them “within a longer-term view of 10 years plus, preferably aligned with the LTA’s overarching Local Transport Plan.”
Such a “dual time horizon” will allow LTAs to develop what DfT says is a high quality and flexible pipeline of deliverable, prioritised proposals or interventions – physical or policy – that can be deployed as funding opportunities arise.
“Delivery capacity should be addressed,” the Q&A continues. “The BSIP should present a clear picture of how the LTA would go about developing and implementing [its] longer-term projects and, where appropriate, what delivery team resource would need to be put in place.”
In updating BSIPs for 2024, DfT says that development of the longer-term plans and proposals sits alongside the highlighting of BSIP achievements thus far, and outlining programmes to the end of FY2024/25.
The Department adds that the combined evidence base from each of those streams “will be used to strengthen the case for further government funding for buses.” It cautions LTAs that “a clear and concise refreshed BSIP will benefit you, your decisionmakers and your residents and stakeholders, as well as government.”
Addressed in the Q&A is that there is no potential clash between longer-term BSIP work and any future moves towards franchising. Labour has consistently said that if it wins the next general election, there will be a “presumption in favour of franchising” for bus services in England, although it is yet to explain how that would be paid for.
On funding beyond FY2024/25, the Q&A notes that no certainty can yet be provided. However, it says that high-quality BSIP submissions will “to some degree” influence what is made available.
An updated BSIP is required for an LTA to receive funding from that source in FY2024-25. The deadline for submissions of those documents is 12 June, although highlighted in the Q&A is a concern from LTAs that have local elections on 5 May.
DfT says that the deadline has been set with those in mind, and that an updated BSIP “should be particularly useful to incoming new committee members and/or portfolio holders.”
However, if the earliest possible committee or cabinet meeting to approve an updated BSIP is scheduled for after 12 June, DfT will consider extensions to that deadline. If an extension is requested, it will impact payment of FY2024/25 BSIP funding, the document states.
