The first step on a road to reform of bus services in England outside London via what is now called the Buses Bill will occur on Monday 9 September when the government lays legislation before Parliament to give all local transport authorities (LTAs) there the power to franchise.
Previously that scope was limited to mayoral combined authorities. Also to be published is draft guidance that provides advice and support to local leaders looking to bring services back under public control. It will now be consulted on.
The Department for Transport (DfT) says that such “simplified” guidance will “help to break down barriers to local control of services, speeding up the process and bringing down costs.” It will also encourage LTAs to consider driver welfare and passenger safety, including antisocial behaviour and violence against women and girls.
To follow the statutory instrument will be the Buses Bill. It has been suggested by some sources that publication will be in November. Such a bill formed part of the King’s Speech on 17 July, when it was described as the Better Buses Bill.
Giving early hints of what the Buses Bill will contain, DfT has underlined an existing position that the ban on establishing new municipal bus operators will be revoked. However, it adds that the Bill will also “deliver further changes to make bus franchising even quicker and easier to deliver, alongside other measures on areas such as funding and accessible travel.”
In what is thought to be a first recognition by the current government that not all LTAs will seek to franchise bus services, DfT adds that under the Bill, those councils will gain greater flexibility over bus funding.
Via that arrangement, local leaders will be able to deliver their own local transport priorities. The Bill will also support the creation, and saving, of vital bus routes, DfT adds.
Potentially key is where DfT says that its plans for bus services and greater local choice in how they are delivered will come “without any extra burdens on the taxpayer.” It remains to be seen how that sits against promises of measures relating to funding in the Bill.
Nevertheless, DfT adds that modernising transport infrastructure and better bus services “is at the heart of our plan to kickstart economic growth in every part of the country and get the country moving.” Work on buses will be “transformative,” the government promises.
Speaking about the legislation for expanded franchising powers being laid, Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haigh says: “Today is the first stop on our journey to delivering better buses across the country. After decades of failed deregulation, local leaders will finally have the powers to provide services that deliver for passengers.
“And we are taking steps to support local leaders to deliver improved bus services faster and cheaper than ever before. With local communities firmly back in the driving seat, our bus revolution will save vital routes up and down the country and put passengers first.”
