Update to original Bus Service Improvement Plan work is called for

Local transport authorities (LTAs) in England outside London have been told to advance “thorough” updates to their original Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) documents by the Department for Transport (DfT).

Those authorities will engage with bus operators and other stakeholders to produce a 2024 BSIP as a condition of the release of any funding allocated for 2024/25 through the BSIP mechanism. Updated submissions should be presented to DfT by 12 June, guidance around the work states.

Further to that, funding previously known as BSIP Plus that was allocated over two rounds to many LTAs is now called BSIP Phase 2. That later released by part-cancellation of HS2 and forming part of the Network North approach is BSIP Phase 3. DfT thus notes that all LTAs in England “have dedicated funding for delivery of their BSIP.”

While “the time is now right” for a refresh and update of BSIP documents, the extent of such work is down to LTAs to decide. They may use the opportunity to restructure and shorten their original Plans, or update and refresh them within an existing structure.

With BSIP Phase 2 and Phase 3 monies confirmed, revised documents in 2024 will not act as a bidding tool, unlike those prepared in 2021.

Instead, 2024 BSIPs should “set out a realistic and attractive plan which explains clearly what will have been delivered by the end of 2024/25 and… a ‘shop window’ of ambitions and proposals for the years after 2025.” The recommended template has thus been revised by DfT.

Revised publications should also represent delivery plans for 2024/25 funding and a report on what has already been achieved via BSIP monies. Acknowledging that the government position calls for further Network North allocations beyond the current phases of support, DfT adds the caveat that 2024 BSIPs may be used “as a factor” to determine future awards.

Key to the 2024 refresh is an update to the prioritisation of bus service improvement schemes and measures now that LTAs have clarity over their BSIP funding envelopes until 2025, DfT continues.

In a notable change, the guidance states that updated BSIP submissions are expected to include details of how operators and LTAs will consider steps to be jointly taken in 2024/25 on addressing shortages of drivers and other staff, “in particular, identifying depots with a [high] vacancy rate and by working with DWP and Job Centres to recruit and train.”

As with original BSIPs from 2021, revised documents must be published on LTA websites. DfT has encouraged any authorities that did not previously work with others to create joint BSIPs to consider doing so in 2024.

A further update to BSIPs is likely to be required in 2025. After that, the process will be repeated on a “less than annual basis responding to need, including synchronising with cycles for government’s multi-year spending plans.”