The Local Government Association (LGA) and the Urban Transport
Group have called for new powers for councils to decide the way
local bus services are delivered to end a “spiral of decline” of
services by protecting vital bus routes and reinvesting in local
networks.
Although additional government support has been helpful, a new
report from the LGA and the Urban Transport Group warns that the
task of patching and mending gaps in the network is more
challenging than ever for local authorities.
Ahead of the start of party conference season, they are calling
for a review of current legislation that would allow all cities,
towns and rural areas in England to have the same rights to
introduce bus franchising as those enjoyed by Mayoral Combined
Authorities, including:
- power over the fares that are charged and standards that
should be met;
- the frequency of bus services provided and where and when
they run; and
- the ability for buses to be part of joined up transport
networks to meet the needs of local communities
The report, A Smoother Ride, recommends simplifying and improving
the franchising process. It is published at the same time as
Greater Manchester is set to be the first city region outside
London to run franchised bus services this weekend, nearly 40
years since deregulation.
The report recommends lifting the ban in the Bus Services Act
2017 that prevents councils from establishing their own bus
companies. It highlights that in areas with municipally owned bus
companies, bus journeys per head of population are well above the
English average.
The publication also calls for the Government to urgently review
Enhanced Partnerships between bus operators and councils to see
how they can be improved to meet the ambitions set out in the
National Bus Strategy, including making services more frequent,
reliable and easier to understand.
The LGA and the Urban Transport Group are calling for greater,
long term investment in local bus services. With every £1
invested in bus services estimated to bring an economic return of
£4.50, taxpayers, the Government and communities would benefit
through an accompanying reform of existing bus subsidies.
Cllr , Transport spokesperson for
the LGA said:
“Councils should be in the driving seat to deliver good,
affordable and reliable bus services in their areas not private
bus operators, but are restricted from taking greater control
over them.
“By providing councils with new franchising powers they would be
able to keep fares down, increase the number of local bus routes
and make buses more attractive for everyone to use.
“We know that buses are a lifeline to so many people and councils
want the powers and funding to ensure there are good services in
every corner of the country, from the biggest city to the
smallest village.”
Jason Prince, Director of the Urban Transport Group,
said:
“The Bus Services Act 2017 was, at the time, a pioneering piece
of legislation which was designed to give local areas greater
control over their bus services by providing powers to either
franchise them in certain urban areas or develop Enhanced
Partnerships.
“However, as Greater Manchester’s experience of franchising has
shown, the process has been unduly long and onerous. Alongside
this, the limitations of the Enhanced Partnership model, have
meant that the Act has failed to truly deliver on its potential.
“If we really want to fulfil the ambitions of the National Bus
Strategy - to truly transform bus services, it’s time to update
the legislation, and this report provides recommendations for how
to do so.”
Notes to editors
The full report, A Smoother Ride - Reviewing the Bus Services Act
2017 to empower local areas, is attached to this
release.
The Local Government Association represents councils in England
and Wales. The Urban Transport Group is the UK’s network of city
region transport authorities.
