Decision details

Since April 2020, Government has issued emergency funding to bus operators and Local Transport Authorities, the COVID Bus Subsidy Grant (CBSSG), and continued to pay Bus Services Operators Grant (BSOG) at pre pandemic rates. The Government funding arrangement is continuing under a rolling 8-week notice period. The Bus Strategy states that CBSSG will remain in place for “as long as necessary”. It is anticipated that notice to end CBSSG will be given at or around step 4 of the Covid Roadmap (21 June at the earliest) making the end of this funding in late August.

The Government has said that further funding will be available to support the recovery of bus fare revenues will be provided for the remainder of 2021/22. It was initially expected that this funding would be delegated to LTAs however DfT officials indicate that the system is likely to continue payment direct to bus operators. However, as this is yet to be confirmed a decision is required by the Combined Authority to agree the strategy and process for managing the potential Government Covid emergency grant funding should it be devolved to the Combined Authority for distribution.