Agenda item

Resolved:

a)    That the Transport Committee endorses the approach and key themes for the development of the Bus Service Improvement Plan as set out in the submitted report.

b)    That the Transport Committee endorses the approach for emergency funding for bus services for the remainder of 2021/22 as set out in the submitted report.

The Committee considered a report updating them on the development of the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and the process for its approval, as well as on the current position of bus funding and next steps.

In order to access government funding for the improvement of bus services, there was a requirement for the Combined Authority to submit a BSIP by the end of October. Members were advised on the requirements set out by the Department for Transport, and on the proposed timetable for the development of the BSIP. A workshop for Members of the Committee was planned in early August, with the aim of drawing out what Members wanted to see from the BSIP. The BSIP would set out the Combined Authority’s ambitions for bus services throughout the region, and the intention would be to deliver on these ambitions through the Enhanced Partnership and franchising.

The importance of the Enhanced Partnership was highlighted, not just as a prerequisite in the move toward franchising but also in bringing operators to share in a greater collective responsibility, and also in aiding collaboration in regrowing the bus network after the effects of the pandemic. Regaining public confidence in the bus service was emphasised as being a key aspect of this.

Members noted that the report suggested buses would be more frequent, faster, and more reliable, but also that fares would be lower and flatter, and questioned if this was realistic, particularly with the number of passengers being unknown. It was noted that passenger recovery was already strong in the region compared to the national picture, and this was believed to be due to the areas and types of industries in which residents of the region worked. It was also believed that a mass transit system would solve one of the historical difficulties faced by the bus service – the difficulty in sending enough buses through high-traffic corridors such as Leeds-Bradford and Halifax-Huddersfield. The success of flat fares in Bristol, which had been the only area with bus growth in the pre-pandemic period, was also noted.

Members raised the following other questions and concerns:

·       The large costs and high degree of bureaucracy involved in proceeding along the route toward bus franchising were noted as being an unnecessary delay to providing a better bus service to the region.

·       Members questioned if the intention was for the Combined Authority to own buses and lease them to the bus company as part of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) bid. Officers advised that this bid was being made in partnership with the three main bus operators of the region – Transdev, Arriva, and First – and that these operators would purchase the buses, bringing significant match funding to the bid. The Combined Authority was also aiming to match fund a number of buses in Calderdale and Kirklees, in order to improve the overall offer of zero-emission buses.

·       The difference between bringing buses back into public control versus bringing them into public ownership was discussed, with it being noted the Mayor had previously used the latter wording during her campaign. However, it was highlighted that there was a set process for moving into franchising which was being followed, and which was outside of the control of the Mayor.

·       The need to integrate bus use with active travel was discussed. Members noted that as a step toward this, cycle racks were intended to be added at Huddersfield and Dewsbury bus stations.

Members also questioned what control the Combined Authority had over emergency bus funding. Officers advised that as a significant amount of taxpayer money had gone toward supporting the bus industry through payment of concessionary fares at pre-pandemic rates, this came with a commensurate level of influence. Bus operators met with the Combined Authority weekly to discuss the situation and to manage the network in the context of the pandemic.

As part of the move out of lockdown, the Government was expected to continue to ask Combined Authorities to pay concessionary fares at pre-pandemic rates, but it was believed that a new model would be adopted with claims for funding needing to be verified by the Combined Authority. Further news on this was expected to be released next week.

It was emphasised that the priorities for the next six months would be to maintain the integrity of the bus network and to maintain the connectivity of communities served by buses, as agreed by Combined Authority at its June meeting.

Members requested that officers share the terms of reference of the assessment into franchising after the meeting.

Resolved:

a)    That the Transport Committee endorses the approach and key themes for the development of the Bus Service Improvement Plan as set out in the submitted report.

b)    That the Transport Committee endorses the approach for emergency funding for bus services for the remainder of 2021/22 as set out in the submitted report.