Issue details

The National Bus Strategy, Bus Back Better, was published by the Government on 15 March 2021. It set out a key role for the bus, outlined the future of bus funding and the commitments needed from Local Transport Authorities and bus operators. The strategy can be accessed here: Bus back better - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The strategy seeks to strengthen the role of Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) through devolution of funding, currently identified as £1.1bn.

The Strategy required the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to enter into an Enhanced Partnership with bus operators in West Yorkshire, in accordance with the provisions in the Bus Services Act of 2017, to access this funding pot and continue to receive the Covid-19 Bus Services Support Grant. This was created on 1 April 2022.

The Enhanced Partnership will work towards delivering on the ambitions of the West Yorkshire Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and, to that end, set out what will be required of and delivered by members of the West Yorkshire Bus Alliance.

On 4 April 2022, West Yorkshire Combined Authority received notification from the Department for Transport that they had been awarded an indicative settlement of £69,974,070 revenue funding over three financial years to support BSIP delivery.

To confirm the final funding allocation, the DfT has asked for this funding to be incorporated into an Enhanced Partnership Scheme, detailing how the funding will prioritised according to DfT’s key priorities of reduced and simplified fares and increased service frequencies and new/expanded routes.

The Combined Authority is required to take a decision to approve the publication of the Notice of Intent that a draft BSIP Enhanced Partnership Scheme has been prepared (subject to feedback from DfT) and also approve proceeding with subsequent statutory milestones in relation to the Scheme, including operator objection period, consultation and making the Scheme.