Approximate read time: 50 minutes
The Bus Services (No 2) Bill contains measures to make it easier and faster for local transport authorities to franchise bus services in their area. The Bus Services Act 2017 allowed local authorities to adopt a franchising model, whereby the authority determines the network of services and private sector operators provide them under contract. Only mayoral combined authorities and mayoral combined county authorities currently have the power to do this without first obtaining the secretary of state’s consent; the bill would remove this requirement for all local transport authorities. The 2017 act enabled local transport authorities that did not establish franchising schemes to set up enhanced partnerships with operators instead. The bill seeks to safeguard “socially necessary” services within enhanced partnership models by requiring local transport authorities in these areas to identify such services and specify arrangements that must be followed if a bus operator wants to cancel or vary them. The bill would also enable another model for the provision of local bus services by repealing the ban introduced by the 2017 act on local authorities creating their own municipal bus companies.
The bill also contains measures intended to improve the transparency and accessibility of data about local bus services and operator performance; to give local transport authorities greater enforcement powers to tackle fare evasion and anti-social behaviour; to improve the safety and accessibility of bus stops and bus stations for disabled people; to mandate enhanced criminal records checks for drivers on school services; to mandate regular training for bus drivers and other staff on disability and tackling crime and anti-social behaviour; and to restrict the use of new non-zero emission buses on registered local bus services at some point after 1 January 2030.
The government said in a press released on the day the bill was introduced that it would “improve buses and boost local control of services”, as well as “put buses back at the heart of communities”.
The bill has been welcomed by the bus sector, local authorities and passenger representatives. However, there have been calls for more long-term funding to support the delivery of better bus services and ensure the bill achieves its aims. Passenger groups emphasised the need for passengers to be at the heart of implementing the reforms.
