September 16 2024

Rebecka Steven, CPT’s Senior Policy Adviser, shares her views on recent news from Whitehall 

Last week, a Statutory Instrument (SI) was laid in Parliament to enable all local transport authorities (LTAs) to franchise bus services. This does not mean that every LTA will have  to franchise, only that the option will be available to them. At the same time, the Government launched a consultation to update the current franchising guidance, aiming to speed up and simplify the current process.  

This updated guidance sets out that the Secretary of State will consider the following before granting consent to an LTA to carry out a franchising assessment: 

  • that the LTA has a clear vision for improving buses – and what this is; 
  • that the LTA has identified the kind of franchising it wants to pursue; 
  • that the LTA has a plan for how it intends to develop the franchising assessment and has identified, after discussion with DfT officials, what support is required from DfT; 
  • that a particular office holder (for example the Leader of the Council or the portfolio holder for transport) is responsible for the development of the scheme. 

CPT is now consulting its members and will be responding to the consultation on the amended franchising guidance (which will be updated again when the Better Buses Bill becomes law sometime next year).   

Unsurprisingly, this announcement was covered extensively across several national news outlets, many of whom invited CPT to provide comment (See BBC News, the Financial Times, The Telegraph, and BBC R4 Today (2:20:51) as well as on BBC 5 Live (at 7:30)) 

As CPT’s CEO Graham Vidler emphasised in those interviews, CPT is pleased to see the Government recognise the vital role that buses play in delivering its mission to grow the economy, break down barriers to growth and bring down carbon emissions. As research recently published by CPT shows the bus industry provides an £11 billion boost to the British economy and helps deliver services that are great value for money: Every £1 invested in better infrastructure for buses and better services can generate returns of £4.55 for the wider economy.  

Whatever form of regulation comes down the road, operators share the Government’s ambition to grow passenger numbers and make bus services even better. A concentrated effort to get buses out of traffic and increase bus speeds is the easiest way to do this, making sure the passengers benefit from reduced congestion, a faster journey time, and more reliable services.  

The Government has an ideal opportunity to further demonstrate its commitment to buses at the upcoming Budget on 30th October, where it is vital that the sector, and the passengers that rely on it, receive clarity on the future of funding for bus services, including the £2 fare cap.

Read CPT's Budget submission here.