Agenda item - Bus Service Improvement Plan Draft Enhanced Partnership Agreement

Report of Interim Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture

That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee:

1)             Notes the indicative allocation of £27.9m funding to deliver the BSIP and the steps needed to secure this funding.

2)             Approves the draft Enhanced Partnership Agreement and Scheme.

3)             Grants delegated authority to the Executive Director for Economy, Environment & Culture to approve any amendments to the Enhanced Partnership Agreement and Scheme that the Executive Director, in consultation with the Chair(s) of ETS and ETS Lead Spokespersons, considers appropriate or expedient or following any feedback that may be received from the DfT and responses from members of the Quality Bus Partnership.

14.1      The Committee considered a report of the Interim Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture that provided an update on the indicative funding awarded by the Department for Transport (DfT) for the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and set out the process required to secure this funding and the priorities officers recommend in response to the DfT’s requirements. The report also provided a draft of the Enhanced Partnership Agreement. This will be an agreement between the Council and bus operators setting out the measures each will deliver, including those enabled by this funding.

14.2      In response to a question from Councillor Platts, it was confirmed that soft market testing was undertaken for a bus route around East Brighton that identified that more funding was required than allocated. The BSIP funding meant that it was possible to deliver the service, and it was an ambition but was also contingent on other factors.

14.3      In reply to a query from the Chair, it was explained that fare simplification was a priority and there would be a particular focus on young people in order to foster sustainable travel behaviours.

14.4      In response to a question from Councillor Bagaeen, it was noted that the staff resource was not currently in place to deliver the programme and hires and a restructure would be required to be able provide a formal timeline of implementation on what was a complex area. Some initiatives could be delivered in the short-term.

14.5      Resolved-

That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee:

1)             Notes the indicative allocation of £27.9m funding to deliver the BSIP and the steps needed to secure this funding.

2)             Approves the draft Enhanced Partnership Agreement and Scheme.

3)             Grants delegated authority to the Executive Director for Economy, Environment & Culture to approve any amendments to the Enhanced Partnership Agreement and Scheme that the Executive Director, in consultation with the Chair(s) of ETS and ETS Lead Spokespersons, considers appropriate or expedient or following any feedback that may be received from the DfT and responses from members of the Quality Bus Partnership.