Decision details

The Chair introduced the item to the meeting, invited speakers to make their addresses and responded to their points in turn.

 

Officers noted that the My Bus scheme had seen substantial growth in usage since its introduction, leading to costs significantly exceeding the funding available through the Department for Transport bus grant.

 

Officers explained that the proposed fare revisions were intended to secure the long-term sustainability of the scheme whilst retaining the benefits of an integrated multi-operator ticket, whilst also proposing the introduction of a 28-day ticket, simplified reimbursement arrangements and further work on fares and ticketing through the OxBus: 2040 Plan and Enhanced Partnership Plus programme.

 

The Chair noted that the My Bus scheme had been a significant success in encouraging bus use, particularly among younger passengers, but that increased demand and changes to national bus fare policies had resulted in the scheme becoming financially unsustainable under its current pricing structure.

 

The Chair expressed concern about the impact of the proposed changes on young people and emphasised the benefits the scheme had delivered in terms of integrated ticketing and supporting public transport use.

 

The Chair noted his intention to write to the Secretary of State for Transport regarding the funding pressures facing local authorities.

 

The Chair welcomed commitments to undertake further work through the emerging OxBus 2040 Plan and Enhanced Partnership arrangements, including greater engagement with young people and consideration of future multi-operator ticketing options. An additional recommendation g) encapsulating this request was included in the recommendations.

 

The Chair also stated that any future fare increases should be the subject of a further report rather than delegated authority, which meant he would reject recommendation b).

 

The Chair thanked officers for their work, speakers for their contributions and agreed to recommendations a), c), d), e), f) and g), whilst rejecting recommendation b).

 

RESOLVED to:

 

Approve the following changes to the MyBus ticketing scheme:

 

a) Implementation of ticket price increases from 1 August 2026 or as soon as practically possible after this date.

 

b) Delegate authority to the Director for Environment & Highways, in consultation with the Cabinet Member, to cancel or postpone the potential further increase in fares in January 2027 – where alternative funding is identified or where the August 2026 change has resulted in the overall financial position of the MyBus scheme remaining within the available budget. (REJECTED)

 

 c) Utilisation of the remaining c.£300k BSIP/Bus Grant funding carried forward from 2025/26 to support the costs of the MyBus scheme in 2026/27 (if required).

 

d) Introduction of a new 28 day (monthly) MyBus ticket product for both adults and young people from 1 April 2027 in line with Government Enhanced Partnership requirements, giving delegated authority for the price to be set by the Director for Environment & Highways in consultation with the Cabinet Member.

 

e) Introduction of a simplified reimbursement approach for smaller operators, whereby those with expected monthly reimbursements below £50

 

f) Introduction of a standard refund policy for MyBus tickets across all participating operators, to ensure a consistent approach.

 

g) To explore the possibilities of future multi-operator tickets through the OxBUS 2040: Plan for Bus and Enhanced Partnership Plus and engagement with youth organisations