Issue - meetings
Future Bus Regulation Options
Meeting: 21/10/2025 - Cabinet (Item 141)
141 Future Bus Regulation Options 
PDF 257 KB
Cabinet
Member: Transport Management
Forward Plan Ref: 2025/091
Contact: Katherine Broomfield, Technical Lead
Katharine.broomfield@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Report by Director of Environment and Highways (CA9)
The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to
(a) approve the
development of an Enhanced Partnership Plus (EP+) approach.
(b) delegate the
development of the EP+ to the Director of Environment & Highways, including
defining the desired and achievable outputs of the EP+, informed by passenger
and resident feedback.
(c) delegate
formal adoption of the EP+ agreement to the Cabinet Member for Transport
Management through the Cabinet Member Delegated Decisions process.
(d) elect not to
undertake any further work on bus franchising or municipal operation at the
current time.
Additional documents:
- CA211025 Future Bus Regulation Models Annex 1 Oxfordshire Bus Delivery Options (Bus Report), item 141
PDF 1 MB
- CA211025 Future Bus Regulation Models Annex 2 Equalities Impact Assessment (EQIA), item 141
PDF 346 KB
- CA211025 Future Bus Regulation Models Annex 3 Climate Impact Assessment (CIA), item 141
PDF 406 KB
- CA211025 Future Bus Regulation Models Annex 4 Example Leicester Buses EP+ proposal, item 141
PDF 157 KB
- CA211025 Future Bus Regulation Models Annex 5 Updates on franchising in other areas, item 141
PDF 111 KB
Decision:
Recommendations approved.
Minutes:
Cabinet had before
it a report on bus regulation and ownership options relevant to
Oxfordshire. Following a motion passed
by the Council in 2023, a consultant had been asked to review options for bus
franchising and municipal operation. They were also asked to consider the
effectiveness of the existing Oxfordshire Enhanced Partnership (EP).
Councillor Andrew
Gant, Cabinet Member for Transport Management, presented the report.
Cabinet members discussed the high costs and
logistical challenges of franchising, including depot purchases, and noted that
current multi-operator ticketing and partnerships already delivered many
benefits.
Councillor Gant moved and Councillor Roberts seconded the recommendations, and they were approved.
RESOLVED to
(a) approve the development of an Enhanced Partnership
Plus (EP+) approach.
(b) delegate the development of the EP+ to the Director
of Environment & Highways, including defining the desired and achievable
outputs of the EP+, informed by passenger and resident feedback.
(c) delegate formal adoption of the EP+ agreement to the
Cabinet Member for Transport Management through the Cabinet Member Delegated
Decisions process.
(d) elect not to undertake any further work on bus
franchising or municipal operation at the current time