The purpose of this report is to set out the proposals for the Oxfordshire Bus Enhanced Partnership (EP), reflecting the Council’s indicative Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding allocation and the schemes / measures which this is proposed to fund. The draft Partnership document would then be submitted to the Department for Transport (no later than the end of June) and consulted upon, initially with bus operators, with any changes required included in the Final version, due to be submitted later in 2022

The Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee are RECOMMENDED to

Provide any comments on the Draft Enhanced Partnership and supporting documents prior to their consideration by Cabinet.

The Chair invited Bill Cotton (Corporate Director for Environment and Place) and John Disley to introduce the report.

Bill Cotton and John Disley took the meeting through the report by saying that the purpose of this report was to set out the proposals for the Oxfordshire Bus Enhanced Partnership (EP), reflecting the Council’s indicative Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding allocation and the schemes / measures which this was proposed to fund. The draft Partnership document would then be submitted to the Department for Transport (no later than the end of June) and consulted upon, initially with bus operators, with any changes required included in the Final version, due to be submitted later in 2022.

The following points were raised during the debate:

·       The Committee welcomed the report and congratulated the officers on the work done so far.  Some Members of the Committee felt that there was a need for Bus Commissioner/Champion within the Council.

·       Some Members of the Committee felt that frequency of buses and (in rural areas) coverage could be improved.  For some other bus routes 3-to-4-mile journey would last over 30 minutes due to buses stopping at every bus stop in rural areas. 

·       The Committee felt that stronger focus should be on the governance of the new Enhanced Partnership Board by expressing their concern that there were no Council Members or representatives of the minor bus operators or volunteer services on that Board.  The Committee wanted to know rationale for selection of the governance model of the Board as presented in Annex 2 of the report.

·       The Committee suggested  a fully integrated ticketing system, like it existed in other parts of the country. One of the benefits of an integrated ticketing system was all tickets would be visible on a single platform which would contribute to easier and hassle-free journeys. Having an integrated ticketing system used to be primarily for convenience, but now it had become a necessity.

·       The Committee questioned powers of the Enhanced Partnership in terms of changing bus routes, and how much that would be still in hands of private operators. The Committee highlighted the benefits of ‘dial-a-ride’ services – under Bus Back Better, local authorities were encouraged to establish such services. 

·       The Committee questioned of the balance of obligations between the Council and bus operators under the draft Plan, considering the Council’s to be significantly greater than operators’.

·       The Committee question if allocated funding would be sufficient for the whole programme, and where would additional funding be acquired from, if needed.

·       It was suggested bus rapid transport be considered.

·       The Committee asked the Cabinet to ensure that the main Board has equally balanced local authority and bus operator representation, representation from each District and City Council, and smaller bus operators on the Board. The Committee was aware that involvement of partner organisations was not limited by formal Board membership, and that would be opportunities for partners to be involved in the EP working groups; however, the Committee felt that consideration should be given

to formal partners’ attendance at EP Board meetings.

It was RESOLVED that all comments and questions by the Committee be taken on board by officers and the Cabinet.