Agenda item

Cabinet Member: Transport

Forward Plan Ref: 2026/053 

Key Decision

Contact: Alyn Jones, Capital Schemes Lead – Bus Service Improvements (Alyn.Jones@oxfordshire.gov.uk)  

Report by Director of Environment and Highways (CMDT5). 

Proposed changes to the MyBus multi operator ticketing scheme, for 2026/27 and beyond, to ensure its long-term financial sustainability.

The Cabinet Member is RECOMMENDED 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.

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 receive a fixed payment for participating in the scheme.

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