Decision details

RESOLVED:

1.    That Cabinet welcomes the level of aspiration and the proposed initiatives set out in the draft Bus Service Improvement Plan for Surrey, including the proposed measures aiming to ensure buses can operate reliably on Surrey’s roads.

2.    That Cabinet agrees that the draft Bus Service Improvement Plan for Surrey be submitted to the Department for Transport by the 31 October 2021 deadline, with authority delegated to the Executive Director for Environment, Transport and Infrastructure in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure to agree the final document.

3.    That Cabinet support the proposed draft governance arrangements that will oversee the delivery and further development of the draft Bus Service Improvement Plan.

4.    That a further report is taken to Cabinet once levels of Government funding are confirmed, setting out the interventions and improvements to be delivered in partnership with Surrey’s bus operators.

Reasons for Decisions:

The Government’s aspirations in the National Bus Strategy, to be delivered through Bus Service Improvement Plans and Enhanced Partnership schemes, support the Council’s own intentions within the emerging new Surrey Transport Plan, to encourage modal shift and a deliver a reduction in carbon and other emissions from the transport sector.

A Cabinet Member for Highways & Infrastructure report on 29 June 2021 gave approval to proceed with the development of Enhanced Partnerships with bus operators and to issue a notice of intent to prepare Enhanced Partnership Schemes, as set out in section 138F of the Transport Act 2000.

The Bus Service Improvement Plan in the next task, to be completed and submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT) by 31 October 2021.

This council and our bus operator partners will then develop and enter into formal Enhanced Partnership arrangement, to commence on 1 April 2022.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee]