Recommendation 9

The Department has not made clear what specific improvements to local bus services it expects the duty to list socially necessary services to deliver. Designating a service as ‘socially necessary’ under an Enhanced Partnership will not automatically guarantee its long-term provision or trigger additional funding, nor will it necessarily improve the frequency and reliability of those services. Without a ring-fenced funding stream and a requirement for operators to commit to a minimum level of provision for socially necessary services, there is a risk that local authorities will not have any practical power to use the new duty to improve services. (Conclusion, Paragraph 48) 47