Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 19
19
Deferred
Expand Bus Centre of Excellence to provide dedicated franchising support for rural authorities
Conclusion
The Department should expand the Bus Centre of Excellence (BCoE) to include a dedicated support strand for rural and other local transport authorities which may struggle to implement franchising successfully within their current capacity. This strand should focus on building local capacity by providing access to legal and procurement advice and establishing embedded regional advisory teams. The BCoE should also help reduce administrative burdens by developing standardised templates for key documents such as data-sharing and non-disclosure agreements and offer training in the commercial and operational aspects of running bus services. (Recommendation, Paragraph 74) 49
Government response summary AI-generated
The government discusses implementing Outcomes Frameworks for mayoral authorities and a Bus Indicator Pilot to extend outcomes-based approaches for accountability, but does not address the recommendation to expand the Bus Centre of Excellence for capacity building support.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
The Government is committed to ensuring that all LTAs interested in franchising receive the support they need to consider the range of available franchising options, and to support them in making informed decisions and implementing the approach that is most suitable for their area. We will be launching the Bus Reform and Franchising Pilots, with a rural focus, to guide LTAs through the pre-assessment or feasibility stage of bus franchising. The programme aims to gather intelligence on the effectiveness of each franchising models and their implementation, which can be shared more widely to support future delivery of franchising models. The pilot will give LTAs the support needed to understand which model of franchising is most appropriate for them. We aim to test approximately five different franchising models to investigate how they can be implemented and deliver improved bus services for passengers in more rural locations. The Bus Centre of Excellence (BCoE) has set up a franchising network group so that bus practitioners can come together to share good practice, discuss challenges and exchange ideas. The Department is working with the BCoE on a wider programme of support on franchising and for EPs which, in addition to the franchising network, includes events, workshops, webinars and the development of training courses. The BCoE recently supported the Quality Rural Bus 2025 Conference, which brought bus practitioners together to discuss how to address the unique needs of rural areas. We recognise the additional challenges that rural communities face with regard to local bus provision, and appreciate the support that a dedicated strand for rural areas as part of the BCoE could provide. We will ask the BCoE to explore with LTAs and their representative groups whether they would value a separate group, as recommended, or would prefer to retain the current arrangements. The Department is also developing a guide to help LTAs determine what delivery model might work best for them, whether that be an EP, a form of franchising or setting up a local authority bus company (LABCo). We intend for an early version of this guide to be ready by autumn, following initial testing with some LTAs, and the plan is to continue to develop it as more material from our work on franchising and the EP Review becomes available.
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