Decision details

(i)  To approve the draft Southampton Bus Service Improvement Plan as required by the National Bus Strategy for publication and submission to the Department for Transport, and delegate authority to the Executive Director Place to make any necessary changes to the draft BSIP before submission, undertake consultation on the Enhanced Partnership, and carry out the annual BSIP review following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Growth.

(ii)  To approve the temporary change to the Southampton Concessionary Fare scheme to offer a local discretionary enhancement under Localism Act 2011 Section 1 to financially support the bus operator commercial offer for the £1 Evening Bus Fare and to extend the current Concessionary Fare eligibility categories in relation to this discretionary element of the Scheme only, this will apply until 31st March 2022.

(iii)  To delegate authority to the Executive Director Place, following consultation with the Cabinet Members for Growth and Finance to determine the mechanism to administer the Evening Fares support under the Concessionary Fares reimbursement provisions.

1.  A Bus Service Improvement Plan is required under the National Bus Strategy that covers the Local Transport Authority (LTA) area and extending into neighbouring areas.  This covers all wards in Southampton and needs to be published by 31st October 2021.

2.  A temporary enhancement to the Southampton Concessionary Fares scheme is required to be made by Cabinet to support Southampton’s economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

3.  Statutory Consultation is required on any proposed Enhanced Partnership.

1.  Do Nothing – not recommended; as failure to publish a BSIP as set out in the NBS, would have an impact on the level of funding SCC receives from central Government for bus services (Supported Services), Concessionary Fares Reimbursement, Bus Recovery Grant (BRG) and Bus Services Operator Grant (BSOG) as set out in the National Bus Strategy.  It is also an expectation of Government, as set out in the NBS that LTAs, as a minimum, work towards the creation of an EP and development of a BSIP to continue to access future national funding opportunities.

2.  £1 Evening Fare – not to provide support to the bus operators commercial offer – not recommended; the changes to the evening parking charges in SCC on and off street parking have impacted on bus patronage in Southampton.  Bus operators may reduce evening service frequency and reduce investment in buses in Southampton.