A report providing the Committee with an update on progress with development of the schemes and initiatives included within the Bus Service Improvement Plan, following the announcement by the Department for Transport on 4 April 2022 of indicative funding allocations for selected authorities, including £26.3m for Reading for the three year period from 2022/23 to 2024/25.

The Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report that provided an update on progress with developments of the schemes and initiatives that had been included in the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), following the announcement by the Department for Transport (DfT) on 4 April 2022 of indicative funding allocations for selected authorities, including up to £26.3m for Reading for the three year period from 2022/23 to 2024/25.

The report explained that the DfT had outlined a timetable for Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) to submit further information and updated Enhanced Partnership (EP) Schemes to them over the summer of 2022, in order that funding allocations could be confirmed by Government.  The funding provisionally allocated to Reading was £15,939,000 capital and £10,324,600 revenue grant funding.  The DfTs priorities for capital BSIP funding were bus priority measures, specifically bus lanes and other passenger improvements such as bus stops and information systems.  The capital schemes which were currently being explored further for Reading were set out in the report.  The core objectives of these schemes were to reduce overall network congestion, reduce journey times and support increased patronage on key parts of the local bus network.  Other capital enhancements that were being explored included traffic signal upgrade measures to assist buses, bus stop enhancements including green roofed shelters, town centre public transport infrastructure and a review of the locations or real time displays and upgrades to be DDA compliant equipment. 

The DfT priorities for revenue funding included fare initiatives to make ‘ambitious and eye-catching initiatives that reduced fares’ and therefore increased passenger numbers, and increased service frequencies and new/expanded routes that served identified priorities such as employment sites.

The level of indicative revenue funding that had been allocated to Reading provided a significant opportunity to incentivise people to choose to travel by bus, alongside helping residents with the current rising costs of living.  The objective was to deliver significant savings in travel costs for bus passenger, encourage increased bus travel and therefore support the local bus network.  Discussions were on-going with the main bus operators in Reading regarding a proposed fares reduction scheme which would offer ‘Greater Reading Day Tickets’ at the prices to be agreed with the operators.  In return, bus companies would receive compensation to the value of their commercial products.  An important aspect of this initiative was to ensure compliance with Competition Law and therefore officers had been in correspondence with the Competition and Markets Authority and external legal advice had been sought to ensure the scheme accorded with all relevant legislation.  In addition to the fares initiative the report set out further revenue schemes that were currently being explored.

Finally, the report explained that officers were continuing to work with all local operators and the DfT to develop the BSIP scheme proposals and to update the EP in line with Government requirements.  The EP included details of on-going governance and partnership working arrangements with all stakeholders, including the establishment of an EP Board and EP Forum which were currently being developed.  In additions, officers were continuing to work with the other Berkshire authorities to establish a Berkshire wide forum to discuss cross-boundary services.

Councillor Page told the Committee that although the £26m funding was welcomed the original bid had been close to £100m, however some other authorities had received nothing.

In answer to a question officers reported that the need for services north of the river had been recognised in the strategy, but with the short time scale focus had been on schemes that could be delivered.  A scheme had been identified in Caversham, alongside the operators, so an application could be made for the scheme in the future.

Resolved –

(1)     That the indicative funding allocation from Government of £26.3m for delivery of the Bus Service Improvement Plan, consisting of £15.9m capital and £10.3m revenue grant funding be noted;

(2)       That the on-going discussions with Government and local bus operators to further develop the BSIP proposals in advance of an announcement on final funding allocations by the Department for Transport be noted.