The Bus Services Act 2017: new powers and opportunities
The Bus Services Act 2017 received Royal Assent on 27 April 2017. The aim of the Act is to improve bus services for passengers by providing local authorities, the Secretary of State and bus operators with a new toolkit to enable improvements to be made to bus services in their areas. In particular the Act allows for stronger arrangements for partnerships between bus operators and local authorities as well as granting franchising powers for local authorities in England.
The purpose of this document is to outline the new schemes and the opportunities that they offer.
The Bus Services Act 2017 and disabled people
The powers in the new Act Better journeys could offer:
- Services that are more accessible for passengers with disabilities
- Thriving community transport services
- Different types of discounts, for apprentices, job seekers and other groups
- More joined up services - bringing regular bus services, school services and health transport together
Providing and inclusive service
On average, disabled people take ten times as many trips by bus as they do by rail. With one in twelve people being disabled, it is essential that bus services meet the needs of everyone wishing to use them. When designing an inclusive service
Where authorities are involved in the design of services, such as when establishing franchising or partnership arrangements it is recommended that they:
- Consult at an early stage with disabled people and groups that represent them
- Ensure that vehicles meet acceptable accessibility standards
- Consider requiring or encouraging the provision of enhanced accessibility features (e.g. a second wheelchair space, assistance cards, additional audible and visible or the acceptance of mobility scooters)
- Ensure that ticketing systems, are accessible
- Encourage bus operators to make publicly available information on features of their service which assist disabled passengers
All bus drivers are to receive disability awareness training as part of their Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) - mandatory from March 2018.
Maximising social value
The Social Value Act 2012 requires public sector agencies, when commissioning a public service, to consider how the service they are procuring could bring added economic, environmental and social benefits.
In relation to the Social Value Act this overview suggests;
“Local authorities regularly commission and procure local bus services where they feel that the needs of the local community are not being met by the existing services. In addition, any authority that pursues franchising will be responsible for commissioning and procuring most local bus services in their area. We would encourage local authorities who are commissioning and procuring local bus services, be that through franchising or by tendering for supported services, to consider the provisions in the Social Value Act and the steps they could take to secure wider social, economic and environmental benefits for their local area. Even where the provisions of the Social Value Act do not apply because the procurement value falls below relevant thresholds, local authorities should still look to apply the core principles of the Social Value Act when procuring services.”
Rural communities and total transport
In most areas, particularly rural ones, the transport mix includes a variety of public sector funded transport services that cater for a range of transport needs. These can include:
- non-emergency patient transport;
- adult social care transport;
- school bus services;
- community transport services, such as dial-a-ride; and
- subsidised local bus services
The Total Transport concept aims ensure services are provided in a joined up way via joint commissioning of public sector funded transport that avoids unnecessary duplication and provides a better service to passengers overall.
The most effective Total Transport approach will require co-operation between public bodies such as local authorities and NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups.
In April 2015, the Department allocated £7.6m to 37 schemes run by 36 local authorities in England to pilot Total Transport solutions in their areas. These pilots were focused on rural areas and have indicated that integration is possible and has the potential to deliver the following benefits to passengers.
