30 October 2008

CSS GIVES MIXED REACTION TO LOCAL TRANSPORT BILL

Measures within the Local Transport Bill to support the development of bus partnerships do not go far enough in enhancing passenger benefits, according to CSS.

While it welcomes some parts of the Bill, CSS is concerned that guidance given on Quality Partnership Schemes (QPSs) may not enable local transport authorities (LTAs) effectively to coordinate fares, timetables and routes.

And it says that it is important for the Government to take the opportunity to include, in Bill amendments, a mechanism to compel operators to accept multi-operator ticketing arrangements.

In its response to the consultation, CSS raises a number of other concerns:

• The Quality Partnership Scheme (QPS) model does not contain any means of compensation for a local authority for expenditure the authority has made if the bus operator ends its participation in a QPS.
• Expanded advice would be helpful on what may constitute authority provided ‘facilities’, particularly in rural areas.

Amongst the elements which CSS welcomes are:

• That the role for Traffic Commissioners in Quality Partnership Schemes (between local authorities and local bus service operators) relates to dealing with appeals, rather than giving approval
• Wide definition of ‘facilities’ in the Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) between local transport authorities and local bus service operators.

Dr Ian Harrison, who is a member of the CSS Transport Committee, said: “Proposals for Bus Partnerships contained within the Local Transport Bill go some way towards putting passengers first. The Bill aims to give LTAs wider and stronger powers to make QPSs, and recognises the role of Voluntary Partnerships.

“Local authorities in general welcome the opportunity to work with local bus operators and these measures should help to ensure that local transport authorities and bus operators are active in improving reliability and punctuality.

“However, CSS is concerned that the Government has missed a trick in not taking measures far enough to really enhance bus passenger benefits.”

CSS

ends

Media contact  

Susan Tolman, Daybreak Communications office 0845 644 3845; mobile 07786 543430; susan.tolman@daybreakcomm.co.uk 

Notes to editors

• CSS represents senior local authority officers who manage some of the most pressing issues facing the UK today. Membership is drawn from all four corners of the United Kingdom with members responsible for three-quarters of the road network, two thirds of the land area and just under half of the population of England and Wales. Operating at the strategic tier of local government, they are closely involved in crucial transport, waste management, environment, planning, energy and economic development issues.
• The Local Transport Bill includes measures to promote more effective partnership working between local authorities and bus operators, including Voluntary Partnership Agreements and Quality Partnership Schemes.
• The closing date for the Local Transport Bill - Consultation on bus partnership guidance and regulations – is Friday 31 October. The Government intends publishing a final version of the guidance later this year if the Bill receives Royal Assent.
• Voluntary Partnerships Agreements (QPAs) are voluntary agreements under which local transport authorities and local bus service operators undertake to provide particular services to a particular standard.
• The QPS model was introduced by the Transport Act 2000 as a means by which a local transport authority (LTA) could agree to invest in improved facilities at specific locations along bus routes (eg. bus stops or bus lanes) and operators who wished to use those facilities must agree to provide services of a particular standard (eg. new buses, or driver training standards). Under proposals in the Bill QPSs would be able, for the first time, to specify frequencies, timings and maximum fares as standards of service so long as there are no “admissible objections” from “relevant operators”.