Overview

The Bus Services Bill aims to improve bus services in England by giving local authorities more power to regulate and improve services, including the ability to franchise bus routes and enhance transparency and accountability. The bill also places restrictions on local authorities forming bus companies.

Description

This bill makes several key changes to bus service regulations in England. Amendments significantly alter the processes for franchising bus routes, introducing requirements for the Secretary of State's consent for most franchising schemes unless it is within a mayoral combined authority area or similar. The bill also mandates independent audits of proposed franchising schemes and clarifies the Secretary of State's role in providing guidance on these processes. Crucially, the bill restricts local authorities' ability to establish their own bus companies to provide local services, preventing competition with existing private operators.

Key Changes:

• Franchising: Increased Secretary of State control over the franchising process, with exceptions for mayoral combined authorities.
• Auditing: Introduction of mandatory independent audits of franchising proposals, with guidance from the Secretary of State.
• Local Authority Restrictions: Prohibition on local authorities forming bus companies to provide local services.

Government Spending

The bill's financial implications are not explicitly stated in the provided text. The cost of implementing the new regulations and overseeing the franchising processes is likely to represent a government expense, although exact figures are unavailable.

Groups Affected

• Local Authorities: Their powers to regulate and provide bus services are significantly altered, particularly regarding franchising and the creation of new bus companies. Some will lose power to act independently.
• Bus Companies: The bill’s impact will vary depending on the success of franchising schemes in their regions. They might face increased regulation and competition depending on the choices of local authorities.
• Passengers: The bill aims to improve bus services, potentially leading to better quality, reliability, and accessibility. However, the outcome remains subject to the actual implementation.
• Secretary of State: The role of the Secretary of State in overseeing the franchising process and providing guidance is substantially increased, thereby increasing their responsibilities.

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