Proposals to change the current arrangements for bus subsidies do not go far enough, according to local transport groups.
Respondents to the Department for Transport’s bus subsidy consultation say the proposals leave many questions unanswered, and do not address concerns over funding.
Senior Local Government Association policy consultant, Caroline Green, said: ‘While we welcome the consultation paper and the Government’s proposal to move away from paying bus companies for how much fuel they use, there needs to be a fundamental change devolving the control of money to local authorities,’ .
The Association of Transport Coordinating Officers (ATCO) expressed disappointment that there was ‘no clarity about future levels of funding,’ which it says would be necessary if funding was devolved.
‘There are no details on how a devolved system would work. There are a lot of questions left unanswered – would it be a lump sum or continuous funding? What happens when services cross into a different local authority? Would local authorities take this on en masse or would only certain councils take it up?
‘This opens up more questions on cross-boundary services,’ said ATCO bus chair Alan Hill. The group also said the first reform to bus subsidies should be a full fuel tax rebate for bus companies instead of the current 80%. Graeme Fitton, chair of the County Surveyors’ Society transport committee, said the CSS preferred the option of the Bus Services Operator Grant being given to a relevant local authority. ‘It would enable a more effective and responsive targeting of the grant, according to local needs,’ he said.
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