Options for future of bus regulation in Oxfordshire on the agenda
An existing partnership between bus operators and Oxfordshire County Council could be strengthened even further in a move expected to improve services across the county.
Oxfordshire County Council is recommended to develop an Enhanced Partnership Plus (EP+) agreement with local bus operators to build on the success of the existing arrangement by strengthening the commitments on both parties to deliver improvements for passengers.
The proposed approach will be presented to the council’s cabinet on 21 October. The report recommends an EP+ to deliver better outcomes in a more timely, cost-effective and low-risk manner than alternative options.
Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said: “Bus services are vital for Oxfordshire’s communities, economy, and the environment. I am pleased that this important item is being considered by the council and the opportunity for improvements it presents.
“As a council we have a good, close working relationship with our bus operators and regularly discuss matters such as routes and ticketing to help deliver the service that people in Oxfordshire need.”
To support the cabinet report, a study commissioned by the council following the passing of a motion in September 2023 assessed the costs, benefits, and impacts of options like franchising or creating a municipal bus company in Oxfordshire, drawing on experiences from other local authorities.
This issue is particularly timely as the government’s emerging Bus Services (No.2) Bill is expected to become law later this year. The bill will make it easier for local transport authorities such as Oxfordshire County Council to create new municipal bus companies or to pursue bus franchising.
Franchising offers authorities the ability to control and direct all aspects of bus provision, including the ability to plan and design bus services, set fares and define ticketing products, and manage information and marketing. However, it is a lengthy and expensive process and involves taking on more responsibility, more risk and significant cost, particularly if the council were to purchase bus depots and vehicles.
Similarly, municipal ownership, where the authority owns and operates its own bus services, also carries high set-up and operational costs, exposure to market competition, and financial risk.
Cllr Gant added: “For many reasons, including geography and historic relationships with the bodies that run the bus services, there is no common solution that suits everywhere. Just because something works well in one part of the country, doesn’t necessarily mean it will work in Oxfordshire.
“We remain committed to tackling the biggest challenge facing bus services in Oxfordshire – congestion, which increases bus journey times and impacts on service reliability and punctuality. A change of model alone would not address these challenges. I look forward to discussing the officer recommendations with cabinet colleagues on 21 October.”
The timeframe for the government’s reorganisation of local government through the creation of unitary authorities and devolution means that pursuing the franchising route in Oxfordshire at this stage would likely be an unproductive use of effort.
If approved, a full EP+ proposal will be developed and brought forward for decision at a later date.
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