Devon urged to join revolution on the buses

Questions over funding for radical bus shake-up

By Guy Henderson and Bradley Gerrard

Devon’s councils could take more control of local bus services after the government announced measures to empower local leaders.

Transport secretary Louise Haigh said it was the first stop on the journey to better buses, and all local transport authorities across England can now run their own services if they want to.

Exeter City Council leader Phil Bialyk (Lab, Exwick) has called on the county council to use the new powers to transform bus services in the city.

Cllr Bialyk, a former bus driver, said he had been inundated with requests from local people for better and more reliable services.

“We have lots of problems at the moment,” he said. “Pointing fingers isn’t going to help, but it is fair to say a lot of people are pretty fed up with both the service and how changes are consulted on with things like timetables and routes.

“Having a reliable and affordable bus service really is at the heart of so many parts of improving lives for residents in Exeter.

“Now there is nothing in their way, I want Devon to be one of the first to sort this for people.

“This really is a golden opportunity. I am urging Devon to work at pace and scale to deliver this for our residents.”

But the county council says it already plays a significant role in bus services  and is spending nearly £13.5 million this financial year to subsidise routes.

“I have no spare cash in my back pocket,” said Cllr Andrea Davis (Con, Combe Martin Rural), the cabinet member who oversees transport.

“I’m very much for anything that improves bus services for Devon’s residents and visitors but what we don’t know yet is whether there would be any funding for it.”

The county council, which spent just over £12 million in the previous financial year subsidising routes where commercial servicea aren’t viable, is part of the Devon Bus Enhanced Partnership, an agreement between the local authority and bus operators to work together to improve local services.

“Any changes would need to be affordable for the people of Devon,” said Cllr Davis.

She said Devon had done very well to keep its rural network going but every month is a struggle to keep the network as it is.

Councillors in Torbay will debate a new Local Transport Plan at a meeting next week. It says the document it will discuss supports its goal of a ‘happy, healthy and prosperous’ Torbay, and includes an analysis of local bus services.

However, if the proposed Combined County Authority (CCA) devolution arrangement which pairs Torbay and Devon councils comes into being, the transport plan will no longer be solely the bay’s responsibility and a new strategy will have to be drawn up.

The CCA deal was announced earlier this year by the then-Conservative government. Exact details have yet to be finalised, but local transport services will be part of the its workload if it does go ahead.

A spokesman for Torbay Council said there are currently no plans to take more control of buses, and the council would go on working in partnership with service operators.

“Torbay Council will review the published guidance for consultation in light of the government’s announcement,” said the spokesman. “Bus franchising was included in the devolution agreement with the government but there are currently no plans to implement.”

Speaking to Radio Exe’s Devoncast podcast last month, Stagecoach South West managing director Peter Knight said: “Stagecoach nationally welcomes the opportunity for debate and discussion about the ownership or risk model for bus services going forward.

“They are currently privatised, but working with the deep partnership we have with Devon County Council and other stakeholders, there is control locally of bus services…There is the ability for local officials that where there is a need for a bus service, funding will be made available if it is available. We are very happy to run services that are specified by local authorities but it has to be backed up by relevant funding for those services.”