On 15 March 2021 the Department for Transport (DFT) published Bus back better: National bus strategy for England.

The National Bus Strategy (NBS) sets out government’s vision for improving bus services across the country covering both recovery from Covid-19 and longer terms aspirations to reverse the trend in decreasing patronage. The NBS provides clear direction that government expects local transport authorities to work in partnership with their local bus operators to develop plans for service improvement and longer term investment. It has identified the need for a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) to be published by the end of October 2021 and the establishment of Enhanced Partnership agreements with bus operators from April 2022.
The NBS makes it clear that future central government funding for local bus services will be dependent on Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) committing to establishing an EP and government funding provided directly to operators will be dependent on each of them signing up to an EP.

The development of a BSIP and establishment of an EP is consistent with Cabinet’s recent decision confirming its preferred transport strategy.
DfT has provided £100k to the council in the form of a capacity grant to progress the work required to deliver a BSIP and EP. This funding will be used to cover the full costs of contract NBSHC211 with the 10 month extension being dependent on further funding being received from DfT.