To approve submission of the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) for Herefordshire at appendix 1. This being due to the Department for Transport (DfT) no later than 31 October 2021 to meet the deadline of the Government’s National bus strategy for England: Bus back better.

Submitting the BSIP to DfT will assist the council in securing ongoing government funding support for buses and the development of the council’s public transport strategy. This will support the investment in buses that cabinet identified when it determined its preferred transport strategy following the Hereford Transport Strategy Review.

a)    Cabinet member authorises submission of the Bus Service Improvement Plan for Herefordshire to DfT.

1.     Not to progress the requirements set out in the NBS. This is not advised as it would result in the council losing access to central Government funding that supports bus services in the County, this funding is detailed below. In addition, not progressing the NBS would not align with the Cabinet decision taken 3 December 2020 which confirmed the administration’s intentions to progress package B of the Hereford Transport Strategy Review (HTSR).

1. Bus Recovery Grant (BRG) - a grant distributed to bus operators by the council to off-set the financial effect of reduced passenger numbers on subsidised bus services, services contracted by the council.
2. Bus Services Operators Grant (BSOG) – an annual grant received by the council that contributes to the council’s budget for supporting contracted bus services in the County, currently an annual grant of £218k is received.