Bus plan gathers speed
NINE OUT OF TEN COUNCILS GIVE BACKING TO FRANCHISE PLAN
GREATER Manchester is nearing the finish line for taking control of its bus network as nine out of 10 councils voted in favour of reform at a special meeting.
It means post-pandemic passengers could be riding on services managed by leaders, with capped fares, consistent timetables and the historically elusive capacity to integrate ticketing across buses, trains and trams.
If reform jumps the final hurdle – the green light from Mayor Andy Burnham – there would also likely be a uniform livery across all services, akin to the pre-Thatcher days of Manchester’s iconic orange buses.
Earlier this year, following a review of the proposal in light of the pandemic, transport chiefs had recommended leaders pursue a franchised system, stating that under all but the ‘least likely’ economic scenarios modelled, it would provide best value to the taxpayer.
That recommendation was then approved before scrutiny ahead of yesterday’s Greater Manchester Combined Authority meeting, where the 10 councils – except Bolton – voted in favour of the proposal.
The final decision now lies with Mayor Andy Burnham, who is expected to make an announcement this week. If it receives the mayor’s stamp of approval, Greater Manchester would become the first place outside of London to have a regulated system since the 1980s.
Bus reform was originally on the agenda for last year, but the process was stalled due to the pandemic.
Passenger numbers have since plummeted, leading to a £28m Government bailout to subsidise services.
In light of Covid-19’s huge impact on the network, a second consultation on the regulation plan was carried out and the results showed a ‘high level of public support’ for the idea.
Although that support had diminished – from 83 per cent to 71pc – it still showed a strong public will for change. According to Transport for Greater Manchester, around £135m would be needed to transition into the franchised system, to be funded through a combination of one-off local authority contributions, income from previous and future rises to the mayor’s precept and cash returned by the government under Greater Manchester’s devolution deal.
The first phase would not come into effect until 2023-2025.
David Greenhalgh, leader of Conservative-run Bolton council – the only authority to return an ‘against vote’ – said after the meeting his decision had not been a political one.
He added: “It is the stance of the Conservatives but this was not political, this is about getting the best deal.
“Our concern is the fact we haven’t reached an agreement on the funding. Clearly, even what’s been agreed implies massive millions of pounds of contribution from individual boroughs – and huge amounts on to the mayoral precept through residents to pay on council tax.
“Nobody questions the need for bus reform – I’m certainly not opposed to bus reform – we need it, it’s not worked and the current model is flawed. “
But he said following the government last week (on a £3bn pot to fund bus reform) and the ‘new proposals over enhanced partnerships,’ the decision should be deferred to ‘look at every single option available.’
He said he was uncomfortable with the ‘level of uncertainty’ over funding and the financial burden on local councils.
Mr Greenhalgh’s minority vote will have been appreciated by the many bus operators, including Stagecoach, First, Go North West and Rotala, who have strongly opposed a franchising model, arguing it would lead to a fare rises and fail to turn around the decline in passenger numbers. One Bus – a body representing the region’s bus firms – said GMCA was ‘rushing the process.’
Stagecoach and Rotala, which runs Diamond Bus North West, have submitted separate court applications for a judicial review of the proposed bus reform process. Both argue the consultation was ‘unlawful’ because it did not properly take into account the impact of Covid-19.