Transport Scotland discussions with local authorities regarding Transport Act: FOI release

Information requested

1. Has Transport Scotland been involved in any discussions or communications with Local Authorities in Scotland regarding use of the franchising, public ownership or Bus Service Improvement Partnership Schemes (BSIP’s) powers as a result of the Transport Act? If so, which Local Authorities have you discussed franchising, public ownership or BSIP’s with and was the Local Authority open to one particular scheme?

2. Has Transport Scotland been involved in any discussions or communications with Local Authorities in Scotland regarding funding for franchising, public ownership or BSIP’s of the bus network within local authority areas? If so, which Local Authorities and what offer was made? 

3. Has there been any discussions or communications between Transport Scotland and individual bus operators over the powers contained within the Transport Act relevant to the bus network, not including specific stakeholder engagement events and if so, what was the outcome of these discussions?

Response

1. Has Transport Scotland been involved in any discussions or communications with Local Authorities in Scotland regarding use of the franchising, public ownership or Bus Service Improvement Partnership Schemes (BSIP’s) powers as a result of the Transport Act? If so, which Local Authorities have you discussed franchising, public ownership or BSIP’s with and was the Local Authority open to one particular scheme?

Answer: Transport Scotland held a stakeholder event on 17 March with a wide range of attendees including local authority representatives. The main focus of this event was to help feed into and shape the consultation coming later this year in regards to regulations to support bus aspects of the Transport Act. No information in relation to local authority preferences was collected.

On 21 April Transport Scotland on request of Stirling Council met to discuss the Transport Act contents and regulation on which the topic focused on powers relating to running Local Authority run services. No minutes of this meeting was recorded.

On 22 April Transport Scotland met with a number of ATCO representatives. The focus of these discussions again was targeted at feeding into the development of the consultation, guidance and
regulations and not on which powers interested local authorities specifically.

2. Has Transport Scotland been involved in any discussions or communications with Local Authorities in Scotland regarding funding for franchising, public ownership or BSIP’s of the bus network within local authority areas? If so, which Local Authorities and what offer was made?

Answer: I can confirm no discussion or communication has taken place between Transport Scotland and local authorities in relation to funding for franchising, public ownership or BSIPs.

3. Has there been any discussions or communications between Transport Scotland and individual bus operators over the powers contained within the Transport Act relevant to the bus network, not including specific stakeholder engagement events and if so, what was the outcome of these discussions.

Answer: I can confirm no discussions or communication has taken place between Transport Scotland and individual operators in relation to powers contained within the Transport Act.

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