Purpose

In April 2022 the Government
confirmed that the County Council would be awarded c. £17.4m
to deliver some of the ambitions in its
Bus Services Improvement Plan.
 
The ambitions will be delivered
through a new
Enhanced Partnership with the local bus companies.  The work will also require collaboration with
other partners including borough and district councils.
 
The funding is available until
31 March 2025 by when the ambitions must be delivered.
 
In January 2023, the Cabinet
Member for Highways and Transport
approved the capital and revenue budgets for the delivery of
ambitions in the Enhanced Partnership Spending Plan and delegated
authority to the Assistant Director (Highways, Transport and
Planning) to undertake the procurement process and award contracts
for the capital projects and for revenue expenditure.
 
The procurement processes are
underway and, upon their conclusion, the Assistant Director
(Highways, Transport and Planning) will be asked to award the
contracts for the various schemes.

Decision

The Assistant Director
(Highways, Transport and Planning) has approved the award of the
55X bus contract to the Stagecoach South Bus Company for an initial
period of two years (with possible extensions up to 7 years
maximum) from commencement of the service expected in July
2023. The value of the contract is £0.831m during the initial
contract period.