Enhanced Partnerships: Delivering better bus services

Report highlights how Enhanced Partnerships can support the government’s bus revolution

A new report has highlighted how strengthened Enhanced Partnerships can work as a successful model of bus provision across the wider south east region.

Within the report are recommendations for the government to help facilitate the bus revolution – one of the DfT’s five transport priorities. The report makes clear that Enhanced Partnerships have shown they are a valid model for improving services, but the approach could be improved to make it easy for local authorities and bus operators to collaborate.

Issued highlighted include the complexity of government guidance for Enhanced Partnerships, the need long-term funding commitments, greater support for rural areas, alignment of wider policy, increased knowledge sharing and improving public perception of buses to help encourage more people to choose the bus.

The report follows an event which brought together experts from the wider south east region, including Enhanced Partnerships Chairs and their Local Transport Authorities, Sub-national Transport Bodies, the Department for Transport and the Bus Centre of Excellence. It demonstrates how Enhanced Partnerships can work as a successful alternative to bus franchising, while delivering a dynamic and efficient bus service for a range of communities.

Members of the meeting agreed that Enhanced Partnerships have empowered bus operators to be more actively engaged in the areas they are providing services, and have seen improved governance through regular board meetings, where Local Transport Authorities and bus operators can openly discuss challenges and opportunities. Enhanced Partnerships also provide a regulatory framework, as Local Transport Authorities can establish specific requirements for bus operators in their area.

The report has been shared with DfT officials to inform future bus policy development including the emerging Better Buses Bill.

Andrew Summers, Chief Executive of Transport East said,

“Enhanced Partnerships are an important mechanism for local authorities and bus operators to work more closely to make improvements to local bus services. This structured engagement can provide an alternative model to bus franchising to improve bus provision for thousands of people, many of which depend on public transport to access work, healthcare and education.”

“The government has committed to delivering new powers for local leaders to franchise local bus services. They have also made clear that franchising may not be right for every area and Enhanced Partnerships are an existing partnership model that can be built on further. This report provides the perfect starting point for informing government, and we are ready to provide further insight on Enhanced Partnerships”

Stelios Rodoulis, Head of the Bus Centre of Excellence said,

“The Bus Centre of Excellence was delighted to facilitate the Enhanced Partnership meeting which took place in July 2004. Bringing people together and sharing experiences and best practice is a key feature of the Bus Centre of Excellence work. We look forward to repeating this event with other sub-national bodies across the country.”

Notes to editors

• The Wider South-East region includes the geography of the following Sub-national Transport Bodies: Transport East, England’s Economic Heartland and Transport for the South East.

• The Enhanced Partnership meeting took place in July 2024. It was facilitated by Transport East, England’s Economic Heartland, Transport for the South East, Suffolk County Council, ARUP and the Bus Centre of Excellence. Together, they brought together Enhanced Partnership Chairs and Managers and key bus organisations from across the three regions.