Issue - meetings

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director Enterprise, Community and Resources, which provided an overview on the recent publication of the Bus Back Better Bus Strategy for England (the Strategy), the associated funding from the Department for Transport (DFT) and the requirement for Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs). It was noted that the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority was the Local Transport Authority for Halton. A BSIP covering the City Region area would be submitted to the DfT by the Combined Authority in October 2021. The report set out Halton’s ‘ask’ of Government in relation to bus service improvement in Halton that would feature in the CA BSIP.

            The Board discussed the recent cuts in the 62 and X1 bus service which was linked to a shortage of bus drivers. They also discussed the impact a shortage of bus drivers could have on the proposed improvements to bus services as outlined in the BSIP.

            RESOLVED: That

1.    the proposals set out in Appendix 1 for frequency improvements to the current bus network be supported; and

2.    the proposals for highway and infrastructure improvements to tackle bus service delay hot-spots (Appendix 2) be endorsed.