Introduction

Background and Context

In October 2022, Jenny Gilruth MSP, the then Minister for Transport in the Scottish Government, established a new Bus Taskforce to bring national and local government together with public, commercial and non-profit operators as well as regulators, passenger representatives and other key stakeholders to address the immediate challenges facing bus networks.

Collaboration and partnership working were recognised as essential in the months and years ahead as Scotland recovers from COVID-19, tackles the cost of living crisis, responds to an evolving labour market and progresses towards net zero.

It was agreed that three sub-groups would be formed to focus on and take forward actions related to the three major issues of:

  • Patronage growth
  • Workforce retention and recruitment
  • Community engagement

The Sub-Group’s participants were members of the Taskforce or their colleagues, as well as other relevant invited attendees with a specific expertise and interest in community engagement, such as Community Transport operators, accessibility advocates and public health specialists.

The Sub-Group was chaired by David Kelly, Director for Scotland at the Community Transport Association.

This guidance has been developed in collaboration with, and is supported by, the following organisations as members of the Taskforce or Sub Group, which commit to implement its principles in their work going forward:

  • Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers (ATCO) Scotland
  • Bus Users UK
  • Citylink
  • Community Transport Association (CTA)
  • Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) Scotland
  • Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA)
  • First Bus
  • Handicabs Lothian (HcL)
  • Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS)
  • Lothian Buses
  • McGills/Xplore
  • Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS)
  • Office of the Traffic Commissioner
  • Public Health Scotland
  • Stagecoach
  • Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT)
  • Transport Focus
  • Transport Scotland
  • West Coast Motors

This guidance has also been developed with support and input from colleagues at other organisations, including:

  • Glenfarg Community Transport Group
  • Mental Health Foundation
  • Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC)
  • Sustrans
  • Perth and Kinross Council
  • West Lothian Council

Scope

The Sub-Group on Community Engagement was, therefore, established as a short-life working group during the lifetime of the Taskforce with the following key objectives:

  • Identify the challenges and opportunities in improving community engagement on networks and changes;
  • Discuss, review and co-ordinate activity to improve community engagement;
  • Co-design best practice guidance for community engagement;
  • Promote communication and collaboration between stakeholders; and,
  • Recognise and represent the voices and interests of bus users and communities in the work of the Taskforce.

It was identified that the primary output of the Sub-Group should be to ‘co-design’ a ‘published document of best practice guidance for community engagement on networks and changes’ with ‘specific guidance for bus operators, local authorities and communities’.

Who is this guide for?

This guide is for anyone with a personal or professional interest in, or responsibility for contributing to or making decisions in, the design or delivery of bus services in Scotland, especially those tasked with engaging with or empowering local people and communities. It contains specific guidance for bus operators, local authorities and communities.

It outlines the active and positive role which local people and communities can and should play. It recognises that community engagement is a mutually beneficial, two-way process which entails rights and responsibilities for all parties as part of an approach which is open, fair and collaborative.

How can I use this guide?

This guide has been created to act as a point of reference and a source of inspiration to inform and improve policy-making and decision-making around community engagement in Scotland’s bus sector.

However, it is not a comprehensive legal or regulatory document and should be utilised in conjunction with existing formal and official guidance issued by the Department for Transport (DfT), local authorities, the Office of the Traffic Commissioner, Transport Scotland and others.

Rather than providing a detailed blueprint which can be applied in diverse and distinct contexts or circumstances, this guide provides a framework of principles and ideas which can be applied flexibly and innovatively in a range of different scenarios.

This guide contains guidance and examples of best practice which can inform the policies and practices of large and small bus operators, whether they are in the public, private or third sectors, and local authorities and regional transport authorities (see Chapter 5).

There is signposting throughout to organisations which can offer advice, resources and support to community engagement with particular communities of interest, geography and/or practice, from individuals and groups to operators and sectors. The guide recommends engaging with these organisations, including: