Brief Summary

Type of proposal:

  • Decision of a strategic nature relating to the rights and wellbeing of children.

Name the proposal, and describe its overall aims and intended purpose.

Terms defined:

  • “franchising” – franchising is a system that allows a local transport authority (LTA) to award exclusive rights to run certain bus services to the most competitive bidder for a set period of time. During this period, no other bus company can run those services.
  • "franchising framework” – a document which sets out information about a franchise, including where the franchise will operate, what local bus services will be provided, and the standards to which those services will be provided. Once there is a franchising framework in place the bus companies can make their bids to the local transport authority.
  • “franchise” – the exclusive right to run certain bus services in an area for a set period, which is awarded to a bus company by the local transport authority. The word “franchise” is also sometimes used to mean the area covered by the franchising framework or franchise agreement.
  • “auditors” - are people who check to make sure others are following the rules and doing things the right way.

The document is guidance, called the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019: Local Services Franchises Guidance Document.

The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to local transport authorities intending to use the franchising powers to improve bus services within their areas. The document helps them understand all the things that they should consider and do, in order to make decisions about bus services, which will be of most benefit to the people living in their areas. It also includes guidance to auditors looking at the local transport authorities’ franchising proposals.

The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 which introduced franchising, and the regulations which bring it into effect are outside the scope of this CRWIA and have a CRWIA or policy document to support them. Published information is linked below:

This assessment purely focuses on any potential impacts of the guidance.

Start date of proposal’s development: 21 November 2024

Start date of CRWIA process: 28 November 2024

With reference given to the requirements of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024, which aspects of the proposal are relevant to/impact upon children’s rights?

There are no aspects of the guidance which have an impact on the rights of children in the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024.

This is technical guidance which aids local transport authorities intending to use the franchising powers to improve bus services in their areas, the impacts of the franchising powers themselves are outside the scope of this CRWIA. This CRWIA purely focuses on guidance which is not relevant to the rights of children as per the UNCRC requirements.

Please provide a summary of the evidence gathered which will be used to inform your decision-making and the content of the proposal

Not applicable

Further to the evidence described at ‘3’ have you identified any 'gaps' in evidence which may prevent determination of impact? If yes, please provide an explanation of how they will be addressed

Not applicable

Analysis of Evidence

Not applicable

What changes (if any) have been made to the proposal as a result of this assessment?

Not applicable