Information relating to services

The consultation paper noted that as well as making new provision for local authority-run services, bus service improvement partnerships and franchising, section 39 of the 2019 Act inserts new provision into the Transport Act 1985 to allow LTAs to obtain certain specific information from an operator when the operator proposes to vary or cancel the registration of a local service. Any information requests must relate to the authority’s obligation to ensure that here is a sufficient bus service provision in their area.

At present, regulations require operators to notify the LTA 28 days before they submit an application to the Office of the Traffic Commissioner to amend, vary or cancel a service and a voluntary arrangement is in place whereby operators provide service information to the relevant LTA.

Question 26: How long should an LTA be given to require provision of service information and why?

Twenty-seven respondents commented at this question. Opinions were split on the length of time an LTA should be given to require the provision of service information, somewhat exacerbated by a number of respondents either appearing to misinterpret the question or preferring to discuss the length of time an operator should be given to provide the requested information (Question 27).

The most common perception (by a large minority of respondents, consisting entirely of local authorities or regional transport partnerships) was that there should be no specific timescale or time limit. Reasons for this tended to coalesce around the differing nature of requests, summed up by a local authority as follows:

In some cases it will quickly be clear to the LTA what information is required, and this will be actioned. In dealing with more complex registrations, it may take some time to analyse the changes and the impact of them. Other work pressures, staff absence, etc. will also impact on the time taken to analyse the changes. Information requested may be used to discuss possible changes to the proposed registration with the existing operator, to negotiate a replacement with another operator, or to prepare a tender specification. It may be that concerns over an apparently innocuous service change only come to light when the change becomes public knowledge. Therefore, there should be no prescribed limit to the time period when the LTA requests the information.

Amongst those respondents who did specify a length of time, similar small numbers vouched for each of the following:

  • Two days / three days / four days / one week, with the reasoning being that the requests should be a form letter in response to the operator
  • Two weeks (so that issues can be addressed promptly)
  • Twenty eight days / four weeks (as it is the existing process already agreed by operators and LTAs which works well and does not cause major delays)
  • Three months / six months (as LTAs should retain the ability to request information for longer periods after the date of the service revision)

In addition, three local authorities thought it would be more effective if the process and format was similar to the registration notice period, whereby the operator had to give set agreed information as a minimum, and further information could then be requested as necessary.

A couple of respondents suggested that transfers of data and requests should be in electronic format to speed up the timescales and improve the quality of information provision.

Question 27: How long should an operator be given to provide that information?

A total of twenty-eight respondents gave a response at this question. The vast majority of respondents recommended short time periods (two weeks or less) for operators to provide the necessary information.

The largest numbers of respondents, comprising local authorities, individuals and operators, cited periods of between four working days and two weeks. Reasons given included the following:

  • Avoiding delays
  • The data should be easily compiled or readily to hand
  • The data should have formed part of the decision-making for the operator’s service change
  • Operators should know all aspects of their business requirements and what does and does not affect their services

However, a large minority of respondents desired that all information should be provided quicker: either on the day or within one working day of the variation or revocation service change notice being submitted, as it was thought the operator will have already assembled all the information necessary to make a commercial judgement.

Two individual respondents suggested longer time periods of either four weeks or three months, without stating reasons.

A few respondents thought there should be no specific timescale or time limit, or that the timescale should depend on the nature of the request.

A few respondents focused on specified information types which would enable an LTA to analyse travel patterns: these included passenger type (per week, Mondays to Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays), boarding and alighting points, revenue information and all data necessary for an LTA to plan to meet community needs. Two respondents suggested that the development of a consistent information format would help expedite information provision, both within an LTA and across the country.

< Previous | Contents | Next >