LAs looking to franchise will ‘undoubtedly increase’ – legal firm

Local authorities planning to franchise their region’s buses will ‘undoubtedly increase in coming months’, according to legal firm Freeths.

The company is tracking developments in the ever-changing bus franchising scene.

“It is notable that procurement processes embarked upon on or after 28 October will be undertaken within an entirely new procurement regime” –  Freeths

An update from the legal firm said: “It is notable that procurement processes embarked upon on or after 28 October will be undertaken within an entirely new procurement regime. No authorities have currently indicated an actual date for the launch of their procurement process (by issuing a tender notice). All that are less advanced than Liverpool City Region and West Yorkshire will undoubtedly follow the new rules.”

The Liverpool City Region’s elected Mayor has recently announced his intention to expedite the process. In the case of West Yorkshire, a paper presented to the last Combined Authority meeting suggests that the first tender process will begin in Q3 of 2025. South Yorkshire and West Midlands likely to follow in autumn, according to Freeths.

A recent development is the launch of a public consultation on Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’s plans to potentially franchise the region’s buses. The consultation closes on 20 November 2024 and will inform a decision by the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough on how to reform buses across the area. The Combined Authority intends to implement an interim Enhanced Partnership to manage bus services until any outcomes from the Combined Authority Board decision on bus services (including any potential date for commencing franchising if approved) can be delivered.