Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDED that: -

(a)           Cabinet recommends to Council acceptance of the £5.64m Local Authority Bus Grant funding for 2026/27 from the Department for Transport; and

(b)           Cabinet recommends to Council to Delegate delivery of the Local Authority Bus Grant funded Bus Service Improvement Plan programme set out in Appendix 2 of this report to the Service Director for Planning and Transport in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Climate Mitigation, Energy and Environment.

The council has been awarded £5.64m Local Authority Bus Grant (LABG) by the Department for Transport (DfT) for 2026/27 to continue delivery of the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).

The purpose of this paper is to seek council approval to accept and invest the grant, which is a combination of both capital and revenue funding. 

A proportion of the revenue element of the grant has been allocated to support a revised subsidised bus service network in accordance with the 4 February 2026 Subsidised Bus Services Review Cabinet report.

Note: this report should be read in conjunction with the Local Transport Consolidated Funding Programme 2026/27 Cabinet report.

The Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'O' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the council had been awarded £5.64m Local Authority Bus Grant (LABG) by the Department for Transport (DfT) for 2026/27 to continue delivery of the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).

In relation to this Cabinet was informed that the purpose of the report was to seek council approval to accept and invest the grant, which is a combination of both capital and revenue funding. 

Further to this Cabinet was informed that a proportion of the revenue element of the grant had been allocated to support a revised subsidised bus service network in accordance with the 4 February 2026 Subsidised Bus Services Review Cabinet report.

In addition, Cabinet was advised that the report should be read in conjunction with the Local Transport Consolidated Funding Programme 2026/27 Cabinet report.

In presenting the report the Portfolio Holder advised that the report had been considered at the meeting of the Transportation Advisory Group held on 25 February 2026 where the group had supported the recommendations as set out.

RECOMMENDED that: -

(a)          Cabinet recommends to Council acceptance of the £5.64m Local Authority Bus Grant funding for 2026/27 from the Department for Transport; and

(b)          Cabinet recommends to Council to Delegate delivery of the Local Authority Bus Grant funded Bus Service Improvement Plan programme set out in Appendix 2 of this report to the Service Director for Planning and Transport in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Climate Mitigation, Energy and Environment.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Climate Response, Environment and Energy

The Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'O' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the council had been awarded £5.64m Local Authority Bus Grant (LABG) by the Department for Transport (DfT) for 2026/27 to continue delivery of the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).

In relation to this Cabinet was informed that the purpose of the report was to seek council approval to accept and invest the grant, which is a combination of both capital and revenue funding. 

Further to this Cabinet was informed that a proportion of the revenue element of the grant had been allocated to support a revised subsidised bus service network in accordance with the 4 February 2026 Subsidised Bus Services Review Cabinet report.

In addition, Cabinet was advised that the report should be read in conjunction with the Local Transport Consolidated Funding Programme 2026/27 Cabinet report.

In presenting the report the Portfolio Holder advised that the report had been considered at the meeting of the Transportation Advisory Group held on 25 February 2026 where the group had supported the recommendations as set out.

RECOMMENDED that: -

(a)          Cabinet recommends to Council acceptance of the £5.64m Local Authority Bus Grant funding for 2026/27 from the Department for Transport; and

(b)          Cabinet recommends to Council to Delegate delivery of the Local Authority Bus Grant funded Bus Service Improvement Plan programme set out in Appendix 2 of this report to the Service Director for Planning and Transport in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Climate Mitigation, Energy and Environment.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Climate Response, Environment and Energy

The council has been awarded £5.64m Local Authority Bus Grant (LABG) by the Department for Transport (DfT) for 2026/27 to continue delivery of the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).

The purpose of this paper is to seek council approval to accept and invest the grant, which is a combination of both capital and revenue funding. 

A proportion of the revenue element of the grant has been allocated to support a revised subsidised bus service network in accordance with the 4 February 2026 Subsidised Bus Services Review Cabinet report.

Note: this report should be read in conjunction with the Local Transport Consolidated Funding Programme 2026/27 Cabinet report.

The Head of Transport and Sustainable Travel introduced the Transport Network Manager to present a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix ‘B’ to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Council had consulted on the potential establishment of a BCP Lane Rental Scheme (LRS) which would enable the Council to charge up to £2,500 per day for works on the busiest roads at the busiest times.

The report presented the outputs of the consultation and sought approval to apply to the Secretary of State for Transport to establish a BCP Lane Rental Scheme.

The Group considered the report, including:

·       Members questioned potential expansion of the proposed lane rental network and were advised expansion could occur annually by up to 3% once approved.

·       Officers confirmed the scheme required Cabinet and Council approval before submission to the Secretary of State.

·       Statutory guidance limited the initial network to 10% of roads and 9.9% of roads were being proposed based on a range of factors including historic utility activity, traffic volume and other factors.

·       In response to concerns raised about overuse of emergency works, slow reinstatements and abandoned signage, Officers confirmed fines and inspections were already in place.

·       Lane rental charges would apply after 48 hours for emergency works to discourage misuse.

·       Members highlighted sinking tarmac around utilities and Officers confirmed this was a known reinstatement defect and was subject to inspections and fines.

·       In response to a query about the exclusion of key routes from the scheme, Officers explained low historic utility activity influenced decisions but annual review could amend the network.

·       Discussion noted significant disruption caused by works on certain arterial roads and the value of maintaining strict controls.

·       Members supported innovation opportunities, including technology such as cameras on buses and Council vehicles for monitoring road conditions.

·       Clarification was given that lane?rental revenue was ring?fenced for utilities and highway maintenance, not wider transport schemes such as 20mph zones.

·       Members queried cost?benefit assumptions; Officers noted figures were estimates subject to future review.

·       In response to a query, the timeline for implementation was detailed.

Cllr McCormack left the meeting at 2:49pm.

RESOLVED that the Transportation Advisory Group recommends that Cabinet recommends to Council to:

a)     approve the submission of an application to the Secretary of State for Transport to establish and operate a Lane Rental Scheme across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

b)     subject to Secretary of State approval, delegate the establishment and operation of a BCP Lane Rental scheme to the Service Director for Planning and Transport in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Climate Mitigation, Energy and Environment.

Voting: Nem. Con.