URL: https://sandwell.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1037

Decision Maker: Executive Director - Place

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose: The most recent variation to the West Midlands Enhanced Partnership Scheme was approved by the former Director of Regeneration & Growth on 26th April 2023. Further amendments have become necessary and following extensive consultation with Local Highway Authorities and bus operators, Transport for West Midlands is now able to formally make the necessary variation (known as Variation 004.2). The West Midlands Enhanced Partnership (EP) was made in June 2021 to enable formal partnership working arrangements between bus operators, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the seven West Midlands councils that act as Local Highway Authorities. The EP consists of a strategic document which sets out a clear vision of improvements that are envisaged to bus services known as an Enhanced Partnership Plan (EP Plan). The EP Plan includes a commitment to such things as; • Transition to a low emission bus fleet, • Simpler payment methods, • Faster journeys, • Safer services, • Better passenger information and concessions tailored to excluded groups. The EP is used to deliver on the themes and objectives set out in the Strategic Vision for Bus and West Midlands Bus Service Improvement Plan. The EP Plan covers the entire West Midlands metropolitan area, setting out an overarching strategic roadmap for bus service improvement across the urban area. The EP Plan must be accompanied by one or more Enhanced Partnership Schemes (EP Schemes) which set out the actions and commitments to achieve the improvements in the EP Plan. An EP places a legal duty on all signatories of the EP including the local authorities to deliver against the actions and commitments made in an EP Scheme. To meet the objectives set out in the BSIP a variation was made to the EP Scheme in November 2022 so that it covers the same geography as the EP Plan, i.e. the whole of the West Midlands Combined Authority area. This allows for more detailed planning and specified actions across the urban area to deliver improvements to bus services as outlined in the EP Plan and Bus Service Improvement Plan. The details are contained in the report to Cabinet on 16th November 2022. A further variation (003.8) was made that related to the geography of the EP, and provisions relating to maximum service levels and ticketing. This variation was approved by Sandwell under delegated powers. TfWM has consulted on further amendments to the EP. These amendments cover; • Updates to Bus priority development programme target milestones: Strategic Outline Business Case by March 2025 and Outline Business Case by December 2025. • Updates to Bus Priority Schemes (CRSTS) indicative timescales and target operational dates. • The variation sets out how the West Midlands’ BSIP allocation will be apportioned to meet the aims and objectives of BSIP reflecting the revised total funding now awarded to the region which is £104.5m. Variation 004.2 does not contain any changes in relation to obligations on Sandwell as Local Highway Authority. No concerns were raised through internal consultations. Full consultation with operators and local authorities on the varied EP Scheme was undertaken by TfWM within the Enhanced Partnership Reference Group as outlined in Government guidance.

Content:

Date of Decision: December 20, 2024