We are devising new services which will be better able to meet the needs of communities.  Final details will emerge when those service proposals are considered during the summer.

Please note that our timescale for reporting to the Scrutiny Panel has now been revised to take place in early 2013.

We continue to have queries from residents and representatives about what is happening, in particular concerns about the specific bus services under review.  As we are aware of how important this is to the communities affected we thought we should reassure passengers that while further work and analysis is being carried out the existing bus and demand responsive transport services will run as at present.  Given the level of responses and ideas the timetable has now slipped and so there are no plans to changes services in the autumn as previously planned.  As with all services there may be un-predicted changes resulting from, for example road works/closures or operator changes but these will be dealt with in the normal way.  We are in discussion with a number of local community representatives and will continue to work with them to amend proposals to put to the Scrutiny panel members.  The timescale has now slipped and, as we are likely to be reporting towards the end of the year, any resulting changes are not likely for some time.

More than 1,500 groups and individuals have responded to a consultation regarding Leicestershire’s supported bus network which ran from April to July 2012.

Officers are still considering the information contained within the responses including suggested alternative proposals.  Some additional passenger survey work is also being undertaken.  Analysis will be carried out on this information and officers will report later this year on further options for service provision to the Scrutiny Panel looking at the Local Bus Service Support Policy.

Bus users' comments will help shape the final recommendations that will be considered by the Cabinet.  The outcomes of the consultation will be published here when they become available.

More than 1,500 groups and individuals have responded to a consultation regarding Leicestershire’s supported bus network.

The county council asked people for their views on proposals to save £750,000 by reviewing bus services that are not heavily used.

Proposals included reducing the frequency of certain bus services and replacing other under-used services with the more flexible demand respond transport (DRT), which can be booked in advance.

The consultation closed on July 9 and now people’s responses are being analysed, and their suggestions considered.

Lesley Pendleton, County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: “The fact that we have had more than 1,500 responses shows how important public transport is to communities across Leicestershire.

“Officers will be looking at all the responses and working with local county councillors to come up with a revised policy and design services that are best able to meet people’s essential needs whilst remaining affordable.”

A number of parish councils took part in the consultation and suggested alternative proposals, which are now being considered.

- The majority of bus services that cover Leicestershire – around 85 per cent – are commercially operated.

However, around 15 per cent is subsidised by the council, with the worst performing costing the authority £12 per passenger per journey to run.

The consultation responses and revised proposals will be considered by a panel of councillors before the final proposals are considered by the county council’s cabinet in the autumn.

Due to budget reductions the County Council has been forced to review the local bus services it provides for Leicestershire residents.

A review of the existing policy needed to be undertaken given the significant cost of provision.  The County Council has to save £74 million over the next four years so we must target our resources at those with the greatest need.

Since 2002, we have made sure that 95% of Leicestershire’s residents are within 800m of an hourly bus service during the daytime, Monday to Saturday.  Less frequent or Demand Responsive Transport is currently provided for the remaining 5%.

This costs the council £3m per year.  We must now save £750,000.

We are now looking at different ways of providing services.  We want to help our residents make essential journeys but this has to be balanced with getting good value for the council tax payer.

The policy review only effects Leicestershire County Council subsidised bus services, commercial services are not included in the review.  These services either complement or underpin existing commercial provision.

The proposals have been agreed by a panel of elected members and have been approved by the County Council’s Cabinet based on evidence from Bus Users, Community Transport Providers, Rural Businesses, Transport Professionals, Rural Communities, Commercial Bus Operators and other Local Authorities.

Copies of the report and its appendices covering the seven districts in Leicestershire are available to view here: