A motion proposed by Councillor Joe Fagan and seconded by Councillor Gerry Convery also called for bus provision to be integrated and democratically accountable.

Amendments to the motion were proposed by Councillor Gladys Ferguson-Miller and seconded by Councillor Kirsten Robb.

The motion and amendments were unanimously agreed at a meeting of South Lanarkshire Council.

The motion states that the council believes:

• The current deregulated model of bus provision is inadequate and that there is now a compelling case for changing the model of bus provision across Strathclyde.
• A new model of bus provision will enable bus services and public transport across Strathclyde to contribute more towards a healthier environment, inclusive economic growth and an improved quality of life for the people and communities of Strathclyde.
• Bus services must be designed by identifying and addressing communities’ needs.

It was agreed that the council would write to SPT and the Scottish Government to communicate its view that:

• A new model of bus provision for Strathclyde must be developed that is integrated and democratically accountable.
• A new model of bus provision must contribute towards Regional Transport Strategy objectives and policies set out by SPT.
• This model must meet the needs of South Lanarkshire’s communities and its rural areas in particular, where there is little or no current service.
• The Regional Transport Strategy must cover all Urban and Rural Areas.
• The Scottish Government must support local authorities and transport authorities seeking to replace deregulated bus models with models of regulation or common ownership, with fair funding and regulation that respects the autonomy and democratic wishes of Scotland’s communities and regions.

In the motion, the council also noted:

• The ‘Strathclyde Regional Bus Strategy and Delivery Plan: Case for Change’ report presented to Strathclyde Partnership for Transport’s Board on 29 September 2023.
• That the evidence-based report has found that bus use is in ‘sustained, long-term decline’ in Strathclyde, with bus patronage, the size of bus networks, bus service frequency and network coverage all falling.
• That despite decline in bus networks, bus fares continue to rise in Strathclyde at a higher rate than inflation and at a higher rate than the cost of travelling by other modes of transport.
• That the current model of bus service has failed to deliver integrated London-style ticketing or an integrated approach to public transport planning.
• That in 2021/22 public sector support represented 56 per cent of bus operator revenues in Scotland.
• That the free bus travel for under 22s has resulted in 84 million journeys to education, work and leisure across Scotland so far, helping develop a new generation of bus users.
• That SLC has been allocated £303,000 capital from the Community Bus Fund to improve local public transport, including municipal ownership, with additional revenue funding available to help councils develop plans, including municipal ownership and franchising.
• And welcomes an announcement in the 22/23 Programme for Government, that the Scottish Government will work with third sector and local authorities to provide free bus travel to asylum seekers and refugees including displaced people from Ukraine.

Further steps also agreed were:

• Officers to report on how the council intends to spend its allocation of Community Bus Fund capital, now and into the future, helping to deliver on the aims of this motion.
• Officers to continue collaboration with other local authorities and Strathclyde Passenger Transport, considering the Community Bus Fund revenue grant to support the exploration of new models of delivery, in line with this motion.
• Officers to take cognisance of the Local Transport Strategy and Clydesdale STAG (Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance) currently being progressed by SLC.
• Officers to ensure that the Council promote South Lanarkshire’s Rural Areas and the information from its public consultation in the proposed further stakeholder communications and engagement between October 2023 – February 2024.
• Officers to communicate to all South Lanarkshire stakeholders on all appraisal recommendations post-March 2024.