Leicestershire councillors will next week receive a progress report on plans to encourage more people back – and on to - the public transport network.

Earlier this year, the Government announced £3bn of new funding for a National Bus Strategy, which 'dramatically improves bus services and reverses the recent shift in journeys away from public transport due to the pandemic'.

All local transport authorities, including the county council, are now tasked with developing a bus service improvement plan (BSIP) with local operators to unlock this Government funding.

The report says that Leicestershire has, so far, received just under £400,000 to develop the BSIP, but outlines that it needs 'consistent and sustained revenue funding' from the Department for Transport to support the plan, which has an overall aim of increasing bus usage to pre-pandemic levels.

The plan has been developed following the findings of a public survey held earlier in the year.

Councillor Ozzy O'Shea, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "The first task was to gauge opinion on what would improve public transport and what would make people use it more.

"We were really encouraged by the response figures – nearly 1500 in total - and I want to thank each and everyone of them for their interest."

The survey asked residents for their views on a whole raft of measures identified by the council as a kick-start for greater use of public transport.

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The key measures supported by the public include:

• more frequent services which run earlier and later than at present

• improved access to timetable information

• lower fares

• more reliable journey times

• contactless payments

Cabinet will also be updated on the progress of developing an enhanced partnership scheme with local bus operators.

The report outlines that senior officers at County Hall have already held meetings with representatives from Arriva, First Bus, Centrebus, Stagecoach and Trent Barton.

Along with the survey feedback, this will help to shape the partnership arrangement, which will have oversight of delivering the BSIP across the county.

Cabinet will meet next Tuesday (26 October) at 2pm to discuss the report.