As a Scottish Co-operative Party councillor and as one of the Vice-Chair of the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport I was delighted to support efforts that bring a bus service run in the interests of passengers closer in the Strathclyde area.

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport’s (SPT) decision on 18 September to approve the Final Draft of the Strathclyde Regional Bus Strategy and to approve a costed programme and timeline for SPT to deliver a Franchise Framework Assessment (FFA) is a significant watershed for the organisation and for the passenger.

In a 200 plus detailed page document, SPT has quantified the case for franchising with a firm focus on outcomes. This has come about after extensive groundwork, securing cross political party support, doing the required due diligence and the continuing navigation through the regulations and guidance of the 2019 Transport Act.

12 Key Issues and Risks are outlined within the report, all of which are extremely important, but I would place particular focus and importance on Funding and Financing Franchising, and Political and Partnership Support and Leadership, both will be required in abundance to make a success of bus franchising.

We now look for a progress update at the next SPT Partnership meeting in December.

This is good news for the passenger.