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Foreword
Moving into the Future: an Action Plan for Buses in Scotland (Bus Action Plan) identified the need for Scotland-specific bus policy guidance on a series of topics, intended to promote and share best practice with a view to raising the standard of quality in the bus industry. The development of statutory Quality Partnerships ( sQPs) is a specific objective contained within the Bus Action Plan.
sQPs offer a positive step which can be taken by authorities and bus operators working in partnership. It is not suggested that they will address every situation, but the case study elements show how they are being taken forward in Scotland. They therefore form part of the "toolkit" of initiatives which can be developed to address improvements in bus services.
The Scottish Government is committed to working with key stakeholders to improve bus services in Scotland. They are a central part of the Government's transport policies. In March 2008, a High Level Forum of key industry representatives from central and local government, bus operators and regulatory bodies, highlighted the importance of pursuing initiatives such as sQPs on the basis of a partnership approach. This is vital in working for effective bus services and in taking account of the developing roles and responsibilities of local authorities and regional transport partnerships.
sQPs fit well into the partnership approach, and this guidance will sit alongside the general guidance "Progress Through Partnership" published in September 2008, "Bus Punctuality Improvement Partnerships" ( BPIPs) published in March 2009, and will be supplemented by further advice and guidance on other topics during the coming months. We have also seconded a Senior Bus Development Adviser to champion the opportunities for introducing measures and strategies to improve the quality of bus services.
A sQP is another perfect example of positive partnership working that will achieve goals for both operator and local authority, but will ultimately be of benefit to the passenger. Central to its success will be the commitment of the partners to making real changes to improving conditions for buses in Scotland, and contributing to authorities' transport and wider policy objectives, and the Governments purpose of sustainable economic growth.
We would like to thank the consultants commissioned to prepare the guidance and all of the industry stakeholders, including bus industry representatives, local authorities, RTPs and COSLA who have been involved in the process of producing this guidance, including in particular Glasgow City Council who worked closely with the project while progressing a sQP in their area.
We trust that key practitioners within local government and the bus industry will find the material helpful.
Scottish Government
June 2009
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