Council to examine franchising models amid fresh government support
Somerset Council will carry out a detailed, evidence-based pre-feasibility assessment to explore whether bus franchising could offer better outcomes for passengers and operators across the county. The work follows a grant from the Department for Transport (DfT) that allows the authority to test different franchising models and assess their practicality for Somerset.
Under a franchising model, the local transport authority — in this case Somerset Council — would award exclusive contracts to private operators for specified routes or areas, retaining control over routes, fares, timetables and service standards. That contrasts with the county’s current approach, the Enhanced Partnership, which was developed with local operators in 2021 alongside a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).
“We are grateful to Government for providing this opportunity and will thoroughly test whether franchising can realistically deliver better outcomes for passengers than Somerset’s current approach,”
The council’s Lead Member for Highways and Transport, Cllr Richard Wilkins, said the assessment will be used to compare franchising against existing measures such as the Enhanced Partnership, BSIP interventions and targeted service support. He emphasised plans to work closely with stakeholders, including bus user groups, to identify current shortcomings and potential remedies.
What the assessment will cover and why it matters
- Examine different franchising models and their suitability for Somerset.
- Assess whether greater local control could improve service reliability, coverage and fares.
- Engage operators, passenger groups and other stakeholders to identify practical issues and trade-offs.
The decision to proceed with formal assessment has been enabled by recent changes to government guidance and the availability of central funding for local transport authorities. Somerset was previously awarded £6.3 million in BSIP-related funding for the 2025/26 financial year under a new allocation formula announced by government in 2024; the current DfT funding relates specifically to this pre-feasibility work and the council has not published a figure for it.
Local impact and next steps
For residents, the assessment could lead to proposals that change how bus services are planned and paid for — from timetabling to fare levels. Any move towards franchising would require a robust business case and likely further public consultation before implementation. If franchising were judged unsuitable, the council says it will consider revisions to the Enhanced Partnership or other targeted measures.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current framework | Enhanced Partnership (from June 2021) & BSIP |
| Recent BSIP funding | £6.3 million for 2025/26 |
| New work | DfT-funded pre-feasibility assessment into franchising |
The council plans to produce a robust evidence base to inform any future decision-making. Engagement with bus operators and users will form part of the assessment to ensure local experiences and concerns shape any recommendations.
