Plans to change the way bus services are run and hand more power to local leaders has split opinion among Kent local authorities.
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00:00For a lifeline for many, but many passengers believe the quality and the number of services
00:06are going downhill.
00:08The government says a new bill coming will recognise this and drive change.
00:13Plans would see local authorities taking control of the will.
00:16This rightly isn't a one size fits all approach and crucially places no additional burden
00:23on taxpayers.
00:25It simply acknowledges a truth that many in this house will agree with.
00:30That the best decisions aren't always made by Whitehall.
00:34They are made in town and city halls across the country.
00:38By those accountable to local communities.
00:42By those who day in day out use the very services that we're talking about.
00:48Reforms are set to mimic the London bus network locally here in Kent and the aim would be
00:53for the county services to be integrated more efficiently.
00:56With the government saying they'll remove barriers to local leaders so buses can be
01:00faster and cheaper than ever before.
01:03But the man overseeing buses at Kent County Council has concerns.
01:07Clearly the devil's going to be in the detail.
01:09At the moment a lot of people think I am the fat controller of buses in Kent because well
01:12we've had a deregulated bus system for decades now.
01:15That's not always clear.
01:17My fear is that the public expectation may be raised about what councils could do but
01:22there's been no indication that central government will transfer any funds to allow us to do
01:27that.
01:28And I think that would be the worst of both worlds where we have the theoretical ability
01:31to do something which is improve buses which we'd all like to do but no extra funds to
01:35do it and with our current financial position I cannot see how we could deliver that in
01:39any reasonable way.
01:41Councils would be given powers to introduce new routes and set fares.
01:45In Medway the leader says this is a step in the right direction.
01:49We know there are examples, longer term examples before the law changed under the Conservatives
01:54where councils have run bus services and the profits that come from that go back into council
01:58services.
01:59That's a positive approach to public transport.
02:02And we'll certainly be playing our part in the consultation because longer term we've
02:05got to have a system which works for people.
02:07For too long the bus services have not worked for the residents of Medway and indeed across
02:12the county.
02:14A consultation is currently running and the bill is expected to enter Parliament later
02:18this year.
02:19But more details on any funding settlement might become apparent.
02:24Gabriel Morris in Medway.