Introduction
1.1 This document is designed to help local authority decision makers understand the role of statutory Quality Partnerships ( sQPs) and to explain how they can be used as a powerful tool which can help to improve the delivery of bus services in their area. The Scottish Government has issued detailed guidance for transport experts on the uses, legislation and good practice relating to sQPs which is available on the Scottish Government web site.
1.2 As a result of the local government Concordat transport authorities now have flexibility in their budget decisions, providing that the priorities for spend are aligned with their Single Outcome Agreements ( SOAs). The development of a sQP will help transport authorities to demonstrate clearly their commitment to deliver on the aims for bus services in their area and, therefore, assist in the delivery of their SOA.
1.3 A statutory Quality Partnership is one of several quality measures. These are policy tools designed to give transport authorities more influence in the standard and provision of bus services in their area. (Other measures include Punctuality Improvement Partnerships and Quality Contracts).
1.4 A sQP is a scheme declared by a transport authority which defines a geographic area in which the authority invests in improved facilities and infrastructure. Operators who then wish to use these facilities undertake to provide services of a particular standard agreed with the transport authority.
1.5 One of the main aims of sQPs is to create a more certain and stable environment within which the operators and LAs can invest scarce resources and continuously improve local bus services offered to existing and potential customers to achieve modal shift from car to bus.