Scottish Government

1 Introduction

1.1 This document is one in a series of publications aimed at raising the level of quality of bus services in Scotland, all underpinned by the theme that partnership working between transport authorities and bus operators is the fundamental requirement for success. Web links to the other guidance documents are contained within Appendix A.

1.2 The guidance is published following detailed analysis by a range of stakeholders from transport authorities, regional transport partnerships, the bus industry and its regulatory authorities.

1.3 This document is intended to be used as a toolkit for transport authorities considering the implementation of a statutory Quality Partnership ( sQP) in their area, in conjunction with bus operators and regional transport partnerships ( RTPs).

1.4 The guidance offers a practical, step-by-step guide to implementing a sQP, drawn from experience to date. It is not intended to be overly prescriptive as conditions and partnership opportunities will no doubt change and develop over time and will vary from area to area. Indeed best practice measures will ensue from individual maturing partnerships.

1.5 The guidance should be read in conjunction with the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 Explanatory Notes and subsequent Scottish Statutory Instruments ( SSIs). Further details and web links to these documents are contained in Appendix A.

1.6 In March 2008, a high level 'Progress through Partnership Forum' comprising of senior managers and politicians from central and local government, bus operators and regulatory bodies, met to discuss how to improve the quality of bus services in Scotland.

1.7 Transport has an important role to play in the delivery of national priorities. Bus is an essential element of this. Bus services do not need to be specifically mentioned for them to be relevant to the national outcomes; for example, buses contribute to the following outcomes:

• "We realise our full economic potential with more and better employment opportunities for our people" - buses provide connectivity for Scotland's citizens;
• "We live in well-designed, sustainable places where we are able to access amenities and services we need" - buses are a key component that facilitates access ;
• "Our public services are high quality, continually improving, efficient and responsive to local people's needs" - partnership working between public and private sectors to improve bus services will help meet this objective .

Structure of the Guidance

1.8 This guidance document provides a framework to enable transport authorities and bus operators to utilise the provisions of the 2001 Act to establish a sQP scheme. A sQP contains several integral elements that must be specified within the scheme, many of which will be common across transport authorities. This document will consider each aspect in turn with recommendations for how each transport authority area can develop a scheme according to their own particular circumstances.

1.9 This guidance document has drawn on experiences gained in the development of sQP schemes throughout Scotland as well as the introduction of Quality Partnership Schemes ( QPS) in England ¹. It will continue to be developed and revised to reflect good practice across Scotland as sQP schemes become more prominent.

1.10 A glossary providing an explanation of the terms used within this guidance can be found in Appendix B.

1.11 Further to the main commentary, 'Checklists' are supplied as reminders of the procedures to be implemented in the sQP and where statutory requirements are required these are marked with this symbol.