Better buses consultation

To the consultation team,  I am writing to offer my response to the GM bus reform consultation. Many thanks in advance for reading.  In looking at the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the decision about whether or not to implement the Proposed Franchising Scheme, TfGM has used a number of scenarios which illustrate a wide range of potential longer-term outcomes for travel demand in Greater Manchester. Do you have any comments on this scenario-based approach? I was happy but not surprised to read that 'under all scenarios, franchising is still the best option to achieve Greater Manchester’s long-term ambition for a fully integrated public transport system and GMCA still has funding available to pay for the transition to franchising.'  
I support a better, publicly controlled bus network because: - Even this pandemic has shown that bus companies put profits over providing bus services. Nationally, they have received over £1 billion in public money, but they still have threatened to cut services, and reduce the <a href="https://themeteor.org/2020/09/14/stop-using-pandemic-as-cover-to-fire-and-rehire-unite-warns-manchester-bus-company/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sick pay conditions</a> of hardworking staff. We need more control over public money going to buses.
- The current privatised bus 'market' is not working well for residents of Greater Manchester. We have lost <a href="http://bit.ly/2OXm5R0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">8 million miles</a> of bus services since 2010, which is 11% of the service, despite fares increasing two years in a row. The North West's bus network has shrunk more than any other region. This is because bus companies run buses solely for profit over providing a service.  
Meanwhile, bus company shareholders in the North West have received an average £18.4 million in dividend payouts a year for the <a href="http://bit.ly/2VX9e2P" target="_blank" rel="noopener">past ten years.</a> - We know that public control means we can plan an integrated network, with simple fares across all buses, trams and trains, and we can use profits from busy routes to subsidise socially necessary routes, meaning every community gets a service (Transport for Quality of Life, Building a World-class Bus System for Britain).  - The alternative that is on the table, a voluntary partnership, leaves all the power in the hands of the bus companies.  Changes will only be made to the extent that they deem it in their interests. We need a system that puts the interests of GM’s people first. The Local Government Association showed recently that <a href="http://bit.ly/31fmK2E" target="_blank" rel="noopener">69% of residents</a> think local councils should be the main decision-makers on bus services.
- I support region-wide standards of pay, conditions and pensions for drivers to be negotiated with Unions representing drivers, which represent over 8,000 workers in the region, so that drivers are respected for their hard work. ‘Deregulation in Britain resulted in a ‘race to the bottom’ (Transport for Quality of Life, Building a World-class Bus System for Britain, es.5). 
Do you have any comments on the consideration of the impact of Covid-19 on the value for money of the Proposed Franchising Scheme and partnership option? As your own most recent <a href="https://www.gmconsult.org/strategy-team/greater-manchester-bus-consultation/?utm_source=Paid%20Search&utm_medium=Google&utm_campaign=Bus%20consultation&gclid=CjwKCAiAouD_BRBIEiwALhJH6MYDCbovwIpuoI8E0XA_LdJbvbViUN9_Geb9ce1adyr3jpXxasZNyRoCDA4QAvD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">updated report</a> concluded, 'Despite the additional financial risks, the net benefits of franchising for Greater Manchester are still likely to be higher and more deliverable than other options, such as a partnership with bus operators and so will provide value for money.'  The original report into whether to bring buses into public control conclude that public control (franchising) would: 
<ul>
<li>offer a ‘high’ ratio of benefits to the cost to GMCA, one which is broadly comparable with the partnership options </li>
<li>provide the most economic value (Net Present Value), and </li>
<li>create the best platform from which further economic value could be delivered. </li>
</ul>
Currently, public money makes up 40% of bus companies revenue, yet we have no control over fares, the vast majority of routes and timetables. And 10% of that public money is <a href="http://www.transportforqualityoflife.com/u/files/160314_Building_a_World-class_Bus_System_extended%20summary%20report_FINAL4_for_web.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leaked as dividends</a>. 
Public control means we take all the fare revenue and give bus companies contracts, halving their profit margins, so that public money is used for buses over shareholders. (Transport for Quality of Life, Building a World-class Bus System for Britain, es.7). 
Public control also means that profits from busy routes can be used to pay for socially necessary routes, rather than just bus company profits. Research showed that <a href="https://www.abellio.com/news/people-manchester-we-want-better-bus-service" target="_blank" rel="noopener">95% </a><a href="https://www.abellio.com/news/people-manchester-we-want-better-bus-service" target="_blank" rel="noopener">of people in GM</a> supported the idea of subsidising bus routes which are unprofitable but necessary for the public good.
We can finally get a better bus network.
 
Taking everything into account, do you have any comments on the conclusion that this is the right time to make a decision about whether or not to proceed with the Proposed Franchising Scheme?
Initial upfront costs will mean we can get a better bus network, run for the public over shareholders, with a much better service and far <a href="http://bit.ly/2oRIlkr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">better value for the public money we currently give to buses.</a> We do not have time to waste and need a better publicly controlled network that will use public money effectively now. We need buses that are clean, green and accessible and bus companies have not delivered. To what extent do you support or oppose the introduction of the Proposed Franchising Scheme?
I strongly support the introduction of a publicly controlled bus network. 
Thank you for reading this.

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