A COUNCILLOR has hit out at a decision to prevent local authorities from running bus services.

At Dorset County Council’s full council meeting councillors voted against a motion, asking to challenge Clause 21 of the Bus Services Bill.

The Bus Services Bill, currently passing through Parliament, includes Clause 21 that will effectively “prohibit a local authority from forming a company for the purposes of providing a local bus service”.

Cllr Ros Kayes, who put the motion forward argued that if the clause was passed, it could have a profound impact on county-run school transport.

Cllr Kayes said: “This is utter folly. They have simply kicked the issue into the long grass by referring it to a committee which won’t consider the issues until January - two months after the third reading of the bill. The opportunity offered by the Combined Authority would allow us to become a transport authority which could set up its own social enterprise to run buses.

"I’m shocked that they will not challenge this pernicious clause which would tie Dorset’s hands and prevent us from providing a sustainable, economically viable public transport system into the future.”

The report stated that Clause 21 ‘might have profound implications both for the proposed Combined Authority in seeking Local Transport Authority powers and in DCC’s ability to support small community transport schemes with its own fleet as is currently happening in Southill and Portland’.

Cllr Peter Finney, Cabinet member for environment, infrastructure and highways, said: “Dorset County Council is taking a holistic approach to transport in Dorset, working with commercial operators and communities and making best use of our own vehicles to help people in Dorset live independently and support our economy.

"Our interpretation of Clause 21 of the Bus Services Bill was that it did not stop us using our own vehicles to provide local journeys as part of the overall mix of transport options. The Local Government Association has confirmed to us that Clause 21 only related to the formation of new municipal bus companies, which we have no plans to create.”