A REPORT calling for a change in mind-set on how the county’s buses are run will be scrutinised by councillors next week.

A draft paper compiled by a cross-party scrutiny group sets out a number of recommendations including asking the council to take a long-term strategic approach to public transport.

In the report’s foreword, Councillor Chris Bloore, who led the group, said: “It’s time to start building bus services up so that buses are seen as an option for everyone, not just those who have no other option, as part of a county-wide strategic approach to address the issues but also to make the most of opportunities.

"This means changing the way we tender for services, giving incentives to our partners to grow bus usage, improving the perception of our bus services and embracing new technology and platforms to improve confidence and accessibility."

The report called for a review into the council's bus subsidy criteria with a view to ensuring towns and larger villages have a minimum daily service in a bid to combat social isolation in rural areas and deprivation and social isolation in urban areas.

The draft report recommends improving confidence in the county’s bus services by ensuring timetables are accurate and readily available, expanding the contactless payment system and by improving marketing and publicity of the buses.

The council should be discussing reliability and accessibility of buses with the providers as a matter of priority and bus companies should be discussing with the council - specifically the relevant local councillor - when it is considering removing a bus route so an alternative solution can be discussed.

The group met over six weeks and met with the directors of both First Bus and Diamond, user groups and councillors as well as community transport providers.

The conclusion to the draft report recognised the “major disruptive impact” bus service cuts have had in the county which often lead to social isolation particularly amongst the elderly and most vulnerable.

Worcestershire County Council agreed at a full meeting in September to carry out a cross-party scrutiny review of the county’s bus service.

The task group’s report will be fed into the council’s full review and the 2019/20 budget.