Decision details

On 17 March 2025, the Lead Member for Transport and Environment delegated authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to implement and make changes to the Bus Service Improvement Plan 2025/26 Delivery Plan as necessary.

East Sussex County Council (ESCC) has delivered 3 years of BSIP fare packages but these subsidised fares are subject to funding. Due to the popularity of the fares, and the need to align BSIP expenditure to the BSIP budget, officers recommend a change to BSIP fares. The Director of Communities, Economy and Transport considered a report together with an Equalities Impact Assessment regarding BSIP fares. The report provided details on the take up of BSIP fares which were higher than forecast. The report also detailed information regarding stronger than forecast passenger growth.



Reasons for the change:

Take up of BSIP fares:

As a result of continued strong passenger numbers, a greater than forecasted take up of the BSIP fares has been observed. Migration from other operator tickets, and the popularity of the short hop single fares have created additional take up than originally forecast.

Strong passenger numbers:

• In 2023/24 ESCC was seventh out of 84 local authorities (Department for Transport (DfT) collated bus passenger data) in terms of passenger numbers and the top shire / rural authority (the top 6 were city or unitary authorities).
• In 2024/25 (data released November 2025) ESCC are now eighth out of 84 local authorities.
• East Sussex is bucking national trends in overall passenger numbers from 2024 to 2025.The DfT have reported national reductions between 4-8%, whereas ESCC has seen a small growth over the same period.

(1) To cease all BSIP fares on 1 February 2026:

• Short hop fare £1
• Short hop fare £2
• 19-29 multi operator day ticket £4.75
• Under 19 multi operator day ticket £3.75
• Child accompanied £0.50
• Multi operator day ticket £6.10
• Child unaccompanied (off peak) £1.00
• Freedom weekly ticket £15.00

(2) To communicate these changes from 6 January 2026 to allow for 1 February 2026 implementation with operators and residents.

(3) To change the Freedom weekly ticket from 16 February 2026 to align to the East Sussex half term holidays, to ensure new charging aligns to the start of the following term to minimise impact to children travelling to school.

The Director of Communities, Economy and Transport considered ceasing only the recommended fares, however, when reviewing the pressure on the revenue budget, the Director has decided that it is necessary to make further changes, in line with his delegated authority, to remove all BSIP fares, to work within the BSIP budget .

Whilst it is noted that the impact of removing the fares before the end of the financial year is not insignificant, these fares were always time limited, and due to end on 31 March 2026, in line with the current BSIP funding period. As a result of increased usage and reimbursement to operators, there is a need to make this change sooner, to mitigate budget overspend. Changes to fares will therefore be brought forward by eight weeks.