Decision details

The Department for Transport confirmed East Sussex County Council’s bus grant funding on 5 December 2025. The allocation was for 3 years of revenue funding totalling £16,561,590. A decision is required to approve the allocation of this revenue allocation.

50.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

DECISIONS

50.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) approve the proposed indicative allocation of Bus Grant revenue funding 2026/27 to 2028/29 set out in Table 5 of the report;

(2) delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to implement and make future changes to the Bus Grant Allocations, including amending bus service provision as necessary in accordance with the available funds in the revenue budget and future ticketing opportunities noting that delegated fare revisions will have regard to the key decision process; and

(3) note that a separate proposal for remaining capital Bus Grant allocations will be presented to the Lead Member for approval at a decision-making meeting in March 2026 to meet the latest Department for Transport (DfT) requirements for consolidated local transport funding.

REASONS

50.3     The Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding has delivered strong passenger growth putting East Sussex County Council as an authority in the top 10 in the last 2 years for passenger numbers (when comparing to pre-Covid passenger numbers).

50.4     East Sussex County Council has been awarded £16,561,590 revenue funding over 3 years by the Department for Transport. The proposed allocations as set out in the report build upon the strengths of the BSIP1 and BSIP2 delivery, which continue to deliver East Sussex County Council’s strategy and ambitions for bus services, with over 90% funding proposed to be allocated to bus service provision, in line with the funding available.