Issue - meetings

The Head of Corporate Governance introduced the item on Risk Management Monitoring.

The risk relating to the Bus Service Improvement Plan had increased to ‘medium/high’ since the last report. This due to the MCA not being awarded Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding. The risk score now exceeds the appetite.

The Executive Director of Resources & Investment provided some context, stating that Government had previously announced a longer term package of support for bus services totalling £500m. However, it had since clarified that the majority of this would be in the form of a continued fare cap with the MCA receiving £3.1m from Government towards tendered services in 2023/24 and a similar amount was expected for 2024/25. This was a significant shortfall given that the anticipated costs of tendered services over the next 3 years was around £42m.

The Director of Public Transport Operations added that the MCA Board had taken the decision to defer any changes to networks, fares, and concessions until September. This was intended to allow more time to review all available options to ensure network stability. The MCA was currently engaging with local authority Leaders to prepare a proposed approach to be considered at the MCA Board on 31^st July.

RESOLVED that Members consider the Risk Management Dashboard and note the progress in embedding risk management processes.