Under the Transport Act 1985 (Deregulation), bus companies are free to operate services which they consider to be commercially viable. The company decides which type of vehicle to provide, which route to follow and which stops to serve, how frequent the service will run and how much to charge in fares. They do not need to seek authority to start, alter or withdraw part or all of such services, nor is there any authority to oblige them to run services or sections of service, which they believe to be unprofitable. They are, however, required to give notice of, their intentions both to the Traffic Commissioner (part of the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions) and to the County Council. In this way the County Council monitors the provision of "commercial" services by bus companies but it has no statutory control over them.

Where a bus company is unable or unwilling to run a service on a commercial basis, the County Council has the power to secure the provision of services by allocating financial support, which in effect makes up the shortfall between the service revenue and the cost of operation. These "socially necessary" services are operated by bus companies under contract to the County Council and the Council, not the bus company, determines the type of vehicle to be operated, the route, stopping places, timetable and fares. Apart from a few minor exemptions, contracts are put out to competitive tender, whereby any interested bus operator may bid for the contract. The contract is then awarded to the company, which offers the Council the best value for money - a requirement of the 1985 Act.

In Devon County Council publications, financially supported services are designated "DevonBus" services, the name also given to the County Council's public transport information service.

The County Council works with bus companies with the overall aim of improving local bus services - be they commercial or financially supported and there are many initiatives in progress involving service improvements, better, more accessible vehicles, new bus shelters and improved facilities at bus stops.

If you would like to make a comment or inform us about any complaints or failures on financially supported services within Devon please complete the online enquiry form.