The contents of this document This is the consultation document on a proposed bus franchising scheme for Greater Manchester. It is split into the following sections: • Introduction – This sets out the background to the consultation, including the process that must be followed to make a statutory change to the way buses in Greater Manchester are run. It also provides an overview of the current state of the bus market, why GMCA believes change is needed and the consultation process. (11 pages) • Executive summary and questions – This provides a summary of the key points raised throughout the document and sets out the questions that are included in the short version of the consultation questionnaire. (12 pages) • Description of the Proposed Franchising Scheme and related questions – This provides information about the Proposed Franchising Scheme for Greater Manchester. (6 pages) • Assessment summary, the proposed funding for the introduction of a fully franchised system, and related questions – This provides a summary of the Assessment of the Proposed Franchising Scheme (this is referred to as “the Assessment” in this document) and the case for introducing the Proposed Franchising Scheme. It compares the Proposed Franchising Scheme against the other available options and recommends that the preferred option for the future of Greater Manchester’s bus network is for all buses, with a small number of exceptions, to be run under a franchised system. This section also includes the proposal, which was approved by GMCA in advance of this consultation, about how GMCA would fund the introduction of a fully franchised system. (54 pages) • Equality Impact Assessment and related question – This sets out the potential equality impacts of the Proposed Franchising Scheme. (1 page) • Outcome of audit – A summary of the outcome of the independent audit of the Assessment. (1 page) • Final questions – The final questions taking into account all of the above. (1 page) • Appendices
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HAVE YOUR SAY ON HOW YOUR BUSES ARE RUN – CONSULTATION DOCUMENT