After a decade of neglect on public transport, we had 2021's Bus Back Better reforms from the Conservative Government. This July we've had the new Labour Government's first foray into the buses sphere: a new Buses Bill that will give all transport authorities the power to franchise services.

But the County Councils' Network's (CCN) members have long been apathetic over franchising powers – something that may work in metropolitan areas but fails to address the challenges in the rest of the country.