The cabinet of Rutland County Council has approved the next phase of the public bus network review, designed to evaluate any future options for the delivery of a public bus service.

Cllr Rosemary Powell (Con), deputy leader and portfolio holder for planning, highways and transport, told her fellow cabinet members at a meeting (14 February), that: "The presentation of a long list of options was made to the council's overview and scrutiny panel on 13 December 2022, feedback from which supported the continuation of a public transport network for the county. This was followed by a public bus user forum held on 19 January 2023 that sought feedback on the current provision and difficulties facing the transport providers."

A further public bus user forum will take place later in the year, which is to be followed by a consultation process with stakeholders that will take place in the next phase of the project, as it is too early to be clear on the preferred option at this stage.

Rutland County Council was not awarded Department for Transport bus service improvement plan funding in 2022. However, the recent joint bid for Levelling Up Funding with Melton Mowbray was successful resulting in an award of £23 million, of which a transport element is included.

The proposition is that Rutland will deliver a new transport hub which links economic activity to a traditional bus depot function called a mobi-hub. The mobi-hub and demand responsive transport elements of the bid could connect the towns of Oakham, Uppingham and Melton Mowbray, with further links to Stamford.

Members of the cabinet voted unanimously to approve the next phase of the process.