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68-434: Its objectives are to: ITSO was established as a result of discussions between various UK passenger transport authorities concerning the lack of standards for interoperable smart card ticketing. These discussions grew to include other authorities, transport operators and government. ITSO membership covers the breadth of the transport sector including transport operators (bus, tram and train operating companies), suppliers to

136-541: A government white paper was published which included nine areas invited to take part in devolution deals. In September 2024, the UK Government agreed to the formation of mayoral combined authorities for Hull and East Yorkshire, and Greater Lincolnshire, and non-mayoral combined authorities for Lancashire, and Devon and Torbay. In early 2022, Devon, Plymouth and Torbay were selected as one of nine pilot areas in England by

204-499: A 'Heart of Hampshire' Deal including the remainder of the county. However, these plans were rejected in the South due to objections from Isle of Wight Council, and in the North of the county due to disagreements and the likelihood of the constituent authorities being reorganised. A Dorset combined authority was proposed by the county's former nine constituent councils, and is being considered by

272-508: A CA or CCA is voluntary and all local authorities within the area must give their consent before it can be created. The local authority of any district of England outside Greater London can join a CA, and a county council can become part of a CA even if only some of the non-metropolitan districts that make up the county are within the combined area. A local authority may only belong to one CA. CCAs can only be formed by upper-tier authorities: county councils and unitary authorities. The members of

340-416: A CCA are appointed by its constituent councils. In addition, a CCA may appoint additional members and allow another body to nominate members; these members are non-voting unless decided otherwise. There are three stages to the creation or amendment of a CA. Firstly a review must be undertaken to establish the likelihood that a CA would improve: "...the exercise of statutory functions relating to transport in

408-565: A Heart of Wessex combined authority. In November 2024, all three authorities committed to the establishment of a mayoral combined authority, and stated that an offer to include Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and Swindon Borough Council remained open. Previous plans in Hampshire have included a Solent Combined Authority in South Hampshire (potentially alongside the Isle of Wight) and

476-504: A combined authority was formed for the metropolitan county of the West Midlands ; as a consequence, all former metropolitan counties are now covered by combined authorities. In 2016, the first combined authority to not cover a metropolitan county was formed. This was Tees Valley , which covers the area of the former county of Cleveland (now four unitary authorities in the ceremonial counties of Durham and North Yorkshire ), together with

544-476: A deal, with leaders of both unitary authorities indicating a preference for a rotating chair instead of a mayor. A proposal for Lancashire failed in 2017. Council leaders agreed to the concept in June 2020, with suggestions of reducing the number of districts into three unitary authorities, or implementing a single unitary authority instead of a combined authority. The three proposed successor authorities would cover

612-448: A letter that he did not favour the plan for a South Essex Combined Authority, but would be willing to discuss it. Seven councils in Sussex including Brighton and Hove have an economic board which coordinated development, skills and collaboration between councils. It is part of a long-term ambition to create a combined authority Hertfordshire districts have given support for a deal, but

680-545: A mayor. Proposals by Cheshire East , Cheshire West and Chester , and Warrington underwent a public consultation in Summer 2017 but government permission was still being sought in spring 2020. All three councils are in favour of a non-mayoral deal, although local Conservative MPs were not supportive. Warrington's Chief Executive has “received a letter from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities” with hopes for

748-433: A ministerial meeting. The Original proposal for Cumbria failed in 2017. A subsequent attempt for a single unitary authority failed in 2019, leading to a new proposal for a combined authority in late 2019, alongside replacing the two-tier system with two unitary authorities. As the initial plan for the unitarization was based on the assumption of a county-level combined authority to manage adult and children's services,

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816-401: A new form of authority called a combined county authority. The act allowed for more broader functions to be devolved to new and existing CAs and CCAs, and created the power for CAs and CCAs to be allowed to change the title of mayor. CAs and CCAs are bodies corporate and are able to assume the role of an integrated transport authority and economic prosperity board . This gives the authority

884-657: A number of specialist task groups which bring together professionals from across the pteg network to focus on specific policy areas and to share expertise and good practice. The PTEG Support Unit, based in Leeds , co-ordinated PTEG's activities and acted as a central point of contact. PTEG became Urban Transport Group in 2018. In Scotland, the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport , formerly Greater Glasgow Passenger Transport Executive, Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive, and Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority, covers

952-670: A separate legal entity; in these areas the combined authority itself is the executive. In recent years the PTEs and ITAs have campaigned to be given more powers to regulate local bus services, as is the case in London (see London Buses ). The Passenger Transport Executive Group (PTEG) was a federated body based in Leeds to bring together and promote the interests of the six PTEs in England, plus associate members Strathclyde Partnership for Transport; Transport for London ; Nottingham City Council; and Bristol and

1020-721: Is a similar type of local government institution introduced in England outside Greater London by the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 , but may only be formed by upper-tier authorities: county councils and unitary authorities . The members of the CCA are appointed by its constituent councils. In addition, the CCA may appoint additional members and allow another body to nominate members; these members are non-voting unless decided otherwise. CAs and CCAs are predominantly created in areas where they are considered likely to improve transport, economic development, and regeneration, but their creation

1088-466: Is encouraged by Government and there has been a substantial increase in creation in recent years. There are currently eleven such authorities, created between 2011 and 2024. A CA or CCA may not cross over to another combined area. Following the abolition of metropolitan county councils and the Greater London Council in 1986, England had no local government bodies with strategic authority over

1156-604: Is some interest in devolution talks, but requiring Stoke-on-Trent's participation. The original proposal was for a Norfolk and Suffolk Combined Authority, before it was replaced with an East Anglia proposal including Cambridgeshire and Peterborough . The East Anglia plan failed, reverting to the original two plans. Whilst the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough plan succeeded, the Norfolk and Suffolk plan failed, with King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council voting to reject

1224-552: Is worth bearing in mind that PTEs do not, strictly speaking, own anything - their role is a statutory one to provide services using the resources provided to them by the ITAs. There are currently six passenger transport executives in England , covering areas which correspond - though are not limited - to metropolitan counties . When a combined authority is created the integrated transport area and integrated transport authority are replaced with

1292-638: The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme for all people of retirement age and eligible disabled persons (according to the Transport Acts 1985 and 2000 ) using buses, which uses ITSO smart cards. Transport Scotland and the Welsh Government have implemented ITSO in their concessionary travel schemes. The ITSO specification is a technical platform on which interoperable smart ticketing schemes can be built. It defines

1360-726: The European Investment Bank in excess of £1 billion, with similar liabilities to the Treasury and private business. Combined authority mayors are members of the England-only Mayoral Council , and of the UK-wide Council of the Nations and Regions , both of which were established by the incoming Labour government in 2024. CAs and CCAs consist of two or more contiguous English local government areas. The creation of

1428-765: The Google Pay digital wallet on the phone. The first trials were in 2018 with West Midlands Metro . ITSO on Mobile was made available for season tickets on West Midlands Metro as well as Transport for West Midlands' nNetwork season tickets in February 2021, and the Tyne and Wear Metro in November 2020. ITSO on Mobile is delivered by Yotra Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of ITSO Ltd that has been created to develop, deliver into service and then operate ITSO on Mobile. Passenger transport executive#Passenger transport authorities In

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1496-515: The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 . CAs are created voluntarily and allow a group of local authorities to pool appropriate responsibility and receive certain devolved functions from central government in order to deliver transport and economic policy more effectively over a wider area. In areas where local government is two-tier, both must participate in the combined authority. A combined county authority ( CCA )

1564-619: The North East Combined Authority , East Midlands Combined County Authority , and York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority . Nine CA and CCA mayors were elected during the 2024 United Kingdom local elections , including the newly created Mayor of the North East , Mayor of the East Midlands , and Mayor of York and North Yorkshire . Several new combined authorities and combined county authorities have been proposed. In 2022

1632-764: The North East Mayoral Combined Authority would have the same trailblazer deal. In return, the CAs would face greater oversight, including quarterly scrutiny sessions by new committees of local MPs. Since the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 was passed, there was an influx of new CAs and CCAs either being created or planned to be created, and further powers to be devolved to existing authorities. The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 allowed for certain functions over transport to be delegated from central government. The Localism Act 2011 allowed additional transfers of powers from

1700-480: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and gave combined authorities a general power of competence . The powers and functions to be shared are agreed by the metropolitan district , non-metropolitan district , non-metropolitan county or unitary authority councils. In 2014, the government consulted on changes to the legislation governing combined authorities. Proposed changes included extending

1768-486: The South Yorkshire alternative . The Mayor of South Yorkshire , Dan Jarvis , also supported a One Yorkshire proposal. A combined authority was agreed for York and North Yorkshire in 2022 (see below), and in the same year negotiations began regarding an authority for East Yorkshire and Hull (also below). Berkshire County Council was abolished in 1998 , leaving the districts as unitary authorities . In 2021

1836-735: The United Kingdom , passenger transport executives ( PTEs ) are local government bodies which are responsible for public transport within large urban areas. They are accountable to combined authorities , which were created between 2011 and 2016 and took the role of integrated transport authorities (ITAs). The PTEs have joined together to form the Urban Transport Group (Passenger Transport Executive Group (PTEG) until 2016), in which Transport for London and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport also participate. The first PTEs and Passenger Transport Authorities (PTAs) were established in

1904-420: The metropolitan boroughs , or in the case of Strathclyde by the twelve unitary authority councils in the area. The ITAs are not "precepting authorities", so they have to negotiate a "levy" every year that is applied to council tax collected by the local authorities in the areas that they serve. The executive usually requests a budget and the council representatives on the ITAs negotiate from this position. It

1972-536: The County Council. However, in September 2024, following the 2024 United Kingdom general election , the new Labour government decided against pursuing single authority devolution deals, instead preferring the formation of multi-authority combined authorities. Thus plans for Elected Leaders in Norfolk and Suffolk were dropped. Whilst not included in current plans, discussions are ongoing between local authorities and

2040-605: The Government accepted a proposal from the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities to establish a Greater Manchester Combined Authority as an indirectly elected top-tier strategic authority for Greater Manchester . Following the unsuccessful English mayoral referendums in 2012, combined authorities have been used as an alternative means to grant additional powers and funding as part of 'city deals'. In 2014, two indirectly elected combined authorities were established covering

2108-564: The Greater Manchester Combined Authority and West Midlands Combined Authority which included reforms to their funding models. As part of these deals, the combined authorities will be treated in a similar manner to government departments at the next spending review and each will be allocated a multi-year single settlement, replacing a large number of individual grant funding streams for which they must submit individual competitive bids. In his 2024 budget , Hunt said that

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2176-570: The Secretary of State for approval in early May 2024. The Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority is scheduled to be created in the Autumn of 2024 following parliamentary approval. After the government rejected the One Yorkshire proposal (see above) and a cross-Humber deal with North Lincolnshire failed, a Hull and East Riding alternative has been proposed. Negotiations have begun with government on

2244-568: The Transport Act 1985 forced them to separate their bus operations into new arms lengths companies. These were called PTC's which were all sold off by the mid 1990s. The PTE's were also stripped of their powers to regulate the fares and timetables of private bus operators. A number of changes to PTE/As were made under the Local Transport Act 2008 . The main changes made were: The integrated transport authorities (ITAs) from 2008 onwards are

2312-522: The UK government in the Levelling Up White Paper for "County Deal" negotiations. However, Plymouth City Council decided to withdraw from the deal in November 2023. Devon and Torbay proceeded without Plymouth with a joint proposal for a Level 2 Devolution Deal, a Combined Authority without a directly elected mayor. The deal was approved by both Devon County Council and Torbay Council and submitted to

2380-561: The West of England. PTEG's main tasks were facilitating the exchange of knowledge and good practice within the PTE network, and raising awareness nationally about the key transport challenges which face the city regions, and the public transport solutions which PTEs are implementing. PTEG's strategy and policy was determined by the Directors General of the PTEs, who met every quarter. It administered

2448-399: The area, the effectiveness and efficiency of transport in the area, the exercise of statutory functions relating to economic development and regeneration in the area, and economic conditions in the area." On completion of the review, the local authorities produce and publish a proposed scheme of the combined authority to be created, including the area that will be covered, the constitution, and

2516-482: The bodies which administer the executives; they are made up of councillors representing the areas served by the PTEs. They are responsible for funding the PTEs, and making the policies which the PTEs carry out on their behalf. PTEs secure services on behalf of the ITA but it is the ITA that pays for them. In the six metropolitan counties, councillors are appointed to the ITAs or the transport committees of combined authorities by

2584-399: The bottom right corner of the bus pass. The ITSO member list includes most of the major bus operators, ticket issuing system vendors and passenger transport executives . The largest commercial-based scheme is by Transport for London , marketed as Oyster . TfL has funded Oyster readers for all London rail stations in zones 1-6, and the Department for Transport has worked with TfL to ensure

2652-552: The ceremonial county areas of South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire , and a further two which each covered a metropolitan county and adjacent non-metropolitan districts: the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority for Merseyside and the Borough of Halton unitary authority; and the North East Combined Authority for Tyne and Wear and the unitary authorities of County Durham and Northumberland . In 2016,

2720-467: The combined area and combined authority. This happened in Greater Manchester on 1 April 2011 and happened in three other integrated transport areas from 1 April 2014: to become the larger Liverpool City Region, as well as Sheffield City Region, and West Yorkshire combined areas. In South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and West Midlands, the PTE has been absorbed into the combined authority, and is no longer

2788-414: The constituent districts agreed to submit an expression of interest in a county deal. The six unitary councils formed a joint Berkshire Prosperity Board in February 2024 and submitted an expression of interest in forming a non-mayoral combined authority in September 2024. Although not included in the 2022 white paper, Buckinghamshire Council hopes to be part of the next wave of county deals, but without

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2856-405: The county council. The proposal failed in 2016 after constituent councils voted against it, with subsequent discussions of an East Midlands devolution deal. Currently the councils of Lincolnshire are working on a 10-point plan to submit to government for a Lincolnshire deal. Dorset Council , Somerset Council and Wiltshire Council submitted an expression of interest in September 2024 to form

2924-447: The deal has been prioritized. There are disagreements between Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness on whether the deal should include a mayor. On 30 September 2024, Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council jointly submitted an expression of interest in forming a combined authority to the UK government. The two councils have already formed a Joint Executive Committee and Economic Growth Body. A proposed devolution deal

2992-503: The deal, and Norfolk County Council cancelling a subsequent planned meeting on the topic. Suffolk County Council's plans for a county-wide deal have been supported by the constituent district councils with backing from its local MPs, although opposing a mayoral deal. Suffolk County Council signed a devolution agreement with the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities in December 2022, which included an Elected Leader who will lead

3060-412: The deal, and Norfolk County Council cancelling a subsequent planned meeting on the topic. The District and County Council previously disagreed over the election of a mayor. The government and the county council signed a devolution agreement on 8 December 2022, which included the creation of an elected mayor with the title Elected Leader. Subject to consultation, and council and parliamentary approval, it

3128-518: The former region of Strathclyde , which includes the urban area around Glasgow . All of Scotland is now divided into partnership areas for Transport. A similar body, Transport for London , exists in Greater London . In shire county areas, similar functions are carried out by county councils . Combined authorities A combined authority ( CA ) is a type of local government institution introduced in England outside Greater London by

3196-452: The functions. This will include details of membership of the CA or CCA, remuneration, and how meetings will be chaired and recorded. Following a period of consultation and subject to the approval of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government , the CA or CCA is formally created, dissolved, or altered by a statutory instrument . A number of CAs and CCAs were created in 2024, including

3264-641: The industry, local authorities and public transport executives. Supported by the Department for Transport , ITSO has links with major transport industry organisations and established smart card schemes in the UK and overseas. ITSO started out as the Integrated Transport Smartcard Organisation but this name has been dropped and is now just 'ITSO'. That is because the specification covers other forms of ticketing besides smartcards and transport. The Department for Transport introduced in 2008

3332-591: The key technical items and interfaces that are required to deliver interoperability between components of a ticketing system – smart media (smart cards), points of service and back offices – and separate ticketing systems. ITSO is unique in transport smart card specifications in that it covers all these components. The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme is a national scheme by the Department for Transport in conjunction with local authorities across England, in which ITSO worked to standardise and ensure interoperability of cards and readers. The ITSO logo features on

3400-555: The late 1960s by the Transport Act 1968 as transport authorities serving large conurbations , by the then transport minister Barbara Castle . Prior to this, public transport was run by individual local authorities and private companies, with little co-ordination. The PTEs took over municipal bus operations from individual councils, and became responsible for managing local rail networks. The 1968 Act created five PTE/As. These were: Initially they covered slightly different areas from

3468-431: The legislation to Greater London, Wales, and Scotland. The Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 received royal assent on 28 January 2016. The act allowed for the introduction of directly elected mayors to combined authorities in England and Wales with powers over housing, transport, planning, and policing. In 2020, the government planned to produce a white paper on 'Devolution and Local Recovery', which

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3536-527: The major urban areas of the country. In 1999, following a successful referendum , the Labour government created a strategic authority for London (the Greater London Authority ), but no bodies were established to replace the metropolitan county councils outside London. The Blair government instead pursued the idea of elected regional assemblies , although following an unsuccessful referendum in 2004 in

3604-464: The most positive region – the North East – this idea had few proponents. In October 2010 the Coalition Government introduced measures to replace regional development agencies , which were described as inefficient and costly. They were superseded by local enterprise partnerships , voluntary groups whose membership was drawn from the private sector with local authority input. Earlier in 2010,

3672-408: The northern and coastal, central and southern, and eastern and Pennine areas. All potential constituent authorities have reviewed plans created by the county council, and are now "studying the detail of the white paper and its implications for driving forward our devolution aspirations”. A plan for a Lincolnshire devolution was proposed, which would have included all constituent boroughs as well as

3740-523: The ones covered by integrated transport authorities today. Local government in England was re-organised in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 . The re-organisation created the six metropolitan counties , and the existing four English PTEs were named after, and made to match the borders of the new counties (for example West Midlands PTE was expanded to take on Coventry and Tyneside PTE expanded to include Sunderland becoming Tyne and Wear PTE in

3808-740: The power to exercise any function of its constituent councils that relates to economic development and regeneration, and any of the functions that are available to integrated transport authorities. For transport purposes, CAs and CCAs are able to borrow money and can levy their constituent authorities. CAs and CCAs were (until the United Kingdom left the European Union ) encouraged to borrow from European institutions for social and environmental schemes which met EU objectives. Loans were made with conditions attached which furthered EU policies. By 2015, Greater Manchester Combined Authority had agreed loans from

3876-614: The process). In addition to this, two new PTEs were created for the newly established metropolitan counties of South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire . The 1974 reorganisation also abolished the PTAs, and their role was taken over by the Metropolitan county councils (MCCs). However, when the MCCs were abolished in 1986, the PTAs were re-created. Local government re-organisation in Scotland in 1975 created

3944-740: The readers are compatible with the ITSO specification. The UK's equivalent interoperability organisation for sectors other than transport ticketing is Lasseo, which provides an open specification for UK local authorities to add public services onto ITSO based cards. A Scottish consortium of local authorities looks at standard and interoperability issues in Scotland. In 2018, ITSO launched ITSO on Mobile, partnering with Google to allow passengers to buy and use ITSO tickets on their Android mobile phone. Transport operator members of ITSO can integrate ITSO on Mobile into their existing ITSO schemes, including their retail apps and websites. Purchased tickets are delivered to

4012-482: The region of Strathclyde , and the existing Greater Glasgow PTE was named after, and made to cover the new region. PTAs were recreated by the Local Government Act 1985 when the metropolitan county councils were abolished. The Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 had the same effect in the Strathclyde Region. Until the mid-1980s the PTEs operated bus services in their areas, but bus deregulation by

4080-527: The two unitary councils ( Dorset and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole ) which replaced them in April 2019. In 2021 a new plan including Hampshire, Isle of Wight, and Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole was being pursued, though lacking appetite for a mayor. Leicestershire County Council proposed a combined authority in 2015, with discussions after including an East Midlands deal. A Leicestershire deal has also been proposed by government but without Leicester; as

4148-459: The unitary authority of Darlington . Two further combined authorities which do not cover ceremonial counties or former metropolitan counties were formed in 2017: West of England , comprising Bristol and two of the three adjacent unitary authorities in Gloucestershire and Somerset , all of which had been within the former county of Avon ; and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough . In 2020, it

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4216-416: The whitepaper stipulates a minimum population of 500,000, Leicester or Rutland would not be able to form individual devolution deals; both Leicester and Rutland have been proposed as joining part of a deal. Rutland was previously a district of Leicestershire between 1974 and 1997 before becoming a unitary authority, but is open to joining a Leicestershire deal. A Norfolk and Suffolk mayoral combined authority

4284-506: Was expected to create new combined authorities with mayors – or "county mayors" – for non-metropolitan areas of the country. These have been tentatively suggested to be a 'Great South West' grouping of Cornwall , Devon , and Dorset (possibly with Somerset ), and another in Lancashire. The white paper was delayed and was eventually published on 2 February 2022. The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 enhanced devolution and created

4352-592: Was hoped that the first Elected Leader would have been elected in 2024 to coincide with the police and crime commissioner elections. In September 2024, following the 2024 United Kingdom general election , the new Labour government decided against pursuing single authority devolution deals, instead preferring the formation of multi-authority combined authorities. Thus plans for Elected Leaders in Norfolk and Suffolk were dropped. A leadership board has been formed by Staffordshire County Council and its constituent districts, with an invitation to unitary Stoke-on-Trent. There

4420-489: Was narrowly voted against in 2016, but has re-emerged in 2020. A separate deal was also proposed for a "South Essex" Combined Authority, covering Southend , Thurrock , Basildon , Castlepoint , Brentwood , and Rochford . The whole Essex plan also suggested forming four new unitary authorities, whilst the South Essex plan favoured retaining the current status. The Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government stated in

4488-457: Was not included in the 2022 white paper. The original proposal was for a Norfolk and Suffolk Combined Authority, before it was replaced with an East Anglia proposal including Cambridgeshire and Peterborough . The East Anglia plan failed, reverting to the original two plans. Whilst the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough plan succeeded, the Norfolk and Suffolk plan failed, with King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council voting to reject

4556-443: Was proposed in November 2024 alongside a reorganisation of the existing two-tier local government structures in to a smaller number of unitary authorities . A proposal for a single Yorkshire Combined Authority, dubbed One Yorkshire, has been proposed for some time, but failed to gain government support, being rejected in 2019. The proposal had support from 18 of the 20 Yorkshire councils, with Sheffield and Rotherham both preferring

4624-475: Was reported that other combined authorities for non-metropolitan parts of the country – such as Cumbria , Lancashire , North Yorkshire, and Somerset – were under consideration, but the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on governance meant decisions were delayed until late 2021. The Chancellor of the Exchequer , Jeremy Hunt , announced in his 2023 budget speech that "trailblazer deals" had been struck with

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