Bus companies will soon be invited to bid for £3.3m worth of contracts to run services across County Durham.
A report on the up-coming process of re-tendering for subsidised bus services will be presented to Durham County Council’s Cabinet next week.
The authority provides financial support for around 20 per cent of the bus network in the area that would otherwise not operate because they do not carry enough passengers.
This includes wholly subsidised daytime services, contracts which extend the operational hours, days or route of commercial services or those that provide a single additional journey on a specific route.
The council awards contracts for a four-year period, in order to provide stability and greater certainty for operators, and around 80 per cent of the contracts are due to be renewed this year.
Cllr Neil Foster, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, said: “The council has a duty to ensure bus services are provided where there is a need and where they would not be provided if we did not step in.
“We are pleased that at a time of financial difficulties, we are still able to spend £3.3m on securing services – the same amount we spent last year.”