COUNCILS could be given greater responsibility over bus funding as the number of passengers continues to decline.

An inquiry by the Commons Select Committee found that reliability concerns, uncertainty over funding and a lack of local authority powers have contributed to a decline in the number of services available.

Currently councils and groups like Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) can step in and provide funding or operate routes deemed particularly important, but most buses are run by private firms.

The committee, headed up by MP Lilian Greenwood, has asked Whitehall to open up all models of operation, including a franchise system, which means public groups could take more control over routes.

“More than three thousand bus routes in England have been reduced, altered or withdrawn since 2010/11," Ms Greenwood said.

"The numbers using bus services are falling. This has direct consequences on people’s lives, impacting on journeys to work, education and social events."

Key points raised during the inquiry included increasing traffic congestion leading buses to become unreliable and a lack of joined up working between councils and bus operators, such as First, Stagecoach and Arriva.

Stuart Haslam, Bolton Council's recently appointed executive cabinet member for highways and transport, said he could understand the benefits of greater local authority control over buses.

"I can see a lot of advantages in bus franchising," he said.

"I think it might be more responsive to passenger needs but I think the difficulty is in establishing which routes would be part of that."

However, Cllr Haslam questioned parts of the committee's report, saying there was a "lack of recognition" of the need of operators to organise services and promote bus travel as the the first option for journeys.

The importance of bus services has been highlighted in recent years as the government looks to public transport to help solve concerns over localised pollution and climate change.

For more information on the Commons Select Committee's findings or to download a copy of the full report, visit: www.parliament.uk.