Plans put forward by the government to improve bus services and hand more power to local authorities have divided Kent leaders.

The Better Buses bill from the government aims to give councils powers to set bus routes, fares and schedules more easily, rather than being controlled by the bus companies themselves.

The new legislation would allow all councils to create bus franchises, a power which currently is exclusively available to combined authorities.

A franchise is where the local authority creates plans for buses including standard of service, regularity, timetables, fare prices and routes within an area and private companies bid for the contract.

No other companies other than the contracted one can operate within the franchised area unless given permission by the authority in charge of the franchise.

The current system for most councils is that bus companies set the terms and routes they are willing to offer within an area - prioritising the most profitable routes and forgoing others.

There’s also no limits on where buses can operate, meaning honey-pot routes can have several different bus companies operating in a small area while other areas have no bus services at all.

In Kent, the plans have received mixed levels of support, with the two main parties both agreeing greater powers over bus routes will be advantageous, but split over the actual application.

Medway Council leader Vince Maple (Lab) welcomed the plans, saying it will make bus services serve the needs of local residents more closely.

He said: “It is great to see the government are putting in place measures which will ensure communities have more of a say in how their local bus services are run.

“For too long people in Medway have had to accept bus services which might not fit their needs, in terms of getting to where they need to go, when they need to go.

“Residents across Medway that use our bus services feel deeply disappointed.

“They feel that the services don't run reliably enough, that the cost generally is not good enough, so we need to see improvements and the ability for us to potentially take back control of our bus services is a welcome thing.

“We are extremely excited to explore what this could mean for the people in Medway, and looking to consider what is possible.“

However, Cllr Neil Baker (Con), Kent County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, says the proposals risk raising expectations higher than is realistic without new funding.

Cllr Baker said: “I think clearly the devil's going to be in the detail.

“A lot that the secretary of state has been saying about buses is interesting. We look forward to that detail.

“My fear is that the public expectation may be raised about what councils could do, but there's been no indication that central government will transfer any funds to allow us to do that.

“I think that would be the worst of both worlds, where we have the theoretical ability to do something, which is improve buses, which we'd all like to do, but no extra funds to do it and with our current financial position, I cannot see how we could deliver that in any reasonable way.”

At present only the 11 combined authorities in the UK can create bus franchises automatically.

All other councils have to first be given access to franchise powers by the government and then they must seek approval from the secretary of state for transport for their plans.

But the Better Buses bill, which is likely to be voted on in December, would mean local councils could create plans and submit them to the secretary of state straight away.

Responding to government plans, Cllr Adam Hug, transport spokesperson for the Local Government Association, said: “Buses remain critical to local government’s efforts to ensure that everyone can benefit from inclusive economic growth and job opportunities, and to prevent social isolation by making local services more accessible.

“These proposed measures recognise the fundamental role of local leadership in shaping future bus provision, which the LGA has long been calling for.

“Alongside anticipated reform to funding and bus subsidies, these proposals are a step towards helping to restore public faith in local bus networks and ensuring that bus services have a bright future.”

The draft guidance for local councils is currently being consulted on and it is expected legislation will be voted on in December.