If Arriva's new "electric / minibus hub" becomes a reality, could GNE not do a deal with Arriva by giving the North Tyneside minibus network to Arriva (bar the 19) in return for getting joint operation of the 685?

Would kill two birds with a stone as the local minibus services would better fill Arriva's strategy whereas they'd offload the 685 and allow GNE to jointly run it from Hexham depot.