(1)The 1981 Act shall be amended as follows.
(2)In section 52(1)(a) (which sets out matters in respect of which the traffic commissioner for an area is to charge fees) after sub-paragraph (i) there shall be inserted—
“(ia)applications under section 16(6) of this Act and the grant of such applications;
(ib)the continuation in force of PSV operators' licences;”.
(3)For section 52(2)(b) there shall be substituted—
“(b)the grant of any PSV operator’s licence or of any application under section 16(6) of this Act;
(bb)the issue of any certificate, disc or other document referred to in subsection (1) above; or”.
(4)After section 52(2) there shall be inserted—
“(2A)If, in the case of any application for a PSV operator’s licence, any fee or instalment of a fee in respect of the application, the grant of the licence or the issue of operators' discs under section 18(2) of this Act is not duly paid by the prescribed time—
(a)the application shall be treated as withdrawn at that time;
(b)any decision made on the application ceases to have effect at that time; and
(c)any licence granted in pursuance of such a decision terminates at that time.
(2B)If, in the case of any application under section 16(6) of this Act, any fee or instalment of a fee in respect of the application, the grant of the application or the issue of operators' discs under section 18(2A) of this Act is not duly paid by the prescribed time—
(a)the application shall be treated as withdrawn at that time;
(b)any decision made on the application, and any variation effected in pursuance of such a decision, ceases to have effect at that time.
(2C)If, in the case of any PSV operator’s licence, any fee or instalment of a fee in respect of—
(a)the continuation in force of the licence; or
(b)the issue of operators' discs under section 18(2C) of this Act,
is not duly paid by the prescribed time, the licence terminates at that time.
(2D)If any fee or instalment of a fee in respect of any operators' discs that have been issued under section 18 of this Act is not duly paid by the prescribed time, the discs cease to have effect at that time.
(2E)The traffic commissioner by whom a PSV operator’s licence was granted may, if he considers there to be exceptional circumstances that justify his doing so in any case where subsection (2A), (2B), (2C) or (2D) above has applied, direct that as from the time mentioned in that subsection its effect in that case be disregarded.
(2F)Where the traffic commissioner has given a direction under subsection (2E) above in respect of a PSV operator’s licence in a case where subsection (2A) or (2C) above has applied, it shall not for the purposes of section 20(1) or (2) of this Act be regarded as having been practicable for the licence-holder to—
(a)report any matter to the Secretary of State; or
(b)give him notice of any alteration,
during the period beginning with the time mentioned in subsection (2A) or (2C) and ending when the direction came into force.”
(5)In section 60 (general power to make regulations for purposes of Act) for subsection (1)(e) there shall be substituted—
“(e)the fees to be payable under this Act, the persons liable to pay them, and the repayment (or partial repayment), in prescribed circumstances, of fees paid under this Act;”.