Transport Act 2000

Transport Act 2000

2000 CHAPTER 38

Commentary on Sections

Part II: Local Transport

Section 160 to 162 and Schedule 11: Supplementary

139. Sections 160 to 162 make provision for regulations and orders under Part II of the Act and introduce the minor and consequential amendments in Schedule 11, and provide for definitions.

140. In particular, paragraphs 3 and 11 of Schedule 11 amend section 9A of the 1968 Act and section 63 of the 1985 Act in two respects. First, they remove the obligation imposed on local authorities and PTAs to formulate policies as to what subsidised public transport services are required in their area. This is now replaced by the duties under sections 98 and 100 to produce local transport plans and bus strategies. The duty in those enactments to secure the provision of services which would not otherwise be provided commercially is retained. In the second place, they replace the duty, also imposed on local authorities by those sections of the 1968 and 1985 Acts, “not to inhibit competition” when exercising powers to promote public passenger transport services by a “best value” duty requiring local authorities to have regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness.

141. Paragraphs 5 and 13 of the Schedule remove disabilities imposed (by the Local Government Act 1972 and the 1985 Act) on local councillors who are either unpaid directors or employees of public transport companies preventing them from taking part in or voting on certain matters relating to those companies. They amend that legislation by providing that (in the case of the 1985 Act) councillors who are members of a company’s controlling authority or (in the case of the 1972 Act) councillors who are members or any other local transport authority may take part and vote in debates on a local transport plan or bus strategy. (A “public transport company” is defined in section 72(1) of the 1985 Act and is, in brief, a company formed by a local council or PTA to carry on a bus undertaking, as defined in section 66 of that Act, and the company’s “controlling authority” is a council or PTA.)

142. Paragraph 7 of the Schedule amends the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 as regards the making or revocation of traffic regulation orders in connection with QP schemes, if the Secretary of State or NAW consents.