3.—(1) An authority may at any time before 1st April 1986 take any steps to which this article applies which are required to be taken as a preliminary to the exercise of the powers necessary to perform the duties imposed by section 9A(1) and (7) of the Transport Act 1968(1) (which duties will on that date become duties of the authority).
(2) This article applies to the following steps—
(a)seeking and having regard to the advice of the Executive;
(b)consulting with every Passenger Transport Authority or county or regional council whose area may be affected by the proposed policies of the authority;
(c)consulting with persons operating public passenger transport services within the area of the authority or with organisations appearing to the authority to be representative of such persons;
(d)consulting with councils of districts in the area of the authority about the requirements for transport arising out of or in connection with the exercise and performance by those councils of their functions as local education authorities or of their social services functions; and
(e)having regard to the transport needs of members of the public who are elderly or disabled.
Section 9A was inserted by the Transport Act 1985, section 57(2).