PART 5 E+W LOCAL AUTHORITY POWERS AND DUTIES

34 Provision of bus services by local authorities: removal of restriction E+W

(1) The 1985 Act is amended as follows.

(2) In section 66 (exclusion of powers of certain councils to run bus undertakings), in subsection (1), omit “a county council or county borough council in Wales”.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 34 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 48(3)

I2 S. 34 in force at 30.6.2026 by W.S.I. 2026/109, art. 2(f)

Prospective

35 Removal of duty to secure local bus services E+W

In the 1985 Act, in section 63 (functions of local councils with respect to passenger transport), after subsection (1) insert—

“(1A) The duty in subsection (1) does not require a council in Wales to secure the provision of a service that is a local bus service for the purposes of section 1 of the Bus Services (Wales) Act 2026 (asc [X]).”

Commencement Information

I3 S. 35 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 48(3)

Prospective

36 Financial assistance in connection with local bus services E+W

(1) A local authority may give financial assistance in connection with the provision of a local bus service.

(2) Section 88(1) of the 1985 Act does not apply in relation to financial assistance given under subsection (1) (and, accordingly, sections 89 to 92 of that Act (rules relating to subsidy agreements) do not apply).

(3) In section 63 (functions of local councils with respect to passenger transport) of the 1985 Act, in subsection (9), in the opening words, after “references to services”, insert “in connection with which financial assistance has been given under section 36 of the Bus Services (Wales) Act 2026 and to services”.

Commencement Information

I4 S. 36 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 48(3)