Making partnership plans and schemes to implement them
127.Section 3A(1) enables a local transport authority(6) to make a partnership plan when it considers it appropriate to do so. This is a broad test which gives the local transport authority discretion as to when they wish to make a partnership plan. In practice this will be informed by discussions with the operators of local services in the area and those in the community using those services.
128.Section 3B(1) requires the making of at least one scheme to implement a partnership plan.
129.To make a partnership scheme the local transport authority must be satisfied that the scheme will contribute to the implementation of the policies that are in the partnership plan itself and their relevant general policies (section 3B(6)). In a situation where there are two or more local transport authorities acting jointly, each must be satisfied that the scheme will contribute to the implementation of their own relevant general policies.
130.In addition, the local transport authority have to be satisfied that the scheme will either bring benefits to users of the services by improving the quality or effectiveness of the services or otherwise reduce or limit traffic congestion, noise or air pollution.
Local transport authority is defined in section 82(1) of the 2001 Act. As explained at paragraph 156 below, two or more local transport authorities may act jointly to put in place a partnership plan and scheme.
