Part II

Local transport

Bus services: quality contracts schemes

Making of scheme
127
1
If the appropriate national authority approves the scheme, the authority or authorities who proposed it may make it as approved at any time not later than six months after the date of the approval.
2
The scheme must specify—
a
the area to which it relates,
b
the date on which it is to come into operation, which must not be earlier than 21 months after the date on which it is made, and
c
the period for which it is to remain in operation, which must not be more than ten years.
3
The scheme must outline—
a
the local services which are to be provided under quality contracts, and
b
the features of the proposed invitations to tender for quality contracts.
4
The scheme may provide that—
a
local services specified in it, or
b
local services of a class specified in it,
are to be excluded from the scheme, subject to such conditions (if any) as may be specified in it.
5
The scheme may contain such ancillary provisions as the authority or authorities think fit.
6
The scheme may include provision—
a
varying or revoking any quality partnership scheme which only relates to the area of the authority, or combined area of the authorities, by which the scheme is made, or
b
varying any other quality partnership scheme to the extent that it so relates.
7
If provision is made under subsection (6)(b) to vary the quality partnership scheme so that it no longer so relates, such of the authorities by which it was made as did not make the quality contracts scheme—
a
may (subject to the provision so made) vary it if they decide that it is appropriate to do so, or
b
may revoke it if all persons who have given an undertaking to provide a service to a standard specified in the scheme consent to the revocation of the scheme (which consent must not be unreasonably withheld);
and subsections (3) and (4) of section 120 apply to a variation or revocation under this subsection.
8
Not later than 14 days after the date on which the scheme is made, the authority or authorities must—
a
give notice in at least one newspaper circulating in the area to which the scheme relates, and
b
send a copy of the scheme to the traffic commissioner for each traffic area covering the whole or part of that area.
9
The notice must state—
a
that the scheme has been made,
b
where a copy of the scheme may be inspected, and
c
the date on which the scheme is to come into operation.
10
The appropriate national authority may by order vary the period mentioned in subsection (2)(b).