Commentary on Sections Schedule 2 Road Investment Strategy Section 9: Watchdog
61.Section 9 provides for the Passengers’ Council (which is generally known as Passenger Focus) to carry out activities to protect and promote the interests of road users in relation to those roads managed by a strategic highways company.
62.Subsection (3) permits the Secretary of State to make regulations (following consultation with the Passengers’ Council) which narrow the scope of the functions conferred on the Passengers’ Council by this section. This power is subject to the negative resolution procedure.
63.Subsection (6) provides for the Passengers’ Council to be able to carry out equivalent functions in respect of local highway authorities and their performance, subject to agreement with the relevant local highway authority.