The Act Multi-authority franchising – inserted section 13S
233.While the majority of the provisions simply make reference to a local transport authority making a franchising framework or agreement, it is open to two or more such authorities to act jointly to make a franchising framework and the necessary agreements. In those cases, where there is a reference to the area of a local transport authority which is, in fact, a combination of local transport authorities acting jointly, it is to the combined area of all of them. However, a reference to the relevant general policies(13) of a local transport authority is a reference to the relevant general policies of each of the local traffic authorities which are acting together.
234.Where two or more local transport authorities choose to work together to make a franchising framework, it will be for them to decide how best to achieve that administratively. This is supported by the duty in section 47 of the 2001 Act (as amended by paragraph 3(4) of the schedule of the Act) which requires authorities to co-operate in relation to franchising frameworks.
235.However, section 13S(3) confirms that once the authorities start acting jointly in respect of a franchising framework, they must continue to do so for the life of the framework. For example, it would not be open to one authority to revoke the framework or any agreement without the co-operation of the other authorities.