Commentary Part 3: Bus Services Section 26: Making of scheme
95.This section amends section 127 of the TA 2000. Subsection (2) of section 26 retains the effect of the existing section 127(1) in Wales, so that a scheme in Wales may be made at any time within six months of the date when the proposal is approved by the Welsh Ministers. In relation to England, however, section 127(1) is amended so as to enable a local authority to make a scheme at any time within 6 months of the publication of the QCS board’s report, so long as the authority has published its response to that report.
96.The effect of the amendment in subsection (3) is to enable different parts of a quality contracts scheme to come into effect on different dates (see also sections 28 and 29). Under the existing provisions in the TA 2000, all parts of the scheme must come into operation on the same date.
97.The amendment made by subsection (9) reflects the fact that, in an integrated transport area, it is for the Passenger Transport Executive for that area (not the Integrated Transport Authority) to issue invitations to tender for quality contracts. See section 130 of the TA 2000, as read with section 162(4).