2.The Act has 6 Parts, containing 49 sections and one Schedule.
3.The Act brings the planning and coordination of the local bus services network in Wales into public control. It replaces the de-regulated system introduced by the Transport Act 1985.The Act seeks to increase efficiencies within the planning and delivery of the local bus network, offer better control over public spending, and improve integration with other public transport methods.
4.The Act requires the Welsh Ministers to identify local bus services that they consider are needed for the purposes of securing safe, integrated, sustainable, efficient and economic transport in Wales ; to set the key particulars of those services out in the Welsh Bus Network Plan (“the Plan”); and to secure the provision of those services. Local authorities, Corporate Joint Committees, and other key stakeholders will be consulted before the Plan is published.
5.Under the Act, the Welsh Ministers must secure services either by entering into local bus service contracts with operators (i.e., by entering into the type of arrangements in respect of local bus services that are often referred to as franchising services); by granting local bus service permits to operators ; by providing local bus services directly; by relying on the provision of certain other services, such as community bus services; or by some combination of these things.
6.The Act lifts the restriction imposed in section 66 of the Transport Act 1985 on local authorities providing bus services, to enable local authorities to provide services directly or via their own bus companies (municipal bus companies).
7.The Act also makes provision in respect of data and information sharing. The objective behind this is to enable the public to access the information needed to make best use of the local bus network. It is also intended to assist the Welsh Ministers with the development and maintenance of the local bus service network.
Summary