Commentary Part 3: Bus Services Section 13: Quality partnership schemes
69.Section 13 amends section 114 of the TA 2000. Section 114(6)(b) of the TA 2000 currently excludes requirements as to frequency or timing of services from the description of a “standard of service”. The effect of subsection (5) is to amend section 114(6)(b) so that such requirements may explicitly be included in a quality partnership scheme. Subsection (6) inserts new subsections (6A) and (6B) into section 114. The effect of subsection (6A) is to stipulate that requirements as to maximum fares may be specified in a scheme. Subsection (6B) provides that a scheme may include requirements as to frequencies, timings and maximum fares only if there are no “admissible objections” from relevant bus operators (see also notes on section 18 below). The effect of the amendment in subsection (7) (which inserts a new subsection (6C) into section 114) is to enable both facilities and service standards to be phased in on predetermined dates over a period of time, rather than the current procedure under which all facilities and standards must be available when the scheme takes effect.
70.Subsection (4) inserts new subsections (3A) to (3D) into section 114 of the TA 2000. The purpose of these provisions is to enable a local transport authority, in appropriate circumstances, to specify in a quality partnership scheme any restrictions which are to be imposed on the registration of certain local services. Such restrictions can be imposed only where the local authority considers that the provision of additional local services in the area of a quality partnership scheme may be detrimental to the provision of services under that scheme. Any scheme which includes restrictions on the registration of local services must also specify the criteria to be used by traffic commissioners when deciding whether or not to accept an application to register a local service. (See also notes on section 48.)