Transport Act 1981

8 (1) After section 27 there is inserted— E+W+S

“27A Combined charges.

(1) Where a harbour authority have power, whether by virtue of section 26 of this Act or any other statutory provision—

(a) to levy ship, passenger and goods dues or equivalent dues; and

(b) to make other charges,

the authority may, subject to the next following subsection, make a combined charge, that is to say, a single charge referable in part to matters for which ship, passenger and goods dues or equivalent dues may be levied and in part to matters for which other charges may be made.

(2) A harbour authority may not make a combined charge in any case where—

(a) the person who would be liable to pay the charge objects to paying a combined charge; or

(b) a number of persons would be jointly and severally liable to pay the charge and any of them objects to paying a combined charge;

but without prejudice to the power of the authority to make separate charges in such a case.

(3) A person may not object under subsection (2) above to the payment of a combined charge previously incurred or incurred in pursuance of a prior agreement between that person and the harbour authority.

(4) In this section “equivalent dues” means dues exigible in respect of things other than ships for entering, using or leaving a harbour, including charges for marking or lighting the harbour.”.

(2) In section 30 (duties with respect to keeping of lists of charges, etc.) after subsection (4) there is inserted—

“(5) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to combined charges within the meaning of section 27A of this Act.

(6) References in this section to the dues or charges exigible by an authority or Board are references to the amount exigible where no composition agreement applies and no specially agreed rebate is allowed.”.

(3) In section 31 (right of objection to ship, passenger and goods dues), at the end of subsection (1) (charges to which the section applies) there is inserted “ other than combined charges within the meaning of section 27A of this ACt ; and references in this section to the rate at which any such charge is imposed are to the amount where no composition agreement applies and no specially agreed rebate is allowed ”.