15Exercise of relevant functions by concessionaire
(1)Where a concession agreement is subsisting on the appointed day, all relevant functions, or so many of them as are specified in the concession agreement, shall be exercisable by the concessionaire (instead of by the Secretary of State) during the concession period.
(2)The functions concerned shall be exercised by the concessionaire in accordance with the concession agreement.
(3)In exercising a function in accordance with this section the concessionaire shall not be regarded for any purpose as acting as the agent of the Secretary of State.
(4)The concessionaire may enter into and carry into effect agreements with any person for any purpose connected with the exercise of any relevant function.
(5)Nothing in this section or in the concession agreement shall prevent the Secretary of State from exercising a relevant function if he considers that it is in the public interest for him to do so.
(6)Where a concession agreement is subsisting on the appointed day, no agreement made before that day under section 6 of the [1980 c. 66.] Highways Act 1980 (agreement between Secretary of State and council for delegation of functions to council) shall have effect on or after that day in so far as it relates to—
(a)the existing bridge or the highway carried by it, or
(b)the existing toll plaza area or the highway within it.