C3Part II Local transport
F3Mandatory travel concessions for journeys not beginning on the London bus network
S. 145A substituted for s. 145 (17.10.2007 for specified purposes, 1.4.2008 in so far as not already in force) by Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 (c. 13), ss. 1, 15(1); S.I. 2007/2799, arts. 2, 3 (with art. 4)
F3145 Mandatory concessions outside Greater London.
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145AF3England: mandatory concessions for journeys not beginning on the London bus network
1
Any person to whom a current statutory travel concession permit has been issued and who travels on an eligible journey on an eligible service is entitled, on production of the permit, to a concession consisting of a waiver of the fare for the journey by the operator of the service.
2
In subsection (1) “eligible journey” means a journey on one public service vehicle (in one direction) which—
a
is between places in England,
b
begins at a relevant time, and
c
is not one to which section 242(8) of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (journeys beginning on the London bus network) applies.
3
In this section “statutory travel concession permit” means—
a
a permit issued pursuant to subsection (4),
b
a permit issued by a London authority relating to the travel concession specified in section 242(8) and (8A) of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 (travel concessions on journeys beginning on the London bus network etc), or
c
a permit issued by a London authority pursuant to paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 16 to that Act (free travel scheme in Greater London).
4
A travel concession authority in England other than a London authority must, on an application made to it by any person who appears to the authority to be an elderly or disabled person whose sole or principal residence is in the authority's area, issue to the person free of charge a permit indicating that he is entitled to the concession specified in subsection (1).
5
A permit issued pursuant to subsection (4) must be issued in such form and for such period—
a
as may be specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State, and
b
subject to that, as the authority issuing the permit considers appropriate.
6
The Secretary of State may issue guidance to travel concession authorities in England to which they must have regard in determining for the purposes of subsection (4) whether a person is a disabled person.
7
Before issuing guidance under subsection (6) the Secretary of State shall consult—
a
the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee,
b
associations representative of travel concession authorities, and
c
such other persons as he thinks fit.
8
The Secretary of State may issue guidance to travel concession authorities in England to which they must have regard in determining for the purposes of subsection (4) whether a person has his sole or principal residence in an authority's area.
9
A person entitled to be issued with a statutory travel concession permit by a travel concession authority under subsection (4) may agree with the authority that he is not to be entitled to—
a
the concession specified in subsection (1), and
b
the concession provided by virtue of section 242(8) of, or paragraph A1 of Schedule 16 to, the Greater London Authority Act 1999,
for a period in return for being entitled during that period to receive travel concessions under a scheme under section 93 of the Transport Act 1985 to which the authority is a party (if the scheme provides that a person may not receive travel concessions under the scheme unless he so agrees).
10
The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision about agreements within subsection (9).
11
The regulations may in particular make provision—
a
requiring the serving of notices before an agreement is made,
b
about the form of agreements, and
c
as to the period for which a person may agree not to be entitled to the concessions mentioned in subsection (9)(a) and (b).
145BF12Wales: mandatory concessions
1
Any person to whom a current statutory travel concession permit has been issued by a travel concession authority in Wales and who travels on an eligible service on a journey (beginning at any time)—
a
between places in the authority's area,
b
between a place in the authority's area and a place outside but in the vicinity of that area, or
c
between places outside but in the vicinity of that area,
is entitled, on production of the permit, to a concession consisting of a waiver of the fare for the journey by the operator of the service.
2
And if the permit is in a form approved by the Welsh Ministers for the purpose of this subsection, subsection (1) has effect as if each reference in it to the authority's area were to Wales.
3
A travel concession authority in Wales must, on an application made to it by any person who appears to the authority to be an elderly or disabled person residing in its area, issue to the person free of charge a permit, in such form and for such period as the authority considers appropriate, indicating that he is entitled to the concession specified in subsection (1).
4
If it appears to a travel concession authority in Wales issuing a statutory travel concession permit to a disabled person that the person requires the assistance of a companion to travel on journeys on public passenger transport services, the authority must mark that clearly on the permit.
5
Where a person whose current statutory travel concession permit is marked in accordance with subsection (4) is entitled under this section to waiver of the fare for a journey, one companion travelling on the journey with the person (and nominated by the person as the person's companion for that journey) is also entitled to waiver of the fare for the journey.
6
The Welsh Ministers may issue guidance to travel concession authorities in Wales to which they must have regard in determining for the purposes of subsection (3) whether a person is a disabled person.
7
Before issuing guidance under subsection (6) the Welsh Ministers shall consult—
a
the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee,
b
associations representative of travel concession authorities, and
c
such other persons as they think fit.
8
A person entitled to be issued with a statutory travel concession permit by a travel concession authority in Wales may agree with the authority that he is not to be entitled to the concession specified in subsection (1) for a period in return for being entitled during that period to receive travel concessions under a scheme under section 93 of the Transport Act 1985 (if the scheme provides that a person may not receive travel concessions under the scheme unless he so agrees).
9
The Welsh Ministers may by regulations make provision about agreements within subsection (8).
10
The regulations may in particular make provision—
a
requiring the serving of notices before an agreement is made,
b
about the form of agreements, and
c
as to the period for which a person may agree not to be entitled to the concession specified in subsection (1).
11
In this section “statutory travel concession permit” means a permit issued pursuant to subsection (3).
I1C1146 Mandatory concessions: supplementary.
In this Part—
“disabled person” means a person who—
- a
is blind or partially sighted,
- b
is profoundly or severely deaf,
- c
is without speech,
- d
has a disability, or has suffered an injury, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his ability to walk,
- e
does not have arms or has long-term loss of the use of both arms,
- f
has a learning disability, that is, a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning, or
- g
would, if he applied for the grant of a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part III of the M1Road Traffic Act 1988, have his application refused pursuant to section 92 of that Act (physical fitness) otherwise than on the ground of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol,
- a
F2“elderly person” means a person who has attained the age of 60 years,
“eligible service” means—
F17“a half-price travel concession”, in relation to a journey, means reduction of the fare for the journey to not more than one-half of that applicable to an adult who is not entitled to any reduction,
F4“London authority” means a London borough council or the Common Council of the City of London,
“relevant time” means—
- a
any time on a Saturday or Sunday or on any day which is a bank holiday in England and Wales under the M2Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, or
- b
a time during the period from 9.30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on any other day, and
- a
“travel concession authority” means—
- a
a non-metropolitan district council in England,
- b
a council of a county in England so far as they are the council for an area for which there are no district councils,
- ba
F5a London authority,
- c
a Passenger Transport Executive for a passenger transport area in England, F16...
- ca
F6the Council of the Isles of Scilly, or
- d
a county council or county borough council in Wales.
- a
I2C2147F14Wales: variation of mandatory concessions
F13The Welsh Ministers may by order amend either or both of sections 145B and 146 for or in connection with securing that section 145B(1)—
a
applies to any person for the time being eligible to receive travel concessions under a scheme under section 93 of the M3Transport Act 1985 or to any such person of a specified description (as well as to any elderly person and any disabled person),
b
applies to travel on any public passenger transport service or to travel on any such service of a specified description (as well as to travel on an eligible service),
c
applies to a journey between a place in a travel concession authority’s area and a place outside but in the vicinity of that area or to a journey between places outside but in the vicinity of that area (as well as to a journey between places in that area),
d
provides for the reduction of fares to less than one-half of those applicable to adults who are not entitled to any reduction or for waiver of fares, or
e
applies, or does not apply, to a journey beginning at a specified time.
I3148 Enforcement.
1
An operator commits an offence if he systematically fails to comply with the obligation under section F15145A(1) or 145B(1) during any period.
2
A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
3
Proceedings for an offence under this section shall not be instituted except—
a
by a travel concession authority, or
b
by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions;
and any authority who would not otherwise have power to bring such proceedings shall accordingly have that power.
I4149 Reimbursement of operators.
F71
Where—
a
an operator provides concessions under section 145A(1) in respect of eligible journeys beginning in the area of a travel concession authority in England, or
b
an operator provides concessions under section 145B(1) for persons who reside in the area of a travel concession authority in Wales,
the authority shall reimburse the operator for providing the concessions.
2
Subject to regulations under subsection (3), the arrangements with respect to reimbursement shall be—
a
such as the travel concession authority may agree with the operators who provide concessions
F8i
in respect of eligible journeys beginning in the authority's area (if the authority is in England), or
ii
for persons who reside in the authority's area (if the authority is in Wales), or
b
in the absence of agreement, such as may be determined by the authority (being the same in the case of all of those operators) not later than 28 days before the date on which the arrangements, or any variations of the arrangements, are to come into operation.
3
The Secretary of State (as respects England) or the National Assembly for Wales (as respects Wales) may by regulations make provision—
a
with respect to the determination by travel concession authorities of the amounts to be paid to individual operators, or to any class of operators, by way of reimbursement,
b
as to the manner of making any payments due to operators by way of reimbursement, and
c
about the terms on which, and the extent to which, travel concession authorities may employ any person as their agent for the purpose of making payments due to operators by way of reimbursement and the descriptions of persons who may be so employed.
I5150 Procedure for reimbursement arrangements determined by authority.
1
At least four months before the coming into operation of, or of any variations of, any arrangements with respect to reimbursement determined by a travel concession authority in accordance with section 149(2)(b), the authority shall publish the proposed arrangements, or the proposed variations, in such manner as they consider appropriate.
2
Following publication—
a
copies of the published material shall be made available at the principal office of the authority,
b
a copy of it shall be supplied to every operator of local services who would, in the opinion of the authority, be affected by the proposals, and
c
a copy of it shall be supplied to any person on request (whether at the principal office or by post), either free of charge or at a charge representing no more than the cost of providing the copy.
3
An operator who considers that he may be prejudicially affected by the proposals may apply to—
a
the Secretary of State (in the case of arrangements determined by a travel concession authority in England), or
b
the National Assembly of Wales (in the case of arrangements determined by such an authority in Wales),
for a modification of the proposed arrangements, or proposed variations, on the grounds that there are special reasons why they would be inappropriate with respect to one or more local services provided by him.
4
F114A
An application under subsection (3)(b) shall be made by notice in writing given not later than 28 days after the date on which the arrangements, or the variations, come into operation.
5
An application under subsection (3) may not be made unless the applicant has previously given notice in writing of his intention to make the application to the travel concession authority by which the arrangements, or varied arrangements, are being, or have been, determined.
6
The Secretary of State (as respects England) or the National Assembly for Wales (as respects Wales)—
a
may make regulations as to the form and content of notices under this section and the manner in which they are to be given,
b
may appoint a person to determine an application under subsection (3) on his or its behalf, and
c
may by regulations make provision as to the procedure to be followed in connection with applications under subsection (3).
7
Regulations made under subsection (6)(c) may in particular make provision—
a
as to the conduct of any proceedings held in connection with applications under subsection (3), and
b
for applicants or travel concession authorities, or both, to make payments towards the expenses incurred in connection with the determination of such applications.
8
On an application under subsection (3) the Secretary of State or the National Assembly for Wales, or (if a person is appointed under subsection (6)(b) to determine the application) the person so appointed, may direct—
a
that the arrangements, or varied arrangements, are to have effect with such modifications as are specified in the direction from the time so specified, and
b
that the authority shall make a payment of an amount specified in the direction to the applicant.
Pt. 2: power to amend conferred (17.10.2007 for specified purposes, 1.4.2008 in so far as not already in force) by Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 (c. 13), ss. 8(1), 9(1)(2), 10(1)(2), 15(1); S.I. 2007/2799, arts. 2, 3 (with art. 4)