[F1113CAdvanced quality partnership schemesE+W
(1)A local transport authority whose area is in England, or two or more such authorities acting jointly, may make an advanced quality partnership scheme if they are satisfied that the scheme will contribute to the implementation of their local transport policies.
(2)An advanced quality partnership scheme is—
(a)a scheme falling within subsection (3) or (4), or
(b)a scheme falling within both subsection (3) and subsection (4).
(3)A scheme falls within this subsection if it is a scheme under which—
(a)the authority or authorities provide particular facilities in the whole or part of their area, or combined area, and
(b)operators of local services who wish to use those facilities must undertake to provide local services of a particular standard when using them.
(4)A scheme falls within this subsection if it is a scheme under which—
(a)the authority or authorities take particular measures in relation to routes in the whole or part of their area, or combined area, that are served, or proposed to be served, by local services, and
(b)operators of local services who wish to provide local services with stopping places on those routes must undertake to provide local services of a particular standard when providing such local services on those routes.
(5)A scheme may not be made unless the authority or authorities are satisfied that—
(a)the steps to be taken by the authority or authorities under the scheme, and
(b)the provision of local services of the standard or standards required by undertakings given under the scheme,
are likely to achieve one or more of the outcomes described in subsection (6) in relation to the whole or part of their area, or combined area.
(6)The outcomes mentioned in subsection (5) are—
(a)an improvement in the quality of local services that benefits persons using those services;
(b)a reduction or limitation of traffic congestion, noise or air pollution;
(c)an increase in the use of local services or an end to, or a reduction in, a decline in the use of local services.
(7)An advanced quality partnership scheme may not be made unless the authority or authorities have complied with the notice and consultation requirements imposed by section 113G.
(8)The power to make an advanced quality partnership scheme includes power to provide for—
(a)different facilities to be provided under the scheme,
(b)different measures to be taken under the scheme, or
(c)different standards of services to be provided under the scheme,
as from different dates after the scheme comes into operation.
(9)An advanced quality partnership scheme must include a description of the authority's or authorities' plans for consulting such organisations appearing to the authority or authorities to be representative of users of local services as they think fit in order to seek their views on how well the scheme is working.
(10)In carrying out their functions under this Part in relation to advanced quality partnership schemes, local transport authorities whose areas are in England must co-operate with one another.
(11)In considering whether to make an advanced quality partnership scheme, a local transport authority must have regard to the desirability, in appropriate cases, of making a scheme jointly with another such authority.]
Textual Amendments
F1Ss. 113C-113O and cross-heading inserted (27.4.2017 for specified purposes, 27.6.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Bus Services Act 2017 (c. 21), ss. 1, 26(3)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Pt. 2: functions made exercisable (28.2.2024) by The East Midlands Combined County Authority Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/232), regs. 1(2), 15(1)
C2Ss. 113C-123: functions transferred (28.2.2024) by The East Midlands Combined County Authority Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/232), regs. 1(2), 15(2) (with reg. 15(5))