Transport Act 2000

[F1123DAuditE+W

This section has no associated Explanatory Notes

(1)If, after preparing an assessment of a proposed franchising scheme under section 123B, the authority or authorities wish to proceed with the proposed scheme, they must obtain a report from an independent auditor on that assessment.

(2)The auditor's report must state whether, in the opinion of the auditor—

(a)the information relied on by the authority or authorities in considering the matters referred to in section 123B(3)(d) or (e) is of sufficient quality,

(b)the analysis of that information in the assessment is of sufficient quality, and

(c)the authority or authorities had due regard to guidance issued under section 123B in preparing the assessment.

(3)The Secretary of State must issue guidance as to the matters to be taken into account by a franchising authority when selecting a person to act as an auditor.

(4)Franchising authorities must have regard to any such guidance.

(5)The Secretary of State must issue guidance concerning the matters to be taken into account by an auditor when forming an opinion as to whether the information relied on, and the analysis of that information, by an authority is of sufficient quality for the purposes of subsection (2).

(6)Auditors must have regard to any such guidance.

(7)For the purposes of this section an auditor is independent, in relation to an assessment of a proposed franchising scheme, if the person would not be disqualified from acting as local auditor of the accounts of the franchising authority, or any of the franchising authorities, under section 1214 of the Companies Act 2006 as substituted by paragraph 5 of Schedule 5 to the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014.

(8)In this section “auditor” means a person eligible for appointment as a local auditor by virtue of Chapter 2 of Part 42 of the Companies Act 2006 as modified by Schedule 5 to the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014.]

Textual Amendments

F1Ss. 123A-123X 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. 4, 26(3)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)