{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/franchising-schemes-service-permits-england-regulations-2018/note",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/franchising-schemes-service-permits-england-regulations-2018/note.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/2018/423",
  "legislation_title": "The Franchising Schemes (Service Permits) (England) Regulations 2018",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/franchising-schemes-service-permits-england-regulations-2018",
  "path": "note",
  "kind": "note",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Explanatory note",
  "text": "(This note is not part of the Regulations)\nThese Regulations make provision in respect of permits to provide bus services in areas where a bus franchising scheme is in place. A bus franchising scheme is a scheme under which certain local authorities in England decide which bus services they consider appropriate for their area. (At the moment only mayoral combined authorities can make a franchising scheme.) These bus services are provided under local service contracts and bus operators in the area can only provide the services in accordance with the local service contracts. However a franchising authority may also grant a service permit authorising the operation of a bus service in the area of the scheme, for example a service that crosses the boundary of the scheme area. The authority must grant a service permit if they are satisfied both that the service will benefit passengers in the area and will not have an adverse effect on other services that are provided under the franchising scheme. If they are not satisfied about these matters, they must not grant a service permit.\nRegulation 3 sets out that the franchising authority must comply with certain conditions in paragraph (2) of that regulation. Paragraph (2) requires the authority to publish a consultation document, consult local bus operators, neighbouring local authorities and other relevant persons, publish a response to any consultation responses and publish a service permit policy statement. An authority cannot accept an application for a service permit if it has not complied with these conditions.\nRegulations 4 and 5 set out what the consultation document and the service permit policy statement must contain; for example a description of the application procedure, the information that must be submitted with the application and the amount of the fee, if any, that must be paid with the application.\nRegulation 6 provides that the fee for processing an application for a service permit must not be more than the reasonable cost of processing the application.\nRegulation 7 sets out, in a case where a franchising authority publishes a notice setting out the conditions that they may attach to a service permit, the list of conditions that they may specify in that notice. For example the franchising authority may specify a condition about enabling tickets to be purchased or fares to be paid in particular ways, or a condition that local bus operators must offer discounted travel to certain groups of people.\nRegulation 8 requires that a grant of a service permit must be in writing. It also sets out what information the permit must include.\nRegulation 9 makes provision about the period of time in respect of which an authority may grant a service permit.\nRegulation 10 makes provision about the revocation and suspension of service permits, for example where the holder of the service permit has failed to comply with a condition attached to it.\nAn impact assessment has not been produced for these Regulations. However an assessment was made of the impact of the Bus Services Bill and this was updated to take account of any additional impacts of the regulations relating to franchising schemes. Copies of the assessment may be obtained from the Buses and Taxis Division, Department for Transport, 2/12 Great Minster House, 33 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 4DR or from the Bus Services Bill page on gov.uk\nhttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/589730/bus-services-bill-ia-for-regulations-secodary-legislation.pdf\nAn Explanatory Memorandum for this instrument has been published alongside these Regulations at www.legislation.gov.uk.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/423/note",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28T22:59:34.672198+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}