Paragraph 2 AssessmentF1

(1)

The franchising authority or authorities must prepare an assessment of the proposed variation.

(2)

The assessment must—

(a)

describe the effects that the proposed variation is likely to produce, and

(b)

compare the proposed variation to making an enhanced partnership plan or scheme in relation to the additional area.

(3)

The assessment must also include consideration of—

(a)

whether the proposed variation would contribute to the implementation of—

(i)

the authority’s or authorities’ policies under section 108(1)(a), and

(ii)

other policies affecting local services that the authority or authorities have adopted and published,

(b)

whether the proposed variation would contribute to the implementation—

(i)

by neighbouring local transport authorities of those authorities’ policies under section 108(1)(a), and

(ii)

by neighbouring relevant local authorities of other policies affecting local services that those authorities have adopted and published,

(c)

how the authority or authorities would operate the scheme as proposed to be varied,

(d)

whether the authority or authorities would be able to afford to operate the scheme as proposed to be varied,

(e)

whether the scheme as proposed to be varied would represent value for money, and

(f)

the extent to which the authority or authorities are likely to be able to secure that local services in the area of the scheme as proposed to be varied are operated under local service contracts.

(4)

Sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) do not prevent inclusion of other matters.

(5)

The Secretary of State must issue guidance concerning the preparation of an assessment under this paragraph, and that guidance may, in particular, include guidance about methods to be used when assessing a proposed variation.

(6)

Franchising authorities must have regard to any such guidance.

(7)

In this paragraph “relevant local authority” means—

(a)

a local transport authority,

(b)

a London transport authority,

(c)

a Transport Partnership created under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005, or

(d)

a council in Scotland.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Sch. 9A inserted (26.1.2026) by Bus Services Act 2025 (c. 24), s. 41(5), Sch. (with s. 3(4)); S.I. 2026/46, reg. 2(o) (with reg. 5)