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Section 138K VariationF1C1C2

(1)

A local transport authority or authorities to whose area or combined area, or part of it, an enhanced partnership plan relates may vary the plan and any related enhanced partnership scheme.

(2)

An enhanced partnership plan or scheme may, in particular, be varied by changing the area to which the plan or scheme relates so that—

(a)

it includes the whole or a part of the area of another local transport authority, or

(b)

it ceases to include any part of the area of a local transport authority.

C3(3)

An enhanced partnership plan or scheme may not be varied unless the authority or authorities have complied with the requirements in—

(a)

section 138L (preparation, notice and consultation), and

(b)

section 138M(1) to (5) (making the variation).

(4)

An enhanced partnership scheme may not be varied unless the authority or authorities are satisfied that the scheme, as varied, will contribute to the implementation of—

(a)

the policies set out in the related enhanced partnership plan (or those policies as proposed to be varied, if the scheme and the policies in the plan are being varied at the same time), and

(b)

their local transport policies.

(5)

An enhanced partnership scheme may not be varied unless the authority or authorities are satisfied that the scheme, as varied, will—

(a)

bring benefits to persons using local services in the whole or any part of the area to which the scheme relates by improving the quality or effectiveness of those services, or

(b)

reduce or limit traffic congestion, noise or air pollution.

(6)

The references in subsections (1) and (3) to (5) and sections 138L and 138M to the local transport authority or authorities—

(a)

in relation to the variation of an enhanced partnership plan, or

(b)

in relation to the variation of an enhanced partnership scheme, if the scheme is proposed to be varied at the same time as the related enhanced partnership plan is proposed to be varied,

include a reference to a local transport authority to no part of whose area the plan relates but to whose area or part of it the plan would relate under a proposed variation.

(7)

Nothing in this section prevents an enhanced partnership scheme being varied, in accordance with the scheme, in such cases as are allowed by the scheme (see section 138E).

(8)

Before varying an enhanced partnership plan, a local transport authority must have regard to the desirability, in appropriate cases, of varying a plan so as to include in the area to which the plan relates any part of the area of one or more other local transport authorities.

(F29)

Before varying an enhanced partnership scheme, a local transport authority must consider whether the requirements proposed to be specified in the scheme as varied will enable persons with disabilities to travel independently, and in safety and reasonable comfort, on local services that have one or more stopping places in the area to which the scheme as proposed to be varied relates.

(10)

In this section “persons with disabilities” means persons who have a disability within the meaning given by section 6 of the Equality Act 2010.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1

Ss. 138A-138S 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. 9, 26(3)

F2

S. 138K(9)(10) inserted (1.7.2026) by Bus Services Act 2025 (c. 24), ss. 18(4), 41(5); S.I. 2026/46, reg. 4

Modifications

C1

Ss. 138A-143B: functions transferred (E.) (28.2.2024) by The East Midlands Combined County Authority Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/232), regs. 1(2), 15(2)

C2

Ss. 112-159: transfer of functions (5.2.2025) by The Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/113), arts. 1(2), 7

C3

S. 138K(3) applied (1.4.2026) by Bus Services Act 2025 (c. 24), ss. 14(4), 41(5); S.I. 2026/46, reg. 3(a)

Notes on Part II

Modifications

C1

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)

C2

Pt. 2: transfer of functions (1.4.2014) by The Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral Combined Authority Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/865), arts. 1, 8(1)(b) (with arts. 8(4), 12)

C3

Pt. 2: transfer of functions (15.4.2014) by The Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland Combined Authority Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/1012), arts. 1, 8, 9 (with art. 11)

C4

Pt. 2: delegation of functions (1.4.2016) by The Tees Valley Combined Authority Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/449), arts. 1(a), 6(b)

C5

Pt. 2: functions made exercisable (9.2.2017) by The West of England Combined Authority Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/126), arts. 1(3), 8

C6

Pt. 2: functions made exercisable (9.2.2017) by The West of England Combined Authority Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/126), arts. 1(3), 8(1)

C7

Pt. 2: functions made exercisable (3.3.2017) by The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/251), arts. 1(2)(b), 8(b)

C8

Pt. 2: functions made exercisable (8.5.2017) by The Tees Valley Combined Authority (Functions and Amendment) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/431), arts. 1(2), 4(1)(2)

C9

Pt. 2: transfer of functions (2.11.2018) by The Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland Combined Authority (Establishment and Functions) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/1133), arts. 1, 7 (with art. 28)

C10

Pt. 2: functions made exercisable (2.11.2018) by The Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland Combined Authority (Establishment and Functions) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/1133), arts. 1, 9 (with art. 28)

C11

Pt. 2 applied (with modifications) (W.) (28.2.2022) by The South East Wales Corporate Joint Committee Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/343), regs. 1(3)(b), 12(2)

C12

Pt. 2 applied (with modifications) (30.6.2022) by The North Wales Corporate Joint Committee Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/339), regs. 1(3)(b), 12(2)

C13

Pt. 2 applied (with modifications) (30.6.2022) by The Mid Wales Corporate Joint Committee Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/342), regs. 1(3)(b), 12(2)

C14

Pt. 2 applied (with modifications) (W.) (30.6.2022) by The South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/352), regs. 1(3)(b), 12(2)

C15

Pt. 2: functions made exercisable (20.12.2023) by The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/1432), arts. 1(2), 13(1)(2)

C16

Pt. 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)

C17

Pt. 2: functions made exercisable concurrently (E.) (7.5.2024) by The North East Mayoral Combined Authority (Establishment and Functions) Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/402), arts. 1(3), 19(c) (with art. 9)

C18

Pt. 2: transfer of functions (with modifications) (5.2.2025) by The Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/115), regs. 1(2), 10

C19

Pt. 2: functions made exercisable (with modifications) (5.2.2025) by The Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/117), regs. 1(2), 14

C20

Pt. 2: functions made exercisable (5.2.2025) by The Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/113), arts. 1(2), 7

C21

Pt. 2: functions made exercisable (with modifications) (5.2.2025) by The Lancashire Combined County Authority Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/118), regs. 1(2), 10