Legislation – Bus Services Act 2025
Which version?
Latest available (Revised)
Original (As enacted)
Local government functions
21Bus network accessibility plans
“Bus network accessibility plans: England
113BABus network accessibility plans
(1)
A local transport authority whose area is in England must, before the end of the period of one year beginning with the day on which this section comes into force, publish a bus network accessibility plan in relation to the authority’s area.
(2)
A bus network accessibility plan must—
(a)
identify what (if any) provision is made to assist persons with disabilities to travel on local services that have one or more stopping places in the authority’s area;
(b)
set out the extent to which, in the authority’s opinion, the provision made in the authority’s area enables persons with disabilities to travel on such local services independently, and in safety and reasonable comfort;
(c)
describe what (if any) further action the authority intends to take to enable persons with disabilities to travel on such local services independently, and in safety and reasonable comfort.
(3)
The authority must review the plan—
(a)
if there is a substantial change to the provision of local services in the authority’s area, and
(b)
in any event, at least once every three years.
(4)
The authority must alter the plan—
(a)
following any review carried out as required by subsection (3)(a), or
(b)
if the authority considers it appropriate to do so for any other reason.
(5)
The authority may replace the plan as they think fit.
(6)
In preparing and reviewing a bus network accessibility plan, a local transport authority must consult—
(a)
persons operating local services in the authority’s area,
(b)
such persons with disabilities who are users or prospective users of local services, or such organisations appearing to the authority to represent such persons, as they think fit, and
(c)
any other persons whom the authority considers it appropriate to consult.
(7)
In this section “persons with disabilities” means persons who have a disability within the meaning given by section 6 of the Equality Act 2010.”
22Local government bus companies
(1)
In the Bus Services Act 2017 omit section 22 (restriction on formation of bus companies by local government in England).
(2)
A director of a local government bus company who is—
(a)
paid for acting in that capacity, or
(b)
an employee of the company or a subsidiary of the company,
is disqualified for being elected or being a member of a relevant authority if the company is under the control of the authority.
(3)
For the purposes of subsection (2), a company is under the control of a relevant authority if—
(a)
the company is a subsidiary of the authority, or
(b)
the authority is one of two or more relevant authorities that are members of the company and the company would be a subsidiary of those authorities if they were a single body corporate.
(4)
Subsections (1) to (3) apply in relation to a director of a subsidiary of a local government bus company as they apply in relation to a director of such a company.
(5)
In subsections (2) to (4)—
“local government bus company” means a company formed by a relevant authority or authorities for the purpose of providing a local service;
“local service” has the same meaning as in the Transport Act 1985 (see section 2 of that Act);
“relevant authority” means—
(a)
a county council in England,
(b)
a district council in England,
(c)
a combined authority established under section 103 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009,
(d)
a combined county authority established under section 9(1) of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023, or
(e)
an Integrated Transport Authority for an integrated transport area in England;
“subsidiary” has the same meaning as in the Companies Act 2006 (see section 1159 of that Act).
(6)
In the Transport Act 1985—
(a)
in section 66 (exclusion of powers of district councils to run bus undertakings)—
(i)
in subsection (1), for “subsection” substitute “subsections (1A) and”
;
(ii)
“(1A)
Subsection (1) does not prevent a non-metropolitan district council in England from forming a company for the purpose of providing a local service.”;
(b)
in section 73 (control over constitution and activities of public transport companies)—
(i)
“(c)
in relation to the provision of local services by a public transport company to which subsection (5B) applies or any other activity of the company relating to such services.”;
(ii)
“(5A)
Subsection (3)(b) does not apply in relation to borrowing money for the purposes of, or in connection with, the provision of local services by a public transport company to which subsection (5B) applies.
(5B)
This subsection applies to a public transport company the controlling authority of which is—
(a)
an authority the functions of which are exercisable in relation to an area in England, or
(b)
two or more authorities the functions of which are exercisable in relation to areas in England.”
(7)
In section 123O(3) of the Transport Act 2000 omit the words from “apart” to the end.
(8)
In Schedule 4 to the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 omit paragraph 212.
23Grants
“154AGrants by local transport authorities in England
(1)
A local transport authority whose area is in England may make grants to operators of the services mentioned in subsection (2) towards their costs in operating those services in that area.
(2)
The services are—
(a)
local services which have one or more stopping places in the authority’s area, and
(b)
services which have one or more stopping places in the authority’s area and would be local services but for section 2(4)(b) of the Transport Act 1985.
(3)
Grants under this section are to be of such amount and subject to such conditions (including conditions requiring their repayment in specified circumstances) as may be determined by the authority.
(4)
If a local transport authority is a mayoral combined authority, the function under subsection (1) is a function of the combined authority exercisable only by the mayor acting on behalf of the combined authority.
(5)
If a local transport authority is a mayoral CCA, the function under subsection (1) is a function of the combined county authority exercisable only by the mayor acting on behalf of the combined county authority.
(6)
The Secretary of State may issue guidance as to the exercise of functions under this section by local transport authorities and mayors; and they must have regard to any such guidance.
(7)
The guidance may, in particular, include guidance—
(a)
about the protection of services mentioned in subsection (2) that are socially necessary,
(b)
about how the services mentioned in that subsection can contribute to economic growth and the protection of the environment, and
(c)
setting out practical considerations to be taken into account when exercising functions under this section.
(8)
The Secretary of State may at any time vary or revoke guidance issued under subsection (6).
(9)
The Secretary of State must publish—
(a)
guidance issued under subsection (6), and
(b)
any variation or revocation of the guidance.
(10)
Section 88(1) of the Transport Act 1985 (application to subsidy agreements of sections 89 to 92 of that Act) does not apply in relation to grants under this section.”