Sections 168 to 170: Making of charging schemes
147.Section 168 specifies that a traffic authority or authorities acting jointly, - including local, Transport for London or the Secretary of State/NAW - wanting to introduce a charging scheme must do it by making an Order. If an authority wants to change or revoke a scheme, this must also be done by Order. Where the Secretary of State or NAW has introduced a charging scheme on a trunk road at the request of a local authority, it cannot be changed or revoked unless the local traffic authority which requested it has been consulted.
148.Sections 169 and 170 define the role of the two national authorities in relation to local authority orders setting up, changing or revoking charging schemes. Section 169 requires that all non-London local authority orders must be approved by the Secretary of State or NAW, as appropriate. Where there is a joint scheme between an English and Welsh local authority, there must be approval from both national authorities (see section 198(1) for definitions of “appropriate national authority”). Where there is a scheme run jointly by an English local authority and a London authority, approval will be needed from the Secretary of State and the Greater London Authority. In all cases, the approving authority can make modifications to the order.
149.Under section 169(2) the Secretary of State or the NAW will be able, by regulations, to waive the requirement for his/its consent. This will allow, for example, local authorities to make minor changes to their schemes through more streamlined, simplified procedures, provided certain conditions are met. In the longer term, it may be possible to broaden the scope of the waiver given by regulations. Orders revoking charging schemes do not need the approval of the Secretary of State or NAW.
150.Section 170 provides for charging authorities to consult and hold inquiries, and for the Secretary of State or the NAW to consult or hold an inquiry on their own schemes, or require additional consultation or an inquiry to be held before granting approval for a local authority scheme. It also sets out the arrangements for the allocation for costs for inquiries.
