(1)After section 127 of the TA 2000 insert—
(1)This section applies where an authority or authorities make a quality contracts scheme for an area in England.
(2)Any person falling within subsection (3) may appeal to the Transport Tribunal against the decision of the authority or authorities to make the scheme.
(3)The persons are—
(a)any person who was consulted under section 125(3),
(b)any person who was not consulted under section 125(3) but who, in the opinion of the QCS board under section 126D(1)(b), ought to have been so consulted.
(4)An appeal under this section may be—
(a)on a point of law, or
(b)on a question of fact, unless subsection (5) prevents it.
(5)No appeal lies under this section on a question of fact (and no question of fact is to be entertained by the Tribunal on an appeal under this section) in any case where subsection (6) applies.
(6)This subsection applies if the QCS board stated in its report under section 126D(5) that it is of the opinion—
(a)that the conditions in the paragraphs of section 124(1) or, as the case may be, of section 124(1A) are met, and
(b)that the authority or authorities have complied with the requirements of section 125(1) to (3) (or are by virtue of section 126D(6) to be taken to have complied with those requirements by virtue of having taken any action recommended by the board in any previous reports),
and if the scheme, as made, corresponds to the proposed scheme to which that report relates.
(7)The authority or authorities may issue invitations to tender in accordance with section 130(1) notwithstanding the lodging of any appeal under or by virtue of this section.
(1)On an appeal under section 127A the Transport Tribunal shall have power—
(a)to make such order as they think fit, or
(b)to remit any matter (with or without directions) to the authority or authorities for their consideration or determination or for such other purposes as the Tribunal may direct.
(2)The powers of the Tribunal on an appeal under section 127A include power to do any one or more of the following—
(a)dismiss the appeal in whole or in part,
(b)remit the matter to the authority or authorities with one or more directions under subsection (3),
(c)direct the authority or authorities to vary the scheme in such manner as the Tribunal may specify in the direction (but see subsection (4)),
(d)quash the decision of the authority or authorities (but see subsection (5)).
(3)A direction under this subsection is a direction for the authority or authorities to do each of the following—
(a)consider or reconsider such matters as may be specified in the direction,
(b)consult or further consult as respects those matters in such manner as may be specified in the direction,
(c)vary the scheme in such respects as may in consequence appear appropriate to the authority or authorities.
(4)The Tribunal may give a direction under this section to vary the scheme by reducing the area to which the scheme relates only if they are of the opinion that the conditions in section 132(3) are met.
(5)The power of the Tribunal under this section to quash the decision of the authority or authorities is exercisable only if the Tribunal are of the opinion that there are defects in the scheme which are not capable of being remedied by varying the scheme under or by virtue of subsection (2)(b) or (c).
(6)Where, on an appeal under section 127A, the Tribunal exercises any power falling within paragraph (b) of subsection (2) above, the only further appeal allowed under that section is an appeal against a decision of the authority or authorities to vary, or not to vary, the scheme by virtue of subsection (3)(c).”.
(2)In section 162(4) of the TA 2000 (provisions where references to Passenger Transport Authorities or Integrated Transport Authorities are to be read as references to Passenger Transport Executives) insert at the appropriate place in the list of provisions—
“section 127A(7),”.