Section 22 Community Bus Permits
Introduction
Community bus permits, available from the Traffic Commissioner, are issued to groups concerned with social and welfare needs of the
community to run a local service on a voluntary non-profit basis. Drivers may now be paid. Any size vehicle may be used but the permit
will be vehicle specific.
Members of the general public can be carried in the vehicle and the main use would be to give the public a local service. The operator may
also use the vehicle for non-local services (eg contract hire) to give financial support to the local operation, if allowed by the
Traffic Commissioner.
- Overview of Section 19 Permits
- Transport Act 1985
- Community Bus Regulations 2009
- Driver Licenses
- Further Reading
Overview of Section 19 Permits
Section 22 Permit operations are also referred to as Community Buses (but you should note that most minibuses with 'community bus'
written on the side are not community buses as legally defined). Section 22 Permits would usually be held by a local group formed for this
specific purpose, or perhaps by a parish council. The key requirement for a group to be satisfied by a group applying for a Section 22
Permit is that they will run a registered local bus service. Other operations are permitted but only ancillary to and in support of the
prime purpose, which is the local bus service operation.
Sec 22 Transport Act 1985
Under the Transport Act 1985, section 22 Permits relate to the use of public service vehicles
1) In this section and section 23 of this Act, 'community bus service' means a local service provided:-
- by a body concerned for the social and welfare needs of one or more communities;
- without a view to profit, either on the part of that body or of anyone else; and
- by means of a vehicle adapted to carry more than eight passengers; and
'community bus permit' means a permit granted under this section in relation to the use of a public service vehicle:-
- in providing a community bus service; or
- in providing a community bus service and (other than in the course of a local service) carrying passengers for hire or reward where the carriage of those passengers will directly assist the provision of the community bus service by providing financial support for it.
2) A community bus permit may be granted by the traffic commissioner for the area in which the operating centre for any vehicle used under the permit will be.
3) A traffic commissioner shall not grant a community bus permit unless he is satisfied that there will be adequate facilities or arrangements for maintaining in a fit and serviceable condition any vehicle used under the permit.
4) A body may hold more than one community bus permit but may not use more than one vehicle at any one time under the same permit.
Community Bus Regulations 2009
The Community Bus Regulations 2009 came into force on 6th April 2009. These regulations introduce the following conditions and requirements:-
- Citation, commencement and extent
- Interpretation
- Conditions to be fulfilled by driver of large bus
- Conditions to be fulfilled by driver of small bus
- Conditions of fitness for use of small bus
- Attaching conditions to permits: large buses
- Return of permits for conditions to be attached
- Fee
- Permits
- Discs
- Replacement of certain permits and discs which are lost or destroyed
- Revocation of permits granted before 6th April 2009 which are lost or destroyed
- Surrender of permits and discs
- Revocation (Previous Legislation)
Driver Licenses
The following table refers to Drivers of both Section 19 and Section 22 Permit operations.
| Vehicle | Licence |
|---|---|
| Small Bus 9 to 16 passenger seats |
Full Cat D1 licence - or
Held Full Cat B licence prior to 1/1/97 and holds Cat D1 (not for Hire or Reward), or Holds Full Cat B licence for at least 2 years, and - Aged 21 or over - If aged 70 or over not suffering from a relevant disability - Unpaid except for out of pocket expenses - No trailer, - Max 3500kg (4250kg if fitted with specialised equipment for disabled) |
| Large Bus 17 or more passenger seats | Full Cat D licence |
| PSV with 8 or less passenger seats | Holds Full Cat B licence for at least 2 years, and is aged 21 or over |
Further Reading
For further information relating to this page, please visit the information resources at the links below.
Community Transport Association
Local Bus Service Registration (Guide for Operators)
Or visit the PSV Permit Forms & Guides page within this website.