The Traffic Commissioners have updated the advice note issued to assist operators during the coronavirus pandemic. The updates include changes to the process for temporary Local Bus Service Registration variations in England, Scotland and Wales. The provision to allow short-notice temporary variations will now continue beyond 4 January 2021 in view of the continuing uncertainty facing operators. It will now be reviewed on 1 March 2021.
After 10 months of the fee being waived, the £60 registration fee will be reintroduced for any temporary changes made from 4 January 2021. In England and Scotland, there will be changes to the notification periods from the same date.
In addition, the updated advice note covers clarification of when a vehicle is off the road during periods of lockdown for the purposes of maintenance and recognition of the extension of the furlough scheme until 31 March 2021.
The Senior Traffic Commissioner’s Statutory Document No. 2 on Finance has also been updated to reflect new financial standing levels for January 2021. The new levels will be £8,200 for the first vehicle and £4,550 for each subsequent vehicle.
