The Authority funds the Executive to help implementation of its policies and raises its money through a levy on the district councils. The districts receive part of that cost from Government grants and raise the remainder from the Council Tax.
Although the Transport Act 1985 removed the direct powers of ITAs and PTEs to operate bus services, they continue to play vital co-ordinating and promotional roles for local public transport.
The importance of this is set to increase with the passing of the Local Transport Act 2008 which proposes a stronger role for Authorities in developing integrated transport strategies for their area. On Monday 9 February 2009 the first major change to take place, resulting from the Act, was all Passenger Transport Authorities were renamed Integrated Transport Authorities. The change of name symbolises the way in which the Act envisages ITAs taking on a wider transport remit.
Other changes from 9 February are that ITAs will take responsibility for Local Transport Plans, they will also gain the same ‘wellbeing’ powers as local authorities which will give them more legal leeway to implement policies which contribute to the wellbeing of the areas they serve. More reforms will further strengthen the role of ITAs in the planning and delivery of better bus services.
