Award of De Minimis Public Bus Transport Contract

Direct award of contract for the provision of a public bus service under the 'De Minimis' subsidy rules. The 1985 Transport Act (as amended by the 2000 Transport Act) introduced the provisions which govern the duties of local passenger transport authorities to secure local bus services where these would not otherwise be met. In the majority of cases these services have to be secured through competitive tender. The Service Subsidy Agreements (Tendering) Regulations provided local authorities with the scope to let any individual bus subsidy contract in any one year up to a certain maximum value without the need to competitively tender (the de minimis limits). The Council has awarded the contract for the delivery of Route 19 Melton Mowbray to Nottingham to Centrebus Ltd under this De Minimis exemption.