Common use of REFERENCE NETWORK Clause in Contracts

REFERENCE NETWORK. 8.1 The Parties agree that the initial Reference Network reflects the routes, frequencies and hours of operation of local bus services in Wales prior to COVID-19, specifically as at 29 February 2020 modified by: 8.1.1 any key seasonal variations as demonstrated in the preceding year e.g. a summer tourist timetable; and 8.1.2 any changes to services implemented by agreement with a Local Authority or the Lead Authority prior to the Effective Date. 8.2 The Parties agree that for the purposes of continued improvement in the provision of local bus services in Wales, it will be necessary to develop a revised Reference Network which sets out the target requirements for routes and services to be provided across Wales. The Reference Network shall be developed in accordance with this Agreement, including the provision of services in accordance with clauses 12 to 17 below, as well as any changes to services agreed pursuant to Schedule 1. The Parties agree that the Reference Network shall be developed in respect of each Region in line with the local and regional rankings of the Priorities and in support of a coherent Wales wide Reference Network. 8.3 The Parties, together with other operators in the Region, shall work together to develop a revised Reference Network by 30 June 2021. This network will supersede the initial Reference Network and reflect Regional priorities. As part of developing the revised Reference Network, historical and current passenger demand data will be used to objectively identify the elements of the Reference Network which will require long term Government support. These elements of the Reference Network will be referred to as the "Subsidised Network". 8.4 The development of the Reference Network shall include: 8.4.1 use of data provided by all parties with an interest in the provision of bus services within the Region, including operators, Lead Authorities, Local Authorities, TfW and Welsh Government; 8.4.2 consideration of regional strategic Priorities for the provision of Local Services; 8.4.3 examination of existing routes; 8.4.4 exploration of options for new routes; 8.4.5 the viability and affordability of the proposed routes; and 8.4.6 consideration of investment or other measures that may be required to support any revised Reference Network. 8.5 The Lead Authority shall manage compliance with the Reference Network in accordance with the requirements set out in Schedule 1. 8.6 As part of the development of the Reference Network, the Operator shall use all reasonable endeavours to agree a set of Service Standards pursuant to Schedule 1 with the Lead Authority and TfW which will apply to different classifications of routes across Wales. The Operator, the Lead Authority and TfW shall use all reasonable endeavours to complete this classification by 30 June 2021.

REFERENCE NETWORK. 8.1 The Parties agree that the initial Reference Network reflects the routes, frequencies and hours of operation of local bus services in Wales prior to COVID-19, specifically as at 29 February 2020 2019 modified by: 8.1.1 any key seasonal variations as demonstrated in the preceding year e.g. a summer tourist timetable; and 8.1.2 any changes to services implemented by agreement with a Local Authority or the Lead Authority prior to the Effective Dateinception of BES 2. 8.2 The Parties agree that for the purposes of continued improvement in the provision of local bus services in Wales, it will be necessary to develop a revised Reference Network which sets out the target requirements for routes and services to be provided across Wales. The Reference Network shall be developed in accordance with this Agreement, including the provision of services in accordance with clauses 12 to 17 below, as well as any changes to services agreed pursuant to Schedule 1. The Parties agree that the Reference Network shall be developed in respect of each Region in line with the local and regional rankings of the Priorities and in support of a coherent Wales wide Reference Network. 8.3 The Parties, together with other operators in the Region, shall work together to develop a revised Reference Network by 30 June [31 March 2021]. This network will supersede the initial Reference Network and reflect Regional priorities. As part of developing the revised Reference Network, historical and current passenger demand data will be used to objectively identify the elements of the Reference Network which will require long term Government support. These elements of the Reference Network will be referred to as the "“Subsidised Network"”. 8.4 The development of the Reference Network shall include: 8.4.1 use of data provided by all parties with an interest in the provision of bus services within the Region, including operators, Lead Authorities, Authorities or one of its Constituent Local Authorities, TfW and Welsh Government; 8.4.2 consideration of regional strategic Priorities for the provision of Local Services; 8.4.3 examination of existing routes; 8.4.4 exploration of options for new routes; 8.4.5 the viability and affordability of the proposed routes; and 8.4.6 consideration of investment or other measures that may be required to support any revised Reference Network. 8.5 The Lead Authority shall manage compliance with the Reference Network in accordance with the requirements set out in Schedule 1. 8.6 As part of the development of the Reference Network, the Operator shall use all reasonable endeavours to agree a set of Service Standards pursuant to Schedule 1 with the Lead Authority and TfW which will apply to different classifications of routes across Wales. The Operator, the Lead Authority and TfW shall use all reasonable endeavours to complete this classification by [30 June 2021].

REFERENCE NETWORK. 8.1 The Parties agree that the initial Reference Network ("Initial Reference Network") reflects the routes, frequencies and hours of operation of local bus services in Wales prior to COVID-19COVID- 19, specifically as at 29 February 2020 modified by: 8.1.1 any key seasonal variations as demonstrated in the preceding year e.g. a summer tourist timetable; and; 8.1.2 any changes to services implemented by agreement with a Local Authority or the Lead Authority prior to the Effective Dateinception of BES 3; and 8.1.3 any changes to services authorised by the Lead Authority in accordance with BES1, BES 1.5 or BES 2. 8.2 The Parties agree that for the purposes of continued improvement in the provision of local bus services in Wales, it will be necessary to revise the Initial Reference Network to develop a revised Reference Network ("Revised Reference Network") which sets out the target requirements for routes and services to be provided across Wales. The Revised Reference Network shall be developed in accordance with this Agreement, including the provision of services in accordance with clauses 12 to 17 below, as well as any changes to services agreed pursuant to Schedule 1. The Parties agree that the Revised Reference Network shall be developed in respect of each Region in line with the local and regional rankings of the Priorities and in support of a coherent Wales wide Revised Reference Network. The Parties shall carry out an interactive process as part of developing the Revised Reference Network, using historical and current passenger demand data to objectively identify the appropriate service provision. 8.3 The Parties, together with other operators in the Region, shall work together to develop a revised an updated Reference Network ("Interim Reference Network") which shall reflect the network that the Lead Authority, following consultation with the Operator, other operators of Local Services in the Region, Constituent Local Authorities, proposes is operated in the Region, taking into account the current operating environment at 1 August 2022, any temporary reductions in services resulting from the Driver and Fuel Cost Impacts which have been agreed by 30 June 2021. This network will supersede the initial Lead Authority, as well as any schools services or seasonal services which are not operating on 1 August 2022 but which are proposed to be operated at the relevant times of the year. 8.4 Welsh Government acknowledges that proposed revisions to BSSG funding may materially affect the viability of Local Services within the Interim Reference Network and reflect Regional priorities. As part of developing the revised Reference Network, historical and current passenger demand data will be used to objectively identify the elements of the Revised Reference Network which will require long and shall therefore consult where appropriate with operators in respect of such proposals and use reasonable endeavours to provide the Parties with details of any proposed revisions to BSSG funding as soon as practicable within the term Government support. These elements of the this Agreement to allow such proposals to be taken into account in developing a viable Reference Network will be referred to as for the "Subsidised Network"period following the end of BES Funding. 8.4 8.5 The development of the Interim Reference Network and Revised Reference Network shall include: 8.4.1 8.5.1 use of data provided by all parties with an interest in the provision of bus services within the Region, including operators, Lead Authorities, Authorities or one of its Constituent Local Authorities, TfW and Welsh Government; 8.4.2 8.5.2 consideration of regional strategic Priorities for the provision of Local Services; 8.4.3 8.5.3 consideration of the effects of any Welsh Government proposals for revisions to BSSG funding that may affect the viability of any part of the Interim Reference Network or Revised Reference Network; 8.5.4 examination of existing routes; 8.4.4 8.5.5 exploration of options for new routes; 8.4.5 the viability 8.5.6 resource availability, including Driver and affordability of the proposed routesFuel Cost Impacts; and 8.4.6 8.5.7 consideration of investment or other measures that may be required to support any revised Interim Reference NetworkNetwork or Revised Reference Networks; 8.5.8 consideration of the effect of expiry or termination of this Agreement, and the withdrawal of BES Funding. 8.5 8.6 The Lead Authority shall manage compliance with the Interim Reference Network and Revised Reference Network in accordance with the requirements set out in Schedule 1. 8.6 As part of the development of the Reference Network, the Operator shall use all reasonable endeavours to agree a set of Service Standards pursuant to Schedule 1 with the Lead Authority and TfW which will apply to different classifications of routes across Wales. The Operator, the Lead Authority and TfW shall use all reasonable endeavours to complete this classification by 30 June 2021.

REFERENCE NETWORK. 8.1 The Parties agree that the initial Reference Network reflects the routes, frequencies and hours of operation of local bus services in Wales prior to COVID-19, specifically as at 29 February 2020 modified by: 8.1.1 any key seasonal variations as demonstrated in the preceding year e.g. a summer tourist timetable; and 8.1.2 any changes to services implemented by agreement with a Local Authority or the Lead Authority prior to the Effective Dateinception of BES 2. 8.2 The Parties agree that for the purposes of continued improvement in the provision of local bus services in Wales, it will be necessary to develop a revised Reference Network which sets out the target requirements for routes and services to be provided across Wales. The Reference Network shall be developed in accordance with this Agreement, including the provision of services in accordance with clauses 12 to 17 below, as well as any changes to services agreed pursuant to Schedule SCHEDULE 1: . The Parties agree that the Reference Network shall be developed in respect of each Region in line with the local and regional rankings of the Priorities and in support of a coherent Wales wide Reference Network. 8.3 The Parties, together with other operators in the Region, shall work together to develop a revised Reference Network by [30 June 2021]. This network will supersede the initial Reference Network and reflect Regional priorities. As part of developing the revised Reference Network, historical and current passenger demand data will be used to objectively identify the elements of the Reference Network which will require long term Government support. These elements of the Reference Network will be referred to as the "“Subsidised Network"”. 8.4 The development of the Reference Network shall include: 8.4.1 use of data provided by all parties with an interest in the provision of bus services within the Region, including operators, Lead Authorities, Authorities or one of its Constituent Local Authorities, TfW and Welsh Government; 8.4.2 consideration of regional strategic Priorities for the provision of Local Services; 8.4.3 examination of existing routes; 8.4.4 exploration of options for new routes; 8.4.5 the viability and affordability of the proposed routes; and 8.4.6 consideration of investment or other measures that may be required to support any revised Reference Network. 8.5 The Lead Authority shall manage compliance with the Reference Network in accordance with the requirements set out in Schedule SCHEDULE 1: . 8.6 As part of the development of the Reference Network, the Operator shall use all reasonable endeavours to agree a set of Service Standards pursuant to Schedule 1 SCHEDULE 1: with the Lead Authority and TfW which will apply to different classifications of routes across Wales. The Operator, the Lead Authority and TfW shall use all reasonable endeavours to complete this classification by [30 June 2021].