Dear Fleur
Overview and Scrutiny – RTPI and
Network Management Plan
At the last meeting of the Overview and
Scrutiny Management Committee on 15 January I was asked to write to you with
comments and views expressed about the following two matters (minutes attached –
reports available on the intranet):
Real Time Passenger Transport Information
System
As you know the Management Committee
and more recently a smaller group of members have monitored closely the
implementation of this system. Members agreed that the intentions were sound but
the delivery had been at best patchy to the point that the travelling public
were complaining on a regular basis about the failures within the system
particularly the bus stop signs displaying no data or timetable information
only. As you know the Committee were close to questioning the viability of the
system outside of the
The purpose in writing to you was to
ensure that you were still personally behind the improvement project including
the continued employment of a project officer. Without such a post documenting
the problems, chasing the contractors and operators and keeping a constant watch
on the system it has the potential to very quickly deteriorate because of the
technologies employed and the inter-dependencies of good working relationships.
The minutes confirm our support for the next phase of the project and that we
will be receiving a progress report back hopefully to our meeting on 15 May. It
may give the project a further boost if you were able to attend.
Development of Network Management Plan
for Wiltshire
The Committee received a comprehensive
report on the development of the Plan. Our interest stemmed from the significant
changes envisaged under the long-awaited implementation of the Traffic
Management Act. The good work done by officers is evident throughout the report
to the point where it has received praise from central government. Our ability
to deliver the aspirations is where the Committee has its concerns and it is our
view that greater consultation and engagement with all elected members
especially at a locality level will be vital to gain acceptance and ownership.
The Committee, like you, would like to see the Plan given every opportunity to
succeed so it is our recommendation that you invest a little more time in
consultation via the area boards prior to formally endorsing the
Plan.
I would be happy to receive your views
on the comments expressed by the Committee on these two important transport
issues.
Yours
sincerely
Jeff
Osborn
Chairman,
Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee