From: Gondlach, Marie
Sent: 13 February 2009 16:53
To: de Rhe-Philipe, Fleur
Cc: Egar, Eric; Murphy, Robert; Molland, Tony; Osborn, Jeff
Subject: Real Time Passenger Transport Information System and Development of Network Management Plan for Wiltshire

Attachments: Minutes.doc

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 Salisbury area despite the investment of public money already made. This position was rescued with your written commitment to the project and a redirection of resources to enable a project officer to be employed to develop an improvement plan. I have met Liz Douglas (the person appointed) now on several occasions and have been impressed with her honesty and desire to put things right by applying sound project management techniques. The extent of the problems were deeply worrying but the Committee were convinced enough by the fact that the faults in the system had at last been acknowledged and identified with necessary remedial work taking place. The key performance indicators are sent to us as well as you on a monthly basis which shows signs of improvement although there is still a long way to go to reach the sort of performance levels that could reasonably be expected.

 

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