Responding to a consultation into the function of Traffic Commissioners, the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has praised the work they do but highlighted that more budgetary control would help them overcome resourcing issues which have in recent years led to delays to their services.
Traffic Commissioners perform numerous vital functions for the public service vehicle industry, being responsible for the processing of PSV licences, registering local bus services, and ensuring public inquiries and conduct hearings are fair and transparent. They possess local knowledge which is invaluable to addressing issues in the regions they cover.
The ability of Traffic Commissioners to provide these services has in recent years been constrained by availability of resources and staffing, the CPT said, which has led to delays. To overcome this, Traffic Commissioners should be given more budgetary control and independence from the DVSA, the CPT believes, to allow them to address issues around staffing and resources and ensure that operators receive a decision as quickly as possible.
CPT’s Operations Director Keith McNally said: “Traffic Commissioners have unrivalled knowledge of the public service vehicle industry and are experts on the issues in their local area. Their role is vital to many functions across our sector, from making sure bus registrations are held centrally to providing fair, transparent hearings in cases of misconduct or public inquiries.
“Staffing and resourcing issues have in the past led to delays to the Traffic Commissioners being able to provide their services, but we know they have always worked to reduce delays as much as possible. They must now be given more budgetary control so they can continue to perform their role in a timely manner.”
