Transport for London

Minutes of a meeting of the Board
held on Tuesday 27th November 2001, commencing at 10.00 a.m. 
in Room AG16, Romney House, Marsham Street, London SW1P 3PY

Present: 	
Board Members:	Dave Wetzel (Chair)	Susan Kramer	
David Begg	Joyce Mamode
Stephen Glaister	Paul Moore	
Kirsten Hearn	David Quarmby
Mike Hodgkinson		Tony West
Oli Jackson		
	
Special Advisor	Bryan Heiser	
	Lynn Sloman
	
Others 	 
in attendance:	Ian Brown	Maureen Nolan
	Colin Douglas	Michael Swiggs
	Peter Hendy	Derek Turner
	Robert Kiley	Jay Walder
	Betty Morgan	

66/01	PRELIMINARIES

	It was noted that a private briefing for Board Members on congestion charging would be held immediately following the Board meeting.

67/01	APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

	Apologies for absence had been received from Ken Livingstone.

68/01	DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

	The Chair reminded Board Members of the requirement to declare any interest in matters under discussion.  Oli Jackson declared an interest in agenda item 6 (Review of Dial-a-Ride).

69/01	MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS

	25th September 2001.
	The minutes of the meeting held on 25th September were agreed as a true record.

	24th October 2001.
	The Commissioner proposed an amendment to bullet point 6 on page 4 of the minutes of the meeting held on 24th October, as follows:

•	The limited priority given to cycling and insufficient definition of walking programmes in the Budget and Business Plan.  (The Commissioner would review this area further, involving key stakeholders, as the budget was developed).

	Subject to this amendment, the minutes were agreed as a true record.

70/01	MATTERS ARISING

	There were no matters arising.

71/01	COMMISSIONER’S REPORT

	The Commissioners introduced his written report.

	During discussion, it was noted that:
•	The findings of the recent Commission for Integrated Transport report commissioned by the Government highlighted the extent to which the UK had fallen behind other major European cities.  Board Members agreed that TfL’s range of policies was appropriate to achieve a closing of the identified gap between London and other European cities.  Board Members will be provided with a copy of the CFIT report;
•	The precise timescale for the transition of London Underground into TfL had not been determined, although the Secretary of State had recently suggested it might take place between April and mid Summer 2002.  Working groups were being established with London Underground to progress the integration.  The Rail Services Advisory Panel and the TfL Board will be advised of progress on a regular basis;
•	A briefing for Board Members on the Thames Gateway River Crossings will take place early in 2002;
•	The effort to work with the Boroughs as key deliverers of transport services in London was welcomed.

	The report was noted.

72/01	FINANCE AND PERFORMANCE REPORT

	Jay Walder gave a presentation outlining key points in his Finance Report for the six months to September 2001.

	The desirability to even out spending over the fiscal year was noted.  Spending over the next six months will have to increase significantly to meet the forecast for the current fiscal year.

	During discussion, the following points were noted:
•	Work was underway to revise the current measures of customer satisfaction in order to compare the measures consistently and historically.  It was targeted that new measures would be in place by the start of the next fiscal year;
•	The effect of September 11th was not reflected in the latest data but it was anticipated that there might be a further fall in ridership figures for LUL (to be reflected in the next period’s figures).  It was noted that a decline in off peak travel into London was apparent (before the terrorist attack) with the Train Operating Companies, and it was anticipated that this trend would be reflected in central London;
•	The slippage in respect of DLR’s introduction of new rolling stock was largely due to strikes at Bombardier’s factory in Europe.  The existing commitment to deliver the new rolling stock by 1 June 2002 remained;
•	It was anticipated that the adjudication process for the guidelines for the Transport and works Act powers for the City Airport extension would be completed by mid December 2001.

	It was noted that Simon Ellis, Chief Finance Officer, had decided to leave TfL with effect from 30th November.  Thanks were expressed to Simon Ellis for his work in establishing appropriate financial controls and processes within TfL.  The interim appointment of Jeremy Howland as TfL’s Chief Officer with effect from 30th November 2001 was agreed.

73/01	REVIEW OF DIAL-A-RIDE

	Peter Hendy introduced a paper which proposed changes as a result of a Best Value review of the London Dial-a-Ride service.  He said that this initial review of the supply side of door-to-door transport through Dial-a-Ride would be followed by the commencement of a review of eligibility for door-to-door services, as committed in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy.

The review recommended that the six Dial-a-Ride operations be unified into one directly delivered service in order to make improvements to the efficiency and effectiveness of the service.

The Board welcomed the report.  It was noted that continuing consultation with users and potential users would be integral to the review arrangements.  Thanks were expressed to those who had served on the existing boards.

The report was noted.  The changed outlined in the report were agreed.

74/01	TfL’S SOCIAL INCLUSION AGENDA

	Alice Maynard introduced a paper outlined TfL’s proposed approach to taking social inclusion issues forward across the organisation.  It was noted that the paper reflected discussions at the Advisory Panels.

	During discussions, the following points were noted:
•	Board Members welcomed the paper and the proposed approach;
•	The Access and Mobility Unit would form part of the proposed Social Inclusion Unit;
•	The Social Inclusion Unit would need to plan its own “exit strategy” after a specified period;
•	It was anticipated that regular updates on progress would feature in the Commissioner’s Report;
•	Performance measures will be included, when these have been established.

The report and the approach outlined were noted.

75/01	PROCEDURAL ITEMS
	FORMAL DIRECTIONS FROM THE MAYOR

	The Mayor issued formal directions to TfL and LRT on 7th November 2001 to implement the fares revision in January 2002.

	These were noted, subject to confirmation by Officers that points of detail regarding services and time eligibilities were correctly described.

76/01	ENDORSEMENT OF CHAIR’S ACTION

	It was noted that a Chair’s Action had been signed on 30th October which enabled TfL to promote a joint Bill with Westminster to introduce decriminalisation of non-endorsable traffic offences.

The Chair’s Action was endorsed.

77/01	SAFETY, HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE REPORT

	David Quarmby, Chair of the Safety Health and Environment Committee, introduced a report of the last meeting of the Committee on 9th November.

	In addition, it was noted that:
•	A consultation with Counsel would be held shortly to attempt to clarify TfL’s responsibilities for contractors and franchisees.  A report will be made to the Board in 2-3 months’ time;
•	A report on safety performance, statistics and trends, which had been circulated since the Committee meeting, highlighted the increased levels of fatality and serious injury involving powered two wheelers.  The cycling strategy would be a subject at a future SHEC meeting with particular reference to the level of attention given to the safety of cyclists on roads, through means such as education, traffic management or road layouts.

The report was noted.

78/01	ANY OTHER BUSINESS

	It was noted that Colin Douglas, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, would be leaving TfL in December 2001.  He was thanked for his contribution and the Board wished him well in the future.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 11.35a.m.

Chair							Date