PUBLIC TRANSPORT USERS’ COMMITTEE FOR SCOTLANDu034128u034128202008-05-29T14:10:00Z2008-05-29T14:10:00Z7226412910Scottish Executive107301514411.0000PUBLIC TRANSPORT USERS’ COMMITTEE FOR SCOTLAND(PASSENGERS’ VIEW SCOTLAND)MAIN COMMITTEEMINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 8 May 2008Victoria Quay Members Present:0M8R4KGxGuEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPgADAP7/CQAGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAAAAQAAAAAAAAAA EAAAAgAAAAEAAAD+////AAAAAAAAAAD///////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////9 /////v////7////+//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////1IA bwBvAHQAIABFAG4AdAByAHkAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAWAAUA//////////8BAAAAEB3Si0LszhGeDQCqAGAC8wAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAGrc+VwcgB AwAAAEABAAAAAAAAYwBvAG4AdABlAG4AdABzAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABIAAgECAAAA//////////8AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAoAAAAAAAAAABAEMAbwBtAHAATwBiAGoAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEgACAP///////////////wAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMAAAB0AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA//////// ////////AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQAA AAIAAAD+////BAAAAP7///////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////8AAoAA AQFAhAAAAAAbSAC8ZAAAgAAAAABLEgAAcA0AAEphbWVzIEtpbmcgKENvbnZlbmVyKQ0KQ2hhcmxp ZSBBbmRlcnNvbg0KVG9ueSBEZXZsaW4NCkpvaG4gTXVycmF5DQpDb2xpbiBSZWlkDQpKYW5lIFN0 ZXZlbg0KQmlsbCBVcmUAAhgANQAAAAUAAIDwAAAAAAIAAEFyaWFsARQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAP7/AwoAAP////8QHdKLQuzOEZ4NAKoAYALzHAAAAE1pY3Jvc29m dCBGb3JtcyAyLjAgVGV4dEJveAAQAAAARW1iZWRkZWQgT2JqZWN0ABAAAABGb3Jtcy5UZXh0Qm94 LjEA9DmycQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA== Members Apologies: Irene KitsonChristine DoraAnn HendersonGary LawsonAlso Present:Diane McLaffertyFiona LockeBill BrashAlison DewarEmma BrownApologies:Lynne DuffWelcome and apologies1.1The new Convener welcomed Committee members. Apologies had been received from IK, AH CD and GL. The Convener apologised for the late change of date of the meeting. This had had been absolutely necessary in light of recent events. He was grateful to the members for rearranging their diaries. 1.2The Convener updated the Committee on the previous Convener’s health and reported that John Elliot was doing well. The Convener proposed that the minutes record a formal note of thanks to the previous Convener, John Elliot, for all his efforts in establishing the Committee and steering it since its inception. Members warmly endorsed this proposal.1.3Members congratulated the new Convener on his appointment.Minutes of last meeting and matters arising2.1The Committee accepted the minutes of the last PVS meeting and no factual corrections or changes were required. Action points on the minutes from the Sub-committees were reported on: the Chair of the Policy and Environment Sub-committee sought clarification on the position of two responses to consultations which he had been sent to the Secretariat for issue.The Chair of the Bus Passenger Platform reported that the BPP was working on investigating the poor response from the advertising campaign and would report back to the Committee. Action: Secretariat to report back on the position with the responses to consultations; and the results of the investigation into the advertising campaign.3.Update on amalgamation with MACS3.1BB gave an update on the amalgamation with MACS. Legislation was being prepared to revoke the MACS regulations and amend the PTUC order which would increase the membership of the Committee from 12 to “up to 15” members, with at least three members being disabled as determined by the DDA. The aim is to have the statutory instruments, which would be subject to negative resolution, laid in Parliament in mid-May to allow sufficient time for scrutiny by the Subordinate Legislation Committee before the summer recess. Subject to Parliamentary approval, the legislation would come into effect on 1 July.3.2BB then updated the Committee on the appointments process. Following the appointment of the new Convener, there were 4 positions on the Committee to be filled, three of which by disabled persons. The timetable was tight and the Secretariat would be writing to around 150 organisations and 130 individuals, including MACS members. The closing date for applications would be 20 June, with interviews expected to be held in early July and appointments made in August. 3.3It was felt that the appointments process would lead to a heightened interest in the work of the Committee because of the amalgamation with MACS. Members discussed the importance of ensuring that disability and mobility issues were mainstreamed into all areas of PVS’ work with an effective performance management system established to identify progress.3.4There was discussion on the process of appointing a Deputy Convener to the Committee. BB explained as this was not prescribed within legislation, it was a matter for the Committee. The Convener felt that the nomination of Deputy Convener(s) would be more appropriate after the new members had come on board. 4.Annual Report – including report back from Chairs of Sub-committees; and discussion on the role of the Secretariat4.1In order to commence the annual report process, the Convener asked that the Chairs of the sub-committees submit a report of work achieved to date, to the Secretariat by 30 May. 4.2The Convener discussed the role of the Secretariat in supporting the Committee. Members had been appointed for their active interest in transport issues and their ability to think strategically. The Committee required a distance and separation as an “arms length body” from the Scottish Government. Strong links to policy development in transport would be available through FL in Transport Strategy and Mick Wilson in Transport Analytical Services for the evidence base and research needs. 4.3The Secretariat would continue to have a core role, acting as a “clearing house” for receiving intelligence and then circulating it to members, ensure PVS included in circulation lists for consultations. It would update the website, arrange and organise meetings, circulate papers, minute meetings, support sub-committees and pay members fees and expenses. The Secretariat would co-ordinate appropriate representation by PVS members at external events, facilitate media handling through the Scottish Government’s Press Office. The Secretariat would make more use of the PVS website to communicate with members and encourage members to undertake more business by email in the future.4.4The Convener asked the Secretariat produce a “horizon scan” to highlight issues which were coming forward e.g. policy consultations, legislation, high level, strategic transport matters. This work would enable PVS to prioritise and focus its interventions. The Convener had spoken with the Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee and with Transport Scotland to ask that they kept PVS in the loop on forthcoming business.4.5Members were asked to pass relevant issues to the Secretariat for inclusion in the horizon scan and Chairs of Sub-committees were asked to consider areas of outstanding work which would feed into the scan. This material would help to form a framework for the future business plan for PVS. The horizon scan would be prepared by early June, followed by a meeting with the Convener and Secretariat to draft a business plan. This would be circulated to Committee members in mid-June for adoption by the Committee at its next meeting in mid-July. Action: Chairs to forward progress reports to Secretariat by 30 May.Action: Members to submit any items for inclusion to the scan to the Secretariat by end of May.Action: Secretariat to undertake “horizon scan” by early June.5.Future remit of PVS5.1The Convener emphasised that this was a new start for the Committee. He had met with the Minister the previous day and circulated the revised PVS remit to members, which had been agreed at that meeting. The main change had been to re-focus PVS on high level, strategic issues relating to passengers’ views to make a real impact. The Minister had endorsed this approach. 5.2The Chair of the Bus Passengers’ Platform (BPP) asked about the future role of the Sub-committee. He welcomed that the remit had a more strategic focus but recognised that the complaints process was more of a consumer issue. The Convener replied that the BPP was a statutory requirement and would therefore continue. Further, the Chair of the BPP welcomed that revised remit was not mode specific which would allow ferries to be included. The Convener asked that ferries be included in the horizon scan and as MACS had an involvement with ferries, therefore the legacy of this work had been passed to PVS.6.Future relationship with Local Authorities and alignment with theGovernment’s Strategic Purpose6.1FL provided an update for members on the National Performance Framework which set out the Government’s strategic purpose - to increase sustainable economic growth in Scotland. The Concordat is a key part of the Framework setting the new relationship between the Scottish Government and local authorities. This was seen by Ministers as a real change to the relationship and fundamental to the way in which we would do business in the future. Officials across the Scottish Government were working with individual councils to develop their Single Outcome Agreements (SOAs) and ensure that these were properly focused on the National Outcomes, taking account of all the services being delivered transport health housing, education etc.6.2FL said that all 32 local authorities had submitted their draft agreements by 31 March and work was continuing to develop these with the aim of signing agreements off by 30 June. FL also updated the Committee on the Scotland Performs website. This would be the public face of the Government’s outcomes driven approach and was expected to go live later in May. Scotland Performs would collate and display a wide variety of information relating to the outcomes focused approach and how well Scotland was performing to towards achieving the Government’s purpose. FL circulated a summary paper on the National Performance Framework.6.3FL also took the opportunity to update members on the latest developments with the National Transport Strategy (NTS). A Delivery Plan was being developed which incorporated the commitments within the NTS and integrated a number of Concordat commitments. A Stakeholder Group would be established to oversee implementation of the Delivery Plan. That Group would be comprised of stakeholders including CoSLA, the business sector, STUC, regional transport partnerships, academics and bodies representing wider transport interests, as well as officials from transport, climate change and health Directorates. The Convener of PVS would be asked to be a member of the Group which would enable PVS to have access to transport policy development across the board. 6.4FL outlined a number of areas within the NTS Delivery Plan where PVS could become involved e.g. demand responsive transport, review of concessionary travel, reviews of public transport fares etc. These issues would be included in the horizon scan. The Secretariat would send copies of the NTS and it associated documents to all members of the Committee.Action: Secretariat to circulate National Transport Strategy and its associated documents to members as a reminder on the policy position.7.Structure of sub-committees and frequency of meetings 7.1In light of the new public sector landscape, the Convener stated that PVS would be required to re-align to feed into the Government’s strategic purpose. It followed that we would also need to consider the current structure of the Sub-committees. The Secretariat mentioned that there were two sub-committee groups due to meet in June. The Convener suggested the Chairs of the Sub-committees concerned, revisit their work programmes and report issues to the Secretariat that they consider should be included in the “horizon scan”. If the Chairs feel that there is a business need for the meetings to go ahead they should contact the Secretariat, otherwise the meetings would be cancelled.7.2Suggestions had been received for the Sub-committees to meet on the afternoons of the day of the main PVS meeting. Committee members endorsed this approach. FL was concerned that if a number of Sub-committees wished to meet on the same day, the Secretariat could be stretched in terms of resources to provide support. JS added that, if required, a Sub-committee member could take a note. It was agreed that arrangements for Sub-committee meetings should be flexible and that meetings only held when required according to circumstances at that time. Sub-committees could also co-opt external members where a particular expertise or additional skills were required or ad-hoc Sub-committees could be established to look at a specific issue. .Action: Chairs to notify the Secretariat of whether the meetings booked for June should go ahead.Action: Chairs of Sub-committees to send any outstanding action points to the Secretariat for inclusion into the horizon scan. 8.Dates of future meeting (frequency, structure and agreement on dates)8.1Dates for future meetings were agreed by the Committee. These were emailed out to members separately. It was agreed that all meetings will be held in Victoria Quay and they will commence at 10 am.8.2The Convener informed members that he had asked the Secretariat to produce a “house” style for agendas and minutes of meetings and papers should be marked up “for action”, “for decision” etc to guide members more. The Secretariat would adopt this approach for the mid-July meeting onwards.9.CIPFA Training9.1The Convener sought members views on the possibility of training for members of NDPB’s. There was training available from CIPFA which could be tailored to suit members’ needs. The Secretariat circulated handouts from a training programme from a course MACS members attended, in order to give members an idea of the structure and context of the course. 9.2FL reported that the Cabinet Secretary was keen that all members of NDPBs received training on Governance. Colleagues in the Public Service Reform Directorate were drawing up a proposal for Ministers. However, this training was unlikely to be available until around the end of the year and may be compulsory for all NDPB members. Members agreed to wait to see how this proposal developed rather than undertaking the CIPFA training at this time.Action: Secretariat to update members on Public Reform Training when the information becomes available.10.AOCB 10.1The Committee agreed there was no other competent business. However, the Convener took the opportunity to comment on AH’s e-mail, circulated to all members:Scotrail Franchise – the Convener reported no external body was consulted. Passenger Focus was meeting the Minister later that week and would raise this. He would report back to PVS on that discussion.Audit Scotland Project on Scotrail Franchise – it was felt that PVS should have been included on the consultation list. However, the Convener felt this was principally, a matter for Passenger Focus and as disability issues would be mainstreamed through PVS work that he would advise on how disability issues were being taken forward. European Commission Inquiry into Ferry Services, DMcL reported that she and FL had spent a day with Commissioner Barrot last week. The focus of the Inquiry was about the negotiation of contracts and therefore not a matter for PVS.Setting the agenda - the Convener said that the agendas would be drawn up in conjunction with the Secretariat. Once agreed, the business plan would set the principal agenda items. Members wishing to raise other topics should email the Convener, who would then advise the Secretariat as necessary.Appointment of the Convener: this was a Ministerial decision with Scottish Government officials consulting with OCPAS on the process. Members of the Committee were informed as quickly as was possible. JS mentioned the tax free bus travel work she had raised with the previous Convener his departure. The Convener suggested that JS should drop the Secretariat a note to have this included in the horizon scan.The meeting concluded.PVS SecretariatMay 2008