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TCs scrutinised
Page 10
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• The Better Regulation Task Force (BRTF), a government advisory body, is assessing the democratic accountability of TCs and will report its findings this summer.
MP Peter Duncan says its research creates an opportunity to clarify whether certain TCs are assuming too much power. He is particularly challenging judgements concerning the use of consultants as part-time transport managers.
"Individual TCs are choosing to interpret the law in different ways in different parts of the country. Essentially they are totally autonomous and not democratically accountable."
Duncan raised the issue in Parliament after being contacted by Transconsult, which supplies hauliers with transport managers on a consultancy basis. it says North Western, North Eastern and Eastern TCs Beverley Bell, Tom Macartney and Geoffrey Simms refuse to accept consultants as legitimate transport managers (see story pages 12 and 13).
Apart from TCs, the BRTF is investigating several other independent regulators covering areas such as charities and the safety of football grounds.