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For better or worse?
Page 9
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Is the proposed merger of the Traffic Area Offices and the Vehicle Inspectorate really something to get worked up about? Surely it makes good sense for the people who issue 0-licences to work with those who keep an eye on the people who have them. In short, a perfect example of "joined-up administration".
But where does this leave the Traffic Commissioners? According to newly appointed Senior IC Philip Brown, the merger is likely to present one of his biggest challenges. Whatever the final shape of the organisation, he wants the TCs to retain "the principles of judicial independence". That won't be easy considering they're already seen by many as investigator, prosecutor, judge, jury and Uncle Tom Cobbleigh and all—indeed their role has already been challenged as being incompatible with the Human Rights Act.
True, those challenges haven't amounted to anything much... so far. One legal eagle clearly feels the issuers of 0-licences should remain separate from the enforcers to avoid potential conflicts. But trying to pin down tangible objections to the merger is a bit like trying to staple jelly to a wall.
After the fiasco over the delays and shortcomings with TAN2I, any further tinkering with the 0-licensing system should be , in the context of one simple question: "Will the merger mean a better service for operator?" If the answer's no then it has little, if anything, to