'Curtail the RTITB'
Page 34
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Since the inception of the RTITB I have been very concerned by the requirements of such a body, both administratively and fmandally. The staffing of the Board cannot be said to have come from persons who have made their mark in the psv world and in the early days the Board did not hesitate to ask for information from operators.
My company is interested in sending staff to attend both the Motec establishments and technical colleges. Also, to courses sponsored by the trade. In general, the company has prospered from such training and will continue to do so.
With the issue of the 'current Employer's Guide the RtIlle made a fundamental change by making it necessary for employers to apply for °complete or partial exemption from the levy. In the case Of my company I decided that nothing would be lost by applying for complete exemption in the first place, as it was etill possible Ito go for partial exemption in the event of a refusal. In due course three representatives arrived for a day's investigation which took only two hours, including a conducted tour of the esitablishmerit and a personal description of 'the operating procedure.
It has always been apparent that the Board measures efficiency by the written word, in the form of job descriptions, formal objectives and the maintaining of records. 11 came as no surprise !When the Board gave its decision that this criteria had not been complied with and the application refused. Not to be outdone by my ineptitude to fill in such forms and records, the Board sent another representative to show me how to overcame these faults and an "Action Plan" was drawn up.
I suppose that I should be thankful for all this attention, but I cannOt accept this form of bureaucracy. I would tar sooner continue attending Ito my business by personal contact with the staff and customers than be subjected to more "form filling" which is non-productive. Regular reviews with heads of departmeet take place on a daily basis, not least of which is a 'strict budgetary control which aroused much interest with one of the three representatives who called to make their report.
The chairman of the Transport Association has recently spoken out against "these bureaucrats" from the RTITB (CM July 11), Are we, as operators, going to stand back and allow them to live off our hard work?
There may be some operators who have done their homework for this year and qualified for exemption. Although the amouni of grant may be quite large in relation to the time spent on completion of these forms I am sure the targets will be made more difficult to keep these officials in jobs. I suggest that all members of the coach and independent bus sector do everything in 'their power to lobby their elected representatives in the industry and at Parliamentary level, to have the powers of the RTITB curtailed, before they lose their independence. Operators have found strength in forming local associations and by this example alone it should be possible for area committees to formulate an action plan towards a fairer "exemption" from the levy. ROY RICHMOND, Epsom Coaches.