Maurice Hewey, Vehicle Inspectorate chief executive since May 1998, describes
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a week running a Government agency with a highly dispersed network of more than 100 offices and HGV test stations. He visits London, Newbury and Swansea among others. m if you would like to feature in Working Week please fax your details to features editor Patric Cummins or Micky Clarke on 0181862 0912 or phone girl 852 3878.
MONDAY
Start the day with Vehicle Inspectorate's four other directors for a briefing on the coming week's events and any major operational issues—today, new information systems (IS) roll-out and staffingup for the new Single Vehicle Approval scheme. Next, a meeting to agree ideas on how we might change the balance of our fleet and roadside checks to achieve maximum effectiveness with our thinly
spread staff. Join vehicle examiner recruits on induction course to answer questions on VI policies and career prospects. Afternoon mainly reviewing some MoT appeal cases and working with my PA, Jean Frary, on mail, ministerial correspondence, parliamentary questions, diary commitments and travel arrangements. Meet our Year 2000 project manager briefly to review VI's position on compliancy. Travel to London, where I am a guest at a trade association dinner—a valuable chance to meet senior industry figures and exchange information.
TUESDAY
Jr London for meetings at the DETR, which is Vl's main stakeholder and which sets and agrees our annual activity and workload, including our key targets. Morning meeting on current developments in MoT testing, including progress on our current MoT computerisation project, which will provide for the first time an electronic database of all MoTs. Attend Traffic Commissioners' conference as a guest presenter, to explain how VI can support the commissioners in a new initiative. Afternoon—discussion about emissions testing where we are doing some research with DETR to help guide future arrangements.
WEDNESDAY
Morning visit to Newbury Test Station. The station manager briefs me on current activity and operational issues. Meet staff individually to hear their views on work priorities, IS changes, and whether the VI meets their training needs and skills development. Area enforcement team, co-located at the station, raises teething issues with the office and roadside IS systems. Buffet lunch for all staff, where I give a short talk about current developments in VI and answer questions. I take back a number of points to follow up at HQ. Travel to Bristol—more casework and correspondence. Drop in on conference of representatives from other EU states which is discussing harmonisation of enforcement information passed between us, on EU operators.
THURSDAY
Tram to DULA, Swansea, for a meeting of the Driver and Vehicle Operators' (DVO) Strategy Board, comprising DETR HQ directors and the chief executives of DVLA, DSA, VI and VCA. A guided tour of DVLA, including the operations dealing with new photo-driving licences and new scanning-in arrangements for licence applications. The DVO board meets to discuss its developing strategy and plans for better joined-up services to its customers—the 30 million or so drivers and, not least, the 111,000 HGV and 7,700 PSV operators.
FRIDAY
Visit to Yeading test station with Chris Brearley, director general, roads and local transport in DETR, who is responsible for DVO agencies. We meet staff in the morning and see HGV and Single Vehicle Approval tests conducted. The office manager demonstrates the new computerised test booking system, which enables a test to be booked at Yeading or at any other station. This service meets the "modernising government" standard discussed the previous day. At lunchtime, Chris opens a weighbridge within the test station site, which will enable vehicles to be given basic weighing and traffic checks and, where necessary, a full mechanical inspection in the test hall. Representatives from the police attend and we discuss their continuing support to VI for enforcement work in this busy location.