TCs must assert independence
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TRAFFIC Commissioners (TCs) need to make clear that their judicial independence is sacrosanct, says North Western Deputy Traffic Commissioner (DTC) Mark I finchliffe.
He made the statement when he called for the Senior TC to use every opportunity to assert the judicial role of TCs and DTCs to the Department for Transport and the Secretary of State.
His comments came at the end of a public inquiry in Golborne, Cheshire, at which regulatory action was being considered against the licence held by public transport operator Peter Walsh & Partners. trading as JP Executive Travel.
Expressing concern that operators might think TCs and VOSA were one and the same. Hinchliffe said this was a case where initially there was a direct conflict between the VOSA evidence and that of the operator, which he would have had to make findings about. Fortunately, as the case progressed, that conflict lessened.
CM exclusively revealed the extent of concern raised privately by TCs over their independence prior to centralising licensing operations in Leeds in 2007 (At odds with the system?' CM 23 July).