Philip Brown appointed as Statutory Senior Traffic Commissioner

Philip Brown has been appointed as the first Statutory Senior Traffic Commissioner by the Secretary of State for Transport, Geoff Hoon, under new powers in the Local Transport Act 2008.

His current position of Senior Traffic Commissioner is an administrative appointment with no additional powers beyond those of a Traffic Commissioner. The Local Transport Act 2008 changes this by putting the role of Senior Traffic Commissioner on to a statutory footing and giving the post-holder important new responsibilities to determine how the Traffic Commissioners perform their statutory functions. For example:

• Determining which statutory functions each Traffic Commissioner works on. This could allow Traffic Commissioners to specialise in particular areas – for example goods vehicle operator licensing or local bus service registrations
• Issuing general directions and guidance to the Traffic Commissioners and Deputy Traffic Commissioners. Directions cover administrative matters such as how to apply for an operator’s licence. Guidance covers judicial matters such as how to interpret legislation

He will be formally appointed and take up his new role when the powers come into force in spring 2009.