Terms of reference

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Background

The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) was established by the Transport Act 1985 to advise government on the needs of disabled people. It first met in 1986. The Local Transport Act 2008 provides for DPTAC’s chair and members to receive a fee.

Remit

DPTAC’s primary role is set out in the Act (S125 (5)): “It shall be the duty of the Committee to consider any matter, relating to the needs of disabled persons in connection with public passenger transport, which is referred to them by the Secretary of State or which they think it appropriate to consider without such a reference and to give such advice to the Secretary of State on any matter which they have considered as they think appropriate.”

DPTAC’s additional established roles are to:

• provide advice to the Department for Transport (DfT) to assist in the development of policy and other proposals
• monitor how DfT delivers its commitments, such as those set out in the Inclusive Transport Strategy
• be a “sounding board” and “critical friend” to DfT and to offer clear, constructive, criticism
• provide advice to DfT and to the Office of Rail and Road to inform their decisions about rail and bus regulations and for rail licencing requirements (i.e. Disabled Persons Protection Policies)
• as required, provide additional advice and support to DfT such as participating in steering groups for research projects

DPTAC’s vision statement is that: “Disabled people should have the same access to transport as everybody else, to be able to go where everyone else goes and to do so easily, confidently and without extra cost.”

DPTAC has “objectives” and “principles”, established by DPTAC in discussion with DfT (see below).

Status

DPTAC is an expert committee. Its appointments are regulated by the Office of Public Appointments. Appointments to DPTAC are made by DfT ministers. DfT is DPTAC’s “sponsor” body. DPTAC’s advice to the department is provided on an independent basis. DPTAC is a body listed independently for data protection and freedom of information purposes.

The Transport Act expects DfT (through the sponsor team) to provide administrative support to DPTAC such as arranging meetings and providing meeting space. The sponsor also ensures that DPTAC is properly governed and is able to comply with its responsibilities in relation to the proper behaviour of the members and compliance with legislation relating to data and information.

Work and working arrangements

DPTAC’s is required to meet at least 4 times per year (its “main” meetings) and to have between 10 and 20 members and a chair. At least 50% of the members are required to be disabled.

DPTAC currently has a chair and 11 members.

The chair is expected to dedicate 8 days per month to DPTAC. DPTAC members are expected to dedicate 2 days per month to DPTAC. Arrangements can be made for specified DPTAC lead members in recognition of their additional duties. Lead members are expected to dedicate up to 4 days per month to DPTAC.

DPTAC currently has working groups covering rail, local transport, personal mobility, research/evidence and non-visible disabilities. These operate either as “physical” or “virtual” groups. Issues relating to other modes, such as aviation and maritime are managed on an ad-hoc basis. The role of the groups is to discuss the development of transport policies, and the delivery of those policies, with DfT officials. The groups also consider what DPTAC’s advice should be on particular issues.

The working groups have a lead member whose role is to coordinate the contributions of the group members and to be the main link with the chair and with key policy leads in DfT. It is for the lead member and the chair of DPTAC to agree whether the group’s view can be considered to be DPTAC’s formal advice.

The working groups meet approximately quarterly or as necessary.

DPTAC’s work is set out in a workplan. The content of the plan is agreed in discussion between the DPTAC lead member, the sponsor and the relevant policy lead in DfT.

DfT provide secretariat support to DPTAC, including assistance with setting meeting agendas, producing notes of meetings, and providing a link between DPTAC and the various policy leads for transport issues within DfT. The chair is provided with direct, informal, guidance and support from an advisor within the sponsor team.

Membership

DPTAC’s chair and members are generally appointed for terms of 3 years. Terms may be extended by ministerial agreement.

The chair and members are recruited through a process of open competition and encompass a broad range of relevant expertise and experience.

At least 50% of the members are required to be disabled.

Members are appointed as individuals and, individually and collectively, are not delegates of any particular interest group.

The chair and members will work towards the objective of the committee, and not promote their own interests or those of any group or organisation for which they work or of which they are members.

Concordats exist with the Welsh and Scottish governments that they will be invited to attend the main DPTAC meetings as “observers”.  

Objectives

To provide timely, focused and independent advice to the department on matters relating to transport for disabled people during policy development, the specification of research, evaluation of policy and on relevant consultation exercises.

To take account of the broad views and experiences of all disabled people and develop its advice through effective engagement with department policy leads, the transport industry, organisations representing disabled people, and other stakeholder.

To work with the department and the industry to measure and monitor progress on delivery of the commitments in the department’s Inclusive Transport Strategy and other relevant activities.

Principles

Every journey is door-to-door, so consistency of experience and expectation across local, regional, national and international transport is key to ensure the outcome of accessibility is achieved.

No public investment, funding or approval for transport activities (including infrastructure, services, information etc) should be allowed unless it is conditional on those responsible for spending the money or delivering the services taking full account of accessibility for all disabled people.

Service providers must make accessibility for disabled people part of the mainstream of their activities.

Disabled users and non-users must be fully and meaningfully involved in determining the accessibility of transport services and the transport environment.

Accessibility is the responsibility of the provider of the transport service.