DPTAC Main Committee meeting minutes June 2023
Updated 10 September 2024
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11.30am to 2.30pm, 29 June 2023, DfT London and online.
Attendees
DPTAC: Matthew Campbell-Hill (Chair), Will Bee, Tanvi Vyas, Roger Mackett, Mike Brace, Bryan Matthews, Sharon Brennan, Sue Sharp, Helen Dolphin, David Mapp, Dave Partington.
Guests: Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee (IMTAC), Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS).
Welcome and introductions
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and apologies were noted from Niki Glazier.
New working model
The Chair expressed his desire to structure DPTAC’s working arrangements, making it easier to achieve a holistic view of engagement taking place and enabling the Secretariat to track progress of workstreams.
The Chair outlined plans for working group leads to provide monthly updates, enabling the committee and secretariat to effectively record outcomes and follow up on advice that DPTAC has provided.
Action: Secretariat to develop a progress chart to support with the tracking of workstreams.
Review of DPTAC communications
The Chair raised the importance of communicating progress externally, so that people understand who DPTAC are and what they do. Transparency has been a key priority for Mat coming into this role, and he outlined his intention to set up a working group on communications to drive this work forward.
The Chair mentioned the need to understand the level of autonomy DPTAC has, specifically for external communication.
Another element of internal communications is providing a resource for DfT, improving the department’s understanding of DPTAC and how they can engage with the Committee. The Chair would like to write a blog alongside a monthly piece on upcoming work or ideas.
DfT mentioned the need to be clear on DPTAC’s role and remit as an advisory committee.
MACS added it is important to establish a consistent narrative through its work programme and strategic priorities. This helped manage expectations and with producing annual reports. The MACS found a twitter feed to be helpful.
DPTAC agreed to discuss this further through the Comms working group.
Action: Secretariat to arrange first meeting for the Comms working group.
Review of IT
The Chair outlined plans for all DPTAC members to have GOV.UK email addresses, making it easier to access DPTAC documents, enable quick communication and avoid technical issues.
The Committee need a clear policy and this work needs to be managed as a small IT project, with a timeline, transition period, induction and training for users.
Action: Secretariat to develop a timeline for this project and identify relevant training options.
The Chair outlined an aim for members to transition to the new DPTAC email addresses by the next main meeting (27 September).
DPTAC noted the importance of ensuring the software is accessible.
Action: DPTAC to come back on the option of integrating diaries and Secretariat to provide an implementation plan before the next main meeting.
DPTAC publication scheme
DPTAC and the Secretariat are working to develop an improved publication scheme, increasing transparency and proactive publication of key documents including meeting minutes and DPTAC advice.
DPTAC members were supportive of proactive publication, and noted the Committee previously had a working group on comms. Members discussed balancing providing confidential advice and being transparent as an independent body.
Members suggested it would be helpful to have training on FOI, particularly for new starters.
Transport Select Committee inquiry
DfT provided background to the launch of the Transport Select Committee (TSC) inquiry and the call for evidence. The Committee held its first oral evidence session on 14 June and the evidence submitted can be found on the Parliament website.
DfT expected that Ministers and officials would be called to provide evidence towards the end of the hearing in autumn.
The Chair noted that work relating to DPTAC’s response to the inquiry would fall to the Comms working group.
Work Programme – ongoing activities and future work
The Committee outlined all the workstreams they are currently working on and expecting to begin work on.
The Chair asked the Committee about areas of work they would want to be involved in, acknowledging previous work on HS2 which would have been beneficial to provide input on, particularly rolling stock.
Suggestions from the Committee micro e-mobility, personal mobility devices and batteries, rail reform proposals, maritime, autonomous vehicles, and electric vehicle chargepoints.
Creation of Autonomy Working Group
The Chair set out context for the autonomy working group which will cover issues across all forms of autonomous transport and impacts on disabled people.
Action: Members to express their interest in joining the working group.
Any other business
The Committee received an update on plans for recruiting new DPTAC members.
Action: Secretariat to re-circulate legislation on DPTAC, the Committee’s terms of reference, framework agreement and standard terms of employment.
It was agreed the date of the next meeting would be 27 September 2023.