Written Question · S4W-04275 · Session 4
When the Scottish Safety Camera Advisory Board was formally dissolved.
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Safety Camera Advisory Board was formally dissolved.
The answer
The Scottish Safety Camera Advisory Board (SAB) has never formally been dissolved. A decision was taken by the Director of the Scottish Safety Camera Programme and the chair of SAB, former Chief Constable of Tayside Police John Vine, that there was no longer a need for the Board. This decision was taken in light of funding and policy changes which had taken place.
One of the primary functions of SAB was to ensure that safety camera partnerships complied with HM Treasury rules concerning the netting off of monies received from speeding fines. This system known as hypothecation ended on 31 March 2007 at which time the Safety Camera Programme became grant funded by the Scottish Government. As HM Treasury rules no longer applied there was no need for SAB to monitor performance in this area.
Another function of SAB was to ensure that the Scottish Safety Camera Programme developed in a consistent manner to schemes operating elsewhere in the UK. Post-hypothecation the Programme in England and Wales was passed to roads authorities. This fundamental change meant that consistency across the UK was no longer possible. As a result there was no longer a need for SAB to monitor performance in this area.
SAB also had responsibility for reviewing proposed changes to the handbook of rules and guidance for the Scottish Safety Camera Programme. Since the last meeting of SAB in June 2008, there have been no significant changes to the handbook. Therefore, there has been no need for SAB to meet to discuss this topic.
Additionally SAB had a remit to monitor partnership performance and progress towards the road safety targets to 2010. The Scottish Government produce a statistical bulletin Key Scottish Safety Camera Programme Statistics which is accessible by organisations previously represented at SAB.
The development of the Road Safety Framework lead to the creation of two groups, one at a strategic level and one at an operational level. It was felt that as the membership of those groups was similar to that of SAB, safety camera related issues should be taken to either the Road Safety Strategic or Operational Group to provide transparency.
The chair of SAB still sits with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland who have never sought to reconvene the group.
One of the primary functions of SAB was to ensure that safety camera partnerships complied with HM Treasury rules concerning the netting off of monies received from speeding fines. This system known as hypothecation ended on 31 March 2007 at which time the Safety Camera Programme became grant funded by the Scottish Government. As HM Treasury rules no longer applied there was no need for SAB to monitor performance in this area.
Another function of SAB was to ensure that the Scottish Safety Camera Programme developed in a consistent manner to schemes operating elsewhere in the UK. Post-hypothecation the Programme in England and Wales was passed to roads authorities. This fundamental change meant that consistency across the UK was no longer possible. As a result there was no longer a need for SAB to monitor performance in this area.
SAB also had responsibility for reviewing proposed changes to the handbook of rules and guidance for the Scottish Safety Camera Programme. Since the last meeting of SAB in June 2008, there have been no significant changes to the handbook. Therefore, there has been no need for SAB to meet to discuss this topic.
Additionally SAB had a remit to monitor partnership performance and progress towards the road safety targets to 2010. The Scottish Government produce a statistical bulletin Key Scottish Safety Camera Programme Statistics which is accessible by organisations previously represented at SAB.
The development of the Road Safety Framework lead to the creation of two groups, one at a strategic level and one at an operational level. It was felt that as the membership of those groups was similar to that of SAB, safety camera related issues should be taken to either the Road Safety Strategic or Operational Group to provide transparency.
The chair of SAB still sits with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland who have never sought to reconvene the group.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S4W-04275 by reference.