POPLA Scrutiny Board Write to the BPA Ltd

Aaron_Aadvark

An interesting blog by the Prankster.

http://parking-prankster.blogspot.co.uk/

The Independent Scrutiny Board for Parking Appeals on Private Land have written to the BPA Ltd stating that the BPA Ltd are not providing them with sufficient resources to do an effective job.

http://ispa.co.uk/userfiles/downloads/Open%20Letter%20to%20the%20BPA.pdf

It is now 15 months since the date "at latest" that DfT Ministers required the board to be in operation, yet it appears that it has undertaken negligable public activity in fulfilling its role.

bazster

So the PoPLA board, set up at the government's insistence, is unable to do its job because of insufficient funding, and thoroughly disapproves of the "race to the bottom" created by the DVLA accrediting two cowboy trade associations.

My MP will be hearing about this.

Technics

The lack of funding is one thing and I suspect it's part of the reason why so many decisions are going the motorists way at PoPLA. The real problem is the Forum Shopping aspect that we all believe has been going on with so many jumping ship to the IPC.

That is what I'd be asking the hard questions to MP's about (though they have a knack for avoiding hard questions). Now that there are multiple multiple approved operators, what are they doing to ensure independence? Nothing seems to be the current answer. A lack of independence is what will be most beneficial to members. It can't exactly be a secret if the people overseeing PoPLA are writing open letters about it.

bazster

Indeed. I can't see either cowboy ATA being keen on the idea of a DVLA request levy to fund a single Independent Scrutiny Board, 'cos then the board really would be independent which isn't what either of them wants.

Technics

Yes. The IAS certainly are an efficient mob. They are able to carefully and independently consider evidence. Ensuring both sides get to see the evidence that will be considered in advance and all for far less money than those fat cats at PoPLA. :rotfl:

Castle

bazster wrote: »

Indeed. I can't see either cowboy ATA being keen on the idea of a DVLA request levy to fund a single Independent Scrutiny Board, 'cos then the board really would be independent which isn't what either of them wants.

Seems to be the very sensible solution; add a £1 levy to each DVLA request, which will bring in approx £2.5million per year. If 1% of PCN's go to POPLA/IAS this would mean funds of £100 for each appeal, which should cover the costs of POPLA/IAS. The levy could then be increased/decreased in following year.

bod1467

Technics wrote: »

Yes. The IAS certainly are an efficient mob. They are able to carefully and independently consider evidence. Ensuring both sides get to see the evidence that will be considered in advance and all for far less money than those fat cats at PoPLA. :rotfl:

But they don't. (Assuming you're being literal and not sarcastic). With IAS the PCC sees the motorists appeal, but the PPC's evidence is not passed to the motorist to have any chance of rebuttal.

Technics

bod1467 wrote: »

But they don't. (Assuming you're being literal and not sarcastic). With IAS the PCC sees the motorists appeal, but the PPC's evidence is not passed to the motorist to have any chance of rebuttal.

It was definite sarcasm.

bazster

Castle wrote: »

Seems to be the very sensible solution; add a £1 levy to each DVLA request, which will bring in approx £2.5million per year. If 1% of PCN's go to POPLA/IAS this would mean funds of £100 for each appeal, which should cover the costs of POPLA/IAS. The levy could then be increased/decreased in following year.

They're not proposing a levy to fund the appeals service, they're proposing a levy to fund the scrutiny board, of as little as 2p per DVLA request.

This would guarantee an independent scrutiny board, but whether it led to a truly independent appeals service would depend on the scrutiny board's powers.

Castle

bazster wrote: »

They're not proposing a levy to fund the appeals service, they're proposing a levy to fund the scrutiny board, of as little as 2p per DVLA request.

This would guarantee an independent scrutiny board, but whether it led to a truly independent appeals service would depend on the scrutiny board's powers.

Thanks, I was aware that the 2p was just for the scrutiny board, but I was thinking "outside the box". If the DVLA got the levy then they can control the appeal process and the costs; might be more government oversight.

bazster

Geez, the last thing we want is more power for DVLA given the way they routinely abuse the power they have got.