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Post by ServerKing on Jul 1, 2022 2:13:44 GMT
The problem is the sheer volume of useless personnel, no doubt some positions created by "a friend of a friend" as it's not what you know, but whom. It's like the BBC comedy W1A, where they had a Director of Better and departments seemed to chase their tails each episode It's very common in public sector roles, obsolete IT systems (usually brought in as the licenses for software is cheaper if it's not up to date), most times they are written on older operating systems, and won't like newer stuff like Windows 10... Like Haringey Council who spent £168k on a logo which looked like a kid designed it on an early version of Microsoft Paint... yet struggle to keep the pavement clear of dumped fridges, mattresses etc... I think when it's public money, it's harder to keep an eye on where it's all going. This is TfL's problem, with the lunatics running the asylum, Khan is nowhere to be seen and there are no real audits except when money runs out and they go begging to Government for more. Dodgy consultants are moved on to another department within such a huge organisation, so it's hard to track them down. Plus high turnover may mean even less accountability. If they saw how private companies run (I have a lengthy process at work if parts sent for a customer laptop do not work, and you get in trouble for wasting parts unnecessarily or not ringing relevant people) there wouldn't be so much burning through money so quickly. I don't see TfL's funds filtering down to our bus network, or to the teenage 318 bus which turns 15 next February, running on slipboards due to knackered blinds It’s exactly why I’ve always maintained that organisations like TfL and the NHS should be subject to randomised independent audits in partnership with businesses like KPMG or PWC to ensure they are operating as effectively as possible. I say independent as being done in house would remove the whole point of an auditing process. It does annoy me when hospital managers would spend a fortune on a rock feature that is supposed to represent inner strength... at least you can stare at it in Triage for the next 5 hours as you wait A billion or so disappearing each month is worrying - I can't see what it is being spent on, with less using the network, and with buses contracted out to private operators it's not them to blame. They are told how to run things as they are, I doubt Arriva want to keep running the 318 buses into the ground, but there you are. We will probably get more higher numbered bus routes to distract from the fact the lower numbered ones have been cut, even though the "consultation" has been extended like their latest Payday Loan, I can’t see it ending well
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Post by barrypotter on Jul 1, 2022 4:45:01 GMT
I imagine In the scheme of things the cost must be marginal. I know of family members or have / had passes and they are rarely used. Can't imagine the cost is marginal at all, you're talking about thousands and thousands of people who should be paying full time fares. Many people who I know have them use them all the time. It is an interesting case though as there's obviously the plus side to having it which is staff morale. But in reality while I don't advocate removing any free passes, it should be the first one to go if a desperate need to remove them came to rise. Take away free staff travel, and if staff don't use buses or underground, what is the gain to TfL. A few empty seats, a few more cars on the road. My suggestion is to privatise revenue collection. Get G4S or the like to get onto the buses for a while, let them keep all the fines, take a few more of the thieves to court. I believe that fare evasion is a bigger problem than getting staff to work.
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Jul 1, 2022 6:39:30 GMT
Can't imagine the cost is marginal at all, you're talking about thousands and thousands of people who should be paying full time fares. Many people who I know have them use them all the time. It is an interesting case though as there's obviously the plus side to having it which is staff morale. But in reality while I don't advocate removing any free passes, it should be the first one to go if a desperate need to remove them came to rise. Take away free staff travel, and if staff don't use buses or underground, what is the gain to TfL. A few empty seats, a few more cars on the road. My suggestion is to privatise revenue collection. Get G4S or the like to get onto the buses for a while, let them keep all the fines, take a few more of the thieves to court. I believe that fare evasion is a bigger problem than getting staff to work. Staff travel would remain, these are nominee passes. Getting rid of free staff travel would be ridiculous.
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Post by greenboy on Jul 1, 2022 7:29:08 GMT
Can't imagine the cost is marginal at all, you're talking about thousands and thousands of people who should be paying full time fares. Many people who I know have them use them all the time. It is an interesting case though as there's obviously the plus side to having it which is staff morale. But in reality while I don't advocate removing any free passes, it should be the first one to go if a desperate need to remove them came to rise. Take away free staff travel, and if staff don't use buses or underground, what is the gain to TfL. A few empty seats, a few more cars on the road. My suggestion is to privatise revenue collection. Get G4S or the like to get onto the buses for a while, let them keep all the fines, take a few more of the thieves to court. I believe that fare evasion is a bigger problem than getting staff to work. Fare dodgers will probably say the same thing, that if they couldn't get a free ride then they wouldn't use public transport. I don't think G4S or anyone else would be interested, car park management is much easier with a camera clocking registration numbers. Revenue checks are far more labour intensive and how do you ensure fare dodgers give their correct details? I think there is such a culture of free travel now that it's going to be very difficult to get that genie back in the bottle.
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Post by yunus on Jul 3, 2022 21:15:16 GMT
What is expected from the 13th when the funding deal runs out? Is it just gonna be extended by weeks or months every time it expires?
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Post by Busboy105 on Jul 4, 2022 6:21:34 GMT
What is expected from the 13th when the funding deal runs out? Is it just gonna be extended by weeks or months every time it expires? Most likely gonna keep being extended until TFL hands itself over to the DFT
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Post by ServerKing on Jul 4, 2022 6:29:36 GMT
What is expected from the 13th when the funding deal runs out? Is it just gonna be extended by weeks or months every time it expires? Another billion for a month or two as Parliament closes for summer recess... Bojo will deal with it on his return (if still in post)
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Post by snowman on Jul 4, 2022 6:36:25 GMT
What is expected from the 13th when the funding deal runs out? Is it just gonna be extended by weeks or months every time it expires? Most likely gonna keep being extended until TFL hands itself over to the DFT The 20 day extension was because the mayor is trying to keep items unchanged that Government wants stopped or reviewed. So basically TfL didn’t deliver some of the reviews (eg pension) in full as per last bailout requirement It is also noticeable that the extension gives accrued funds, the formula for TfL receiving funds applies, but there is no further cash transfer to TfL during the extension. So TfLs cash flow is squeezed The 24th June letter makes it clear 4. We do not expect to be making any additional grant payment during this short extension period www.gov.uk/government/publications/transport-for-london-settlement-letter
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Post by yunus on Jul 10, 2022 22:40:03 GMT
Just for a thumbs up, the bailout runs out in a couple of days this Wednesday, not expecting any miracles to happen to secure a long term deal especially as the mess of the government at the moment. TFL is probably the least that they worry about. Meanwhile, a 30% bus cuts outside London: www.ft.com/content/eb1cabdb-7329-4e8a-82a4-fdeba2bac83b
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Post by WH241 on Jul 11, 2022 10:17:55 GMT
The threats from the Mayor have started an advance of the funding deal ending this Wednesday.
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Post by SILENCED on Jul 11, 2022 10:26:54 GMT
The threats from the Mayor have started an advance of the funding deal ending this Wednesday. What puzzles me is the long term deal TfL are seeking is for infrastructure investment, not revenue. This should impact buses far less than the tube, with certain lines requiring infrastructure and rolling stock upgrades, and any new TfL infrastructure projects. If they are threatening buses, the threat is hollow, as the deal is not about reduced revenue streams, which TfL are going to have to eventually accept and adjust to.
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Post by yunus on Jul 11, 2022 10:48:35 GMT
The threats from the Mayor have started an advance of the funding deal ending this Wednesday. Not surprised at all! The mayor does the same thing every time on approach to a bailout expiring. Starting to think that it's pure scaremongering!
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Post by ServerKing on Jul 11, 2022 11:02:05 GMT
The threats from the Mayor have started an advance of the funding deal ending this Wednesday. TfL haven't been managing the decline so far, DfT might take it out of their hands (despite current events in Parliament)...
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Post by snowman on Jul 11, 2022 11:32:57 GMT
The threats from the Mayor have started an advance of the funding deal ending this Wednesday. TfL haven't been managing the decline so far, DfT might take it out of their hands (despite current events in Parliament)... Very stupid threat, suppose the Government wait until the end of week, the mayor has effectively committed himself to act on Wednesday night, if he dithers will look stupid, if deal isn’t agreed will be seen as mayor that cut services. The Government would probably wait until TfL went effectively bankrupt (they can’t become bankrupt as a public organisation, process would be chief Finance Officer declares a section 114 notice (costs higher than revenue and expected to continue) which triggers various actions.
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Post by vjaska on Jul 11, 2022 11:34:56 GMT
The threats from the Mayor have started an advance of the funding deal ending this Wednesday. TfL haven't been managing the decline so far, DfT might take it out of their hands (despite current events in Parliament)... And if the DfT get it, watch it deteriorate even further…
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