March 2020 late MQT answers
Question No: 2020/0228
Andrew Dismore
I understand that TfL will no longer be providing spider maps at bus stops that have fewer than 5 bus routes or are not near a station. Surely this plan is ludicrous and is especially punishing on outer London, where there are many more older voters who do not use smart phones? Was this considered as part of the equalities assessment for this decision? Will you reconsider this decision?
Answer for Spider maps
The Mayor
Last updated: 21 January, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Spider maps
The Mayor
Last updated: 13 March, 2020
Every bus stop in London normally displays information about the route it serves.
Spider maps, which give more information about the bus services in an area, can only be displayed at stops with a shelter and this applies to approximately half the stops in London. However, TfL research has shown that the use of spider maps has been steadily declining from just over 50 per cent of customers in 2013 to less than 1 per cent now.
TfL has therefore reflected this trend by reducing the number of spider maps it produces. There are still 224 variations being displayed at around 4,500 shelters, representing approximately 25 per cent of all stops. TfL has concentrated its distribution at areas served by five or more bus routes as it is thought that this will be most useful to those customers still referring to them.
Although TfL did put its proposed policy to TravelWatch, it did not conduct an Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA). TfL will retrospectively conduct an EqIA and share with you a summary of its conclusions. It remains the case, however, that the information previously available on spider maps continues to be available online, and comprehensive route information in the form of a timetables and/or multi-route panels remain present at every stop.
London Fire Brigade training contract
Question No: 2020/0587
Andrew Dismore
Has the Met built in safeguards to its new contract with Babcock International given the failings identified by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) in Babcock’s delivery of its training contract for the London Fire Brigade?
Answer for London Fire Brigade training contract
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 February, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
London Fire Brigade training contract
The Mayor
Last updated: 20 March, 2020
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) undertook significant due diligence prior to awarding its contract to Babcock International. This included learning from engagement with the London Fire Brigade and an independent commercial and organisational readiness review.
Babcock will work in partnership with the MPS and four London universities to develop new officer entry routes for apprenticeships and degree holders, the curriculum of which was set by the College of Policing. The MPS will continue to deliver specialist operational training.
The MPS assures me that it has established a strong ‘intelligent client’ capability to drive value for money and continuous improvement; and that a robust performance framework is in place.
The Babcock contract will be monitored by a dedicated project board under the wider MPS Transformation portfolio. The contract will also form part of the commercial dashboard scrutinised at MOPACs Investment Advisory Monitoring (IAM) meeting.
