Railways Act 2005

Railways Act 2005

2005 CHAPTER 14

Commentary on Schedules

Schedule 5: Rail Passengers' Council established by s.19(1)

227. Schedule 5 sets out various constitutional provisions, including accounting, remuneration, finance, status and procedure, that will apply to the RPC in its new form as a statutory corporation.

228. Paragraph 2 sets the requirements for the remuneration of members. These apply in all cases except for the London Transport Users’ Committee and the London member of the RPC. This committee and Council member are the responsibility of the London Assembly. The terms and conditions of their appointments are for the London Assembly to determine and to provide after consultation with the Secretary of State.

229. Paragraphs 3-5. Provide for the remuneration of staff. Previously RPC staff were classified as Strategic Rail Authority staff. As an independent body corporate the RPC will be responsible for its own staff, including their terms and conditions.

230. Parts 3 and 4. Under existing arrangements the RPC’s sponsor, the Strategic Rail Authority, holds the status of body corporate. The RPC’s budgeting arrangements have been a matter for the Authority. The RPC will now take on the body corporate status. The provisions set out in Parts 3 and 4 provide the process by which the RPC will be funded by Government grants and operate to a financial framework.