Members of the UK’s Intelligent Transport Systems Industry Association will gain an extra benefit from being part of the Society with the foundation of a new Government Liaison Committee.

The new Committee is designed to help all government agencies consult the Society and its members on all aspects of intelligent transport, provide government with unbiased and impartial advice on ITS, and provide solicited and unsolicited advice to government agencies on behalf of members.

The Government Liaison Committee will work with any public sector body which takes decision on ITS funding and policy.

“The new Committee will engage with representatives of government agencies on a regular basis to understand where ITS (UK) views and input would be useful,” explains ITS (UK) Secretary General Jennie Martin.  “It will act as the point of contact for government agencies to consult ITS (UK) and its Members on all aspects of ITS, respond to government requests for information and advice which require rapid responses, co-ordinate those responses and then report back to the ITS (UK) Council and its members.

“I see it as a win-win for our members and government agencies – our members reach the top levels of decision making, and those decision makers can get high-level information and feedback from across our industry.”

The Government Liaison Committee is being supported by ITS (UK) President Steve Norris, who will join its meetings.  The former Transport Minister said, “ITS (UK) has a unique relationship with the transportation innovators and operators who comprise its membership. The committee will be a really useful two-way channel between our Members and government and, of course, vice versa”.

The Government Liaison Committee will initially be chaired by ITS (UK)’s Technical Director Colin Wilson of IBI, who drew up its terms of reference, ahead of formal elections of committee posts in July. “We’re looking for non-government committee Members to be proactive in using their government contacts, and forging new ones, to improve links with ITS (UK)” explained Mr Wilson.  “I’d also like them to suggest topics which it would be timely for ITS (UK) to provide advice on to Government, and provide content for consultation responses and other documents such as briefing notes and white papers, when the topic is within their area of expertise”.

The new ITS (UK) Government Liaison Committee will meet both in person and virtually.  ITS (UK) in-person meetings are now offered simultaneously online.  This is to allow those unable to attend to still contribute, and to remove the default requirement for Members to have to travel to events.