The Transport Secretary has today (21 August 2018) announced the appointment of Declan Collier as his preferred candidate for the role of Chair of the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) following an open competition. The former airport chief executive demonstrated an outstanding range of skills and a distinguished record in delivering for transport users following a high-flying career in aviation.

Following standard parliamentary procedures for a public appointment, the Transport Select Committee will hold a public scrutiny hearing with Mr Collier later this year. The final decision on the appointment will be subject to the outcome of that hearing and he is expected to start work as Chair on 1 January 2019.

Mr Collier will succeed the current chair Professor Stephen Glaister who steps down at the end of 2018 after 3 years, and will return being a non-executive director on ORR’s board.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said:

The ORR performs an important role as the rail regulator and roads monitor for England and I look forward to Declan Collier taking up this position.

Declan brings a wealth of transport sector knowledge, and I am confident he will be able tackle the diverse range of issues that the regulator covers.

I would like to thank Stephen Glaister for his work, he has played a distinguished role as Chair, bringing important leadership during the 2018 periodic review process, which will set the regulatory framework and funding for Network Rail for the next 5 year control period”.

Declan Collier has recently stepped down as CEO of London City Airport, a role which he held since 2012, and prior to that he was CEO of Dublin Airports Authority for 7 years. He is currently a non-executive board member of The Royal Schiphol Group and TCR International NV. He has broad experience in transport and business and has served as President of the World Association of Airports, Airports Council International (ACI); Deputy Chair of the Airport Operators Association (UK); and as Director of London First; Allied Irish Banks Ltd, and The Dublin Theatre Festival. Mr Collier has declared that he has undertaken no political activity in the last 5 years.

ORR Chair Stephen Glaister said:

It has been a pleasure and privilege to steer ORR as Chair over the last 3 years. In that time we have seen many changes and challenges in the rail industry: a period in which ORR has played its full part. This continues with the 2018 Periodic Review, which will set Network Rail’s price control from 2019. We have also matured our monitoring of Highways England as the company has progressed from its new beginnings.

I am pleased to welcome Declan at this important time for both rail and road. His background will bring significant experience to the organisation and ensure we remain a strong, independent economic and safety regulator that protects the interests of passengers, freight customers, road users and taxpayers.

ORR is the UK’s independent rail regulator and strategic roads monitor for England. Accountable to Parliament, it protects the interests of rail and road customers through its regulation of railway safety, and the performance and value for money of the rail and road networks, where government remains committed to major investment to improve outcomes for users.

To assist with his induction into the role, the Transport Secretary expects to appoint Declan Collier as a non-executive member of the board for a brief period before he takes up the role of Chair.

The upload of new contracts for organisations delivering civil legal aid work began on 17 August 2018. Contracts will continue to be uploaded in batches over the course of this week.

Contracts will only be uploaded if organisations have already received confirmation that they have completed verification.

If you have not completed verification but have submitted information, we are continuing to assess this and will contact you through the eTendering message board.

Organisations will be unable to start work until they have accepted the contract.

What happens next?

1. Designated signatories will receive an e-mail advising that contract documents are ready for review and acceptance.

2. Contracts should be immediately reviewed and accepted or rejected if the organisation no longer wishes to proceed. Any issues with the documentation should be raised through the ‘Reject or Query’ option on the contract acceptance screen.

What if I do not receive a notification?

Because we are uploading in batches not every organisation will receive their contract at the same time. You will receive notification when your contract is ready to accept. If by Friday 24 August you have not received notification please contact us through the eTendering message board.

If you have not already completed verification

Organisations that have bid in the further tender will not have contracts uploaded for 1 September 2018 unless they have provided the necessary verification information. This needs to have been done by the tender deadline.

If verification information was not submitted by the tender deadline the contract will be uploaded on completion of verification for 1 October 2018.

These documents are available on GOV.UK under CWA detailed user guides

Allocate designated signatories – guidance on how to allocate designated signatories

Accept the contract – guidance on how to accept the contract online

eTendering message board – log in to bravo to contact the Central Commissioning team

0300 200 2020 – for assistance with setting up a designated signatory and accepting a contract online