Two of London’s most senior transport bosses have asked to forgo a bonus this year in light of November’s tram derailment near Sandilands which cost the lives off seven passengers and left 51 others injured.
Mike Brown, commissioner for transport, and surface transport managing director Leon Daniels have informed the Transport for London remuneration committee it would inappropriate to be considered for any performance-related pay this year.
News of the pair’s decision emerged alongside publication of the draft TfL annual report which shows the agency is making good progress on cutting the number of high earners on its payroll.
Mayor Sadiq Khan has made thinning the ranks of managers and other big earners a key priority as he works to slash the agency’s running costs both to deliver value for taxpayers and help fund his four years fares freeze.
According to the report, the number of staff earning a base salary of more than £100,000pa fell by 35 to 153 as of 31 March 2017. In addition, the agency has reduced the number of contractors earning in excess of £100,000 by 48 per cent since June 2016.
The number of staff who received total remuneration of £100,000 or more during the year grew to 515 compared with 402 in 2015/16.
However TfL stresses this number includes staff working overtime on projects such as the Metropolitan, Hammersmith and City, District and Circle lines signalling upgrades and 122 former employees who received a one-off Voluntary Severance payment.
Commissioner Mike Brown said: “We are undertaking the largest ever overhaul of our operations since TfL’s creation in 2000.
“The day-to-day operating costs of running London’s transport have decreased by £153m, the first such reduction in our history.
“This has been achieved by reducing management layers and reliance on agency staff and eliminating duplication by bringing functions together to make transport safer, more reliable and more efficient.
“This sharp focus on safety, reliability and our finances will continue as we work to keep London moving, working and growing.”
The draft annual report has been published for public scrutiny and will be considered by the TfL Board on September 19th.