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Senior Traffic Commissioner Philip Brown wants the industry's views on the TCs' strategy for 2009 and beyond.

Published last week, Driving Forward a Modernised Licensing System sets out Brown's desire to:

• Replace all existing practice directions with statutory practice directions and guidance.
• Introduce a communications strategy.
• Measure the performance of TCs.

"We believe that we can deliver a common competence framework and a training and development  strategy for all TCs," Brown says in the report. "We will also commit to developing a standard induction programme."

He adds: "We will also seek a public commitment that recognises that in order for part-time post-holders [TCs] to properly fulfil their duties and not risk them becoming deskilled, they must complete a minimum number of sittings as part of a system of continuous professional development."

Brown also wants support from the Department for Transport to allow TCs to "commission the collection and analysis of data to track improvements and help target TC interventions".

The deadline for comments is 6 March; they should be sent to Linda Featherstone.