Section 12: Co-operation
34.This section allows the ODA to co-ordinate the delivery of the transport needs of the Games. It imposes an obligation on various authorities and bodies, all of whom will have been consulted in the preparation of the OTP, to co-operate with the ODA for the purpose of implementing the OTP and in particular providing or facilitating transport services in connection with the London Olympics; this would include reaction to situations and circumstances arising during the Games. The Mayor of London is also obliged to have regard to the OTP and to consult the ODA in updating his transport strategy (subsection (7)).
35.If a traffic, highway or street authority (other than the Secretary of State) fails to co-operate with the ODA as required under subsection (1), then the Secretary of State may direct the body to exercise its functions in a particular manner for the purposes of implementing the Olympic Transport Plan or co-operating with the ODA in order to meet the transport needs of the Games. The power of direction may not be exercised over Transport for London unless the Mayor has been notified (Subsection (4)).
36.In practice, it would be the ODA who would request the exercise of this power of direction, and an example of such a request might be to make a relevant traffic regulation order. If the authority still fails to comply, then the Secretary of State may exercise the function himself or make arrangements to have the function exercised by the ODA or any other person, and the authority in question may be required to reimburse the costs incurred in the exercise of the relevant function.
