Issue - meetings

For the Select Committee to pre-scrutinise a report regarding a proposed permit scheme for works on the Highway. The report is due to be considered by the Executive Member for Environment & Transport at his Decision Day at 2:00pm on 5 June 2018.

The Select Committee received a report and supporting presentation on behalf of the Director of Economy Transport & Environment, regarding proposals to develop a Highways Permit Scheme for managing street works in Hampshire (see Item 7 in the Minute Book). The report was due to be considered by the Executive Member for Environment and Transport at his decision day later that day.

Members heard that the County Council has a duty to co-ordinate works on the highway, and those undertaking the works have a duty to work with the County Council. Central Government was encouraging Councils to move to Permit schemes for managing works rather than noticing schemes. Hampshire County Council currently operated a noticing scheme but was proposing to develop a permit scheme. This would enable the County Council to charge a fee for permits for working on the highway, to cover the additional costs incurred in co-ordinating the works. It was also possible to impose fines if companies fail to comply with the conditions of their permit, whereas if companies don’t comply with notices the Council usually have to take them to court for the original offence.

The evidence from other authorities that had moved to permit schemes indicated that it could also result in around a 5% reduction in the overall number of works. The proposed Hampshire scheme would apply to all works, including the County Councils works, but permit charges would be minimal to zero for works that would have little impact on traffic. The intention behind the permit scheme is to manage congestion impacts and minimise traffic disruption. There would also be a discount offered if companies voluntarily offer innovative ways of working to reduce congestion impact.

Members asked questions for clarification and discussed the proposals. It was noted that co-ordinating works of developers could be challenging, as the legislation strictly didn’t cover them. It was noted that if approved, it would be planned to roll out the permit scheme in April 2019.

RECOMMENDED:

That the Economy, Transport and Environment Select Committee support the recommendations being proposed to the Executive Member for Environment

and Transport in section 1 (page 1) of the report.