Agenda item

(a)  That the Transport Team submit the Permit Scheme application to the Department for Transport (DfT) for assessment and ratification, and

(b)  Once approved, that the Council implement the Permit Scheme before the start of the 2015/16 financial year.

(c)  That the Council implement the schedule of charges for the scheme as shown in appendix B to the report, and review the schedule on a regular basis in line with DfT guidelines.

The Acting Head of Transport and Network Management Engineer introduced a report proposing that the Council join the South East Permit Scheme (SEPS) for management of the highway network.

Permit schemes were introduced by the Department for Transport (DfT) in the Traffic Management Act 2004 and aimed to provide greater control of all works and activities on the road network to minimise disruption and reduce congestion.  The proposed SEPS scheme was a common scheme adopted by a number of neighbouring authorities and was fully compliant with the legislative requirements.  Work promoters, for example a utility company or an internal Council department, would need to obtain a permit prior to any work commencing rather than simply providing notification as was the case at present.  The permit scheme would also allow the Council to recover reasonable costs and the proposed Permit Fees were set out in Appendix B to the report.  The Cabinet emphasised the importance of ensuring that the fees set fully recovered eligible costs and the Officers responded that detailed consultation and financial modelling had been carried out under the maximum fees structure set down by the DfT.

Commissioners welcomed the scheme in principle and recognised the benefits arising from the ability to better manage road works in the Borough.  It was noted that action to tackle poor works by private utilities which eroded pavement quality had been a 2014 manifesto commitment of the ruling group and adoption of SEPS would be a step forward in this respect.  A number of issues were discussed including the tools available under the SEPS to ensure the repairs to the highways were satisfactorily completed after the works and the liason with neighbouring highways authorities to try to co-ordinate cross-border activity.  The Cabinet agreed the proposal to apply to join the Permit Scheme with a view to implementing the scheme from April 2015.

Resolved –

(a)  That the Transport Team submit the Permit Scheme application to the Department for Transport (DfT) for assessment and ratification;

(b)  Once approved, that the Council implement the Permit Scheme before the start of the 2015/16 financial year; and

(c)  That the Council implement the schedule of charges for the scheme as shown in appendix B to the report, and review the schedule on a regular basis in line with DfT guidelines.