Recommendations & Conclusions
18 items
1
Conclusion
2nd Report - Managing the impact of str…
Accepted
Street works are essential for many of the services we rely upon, such as running water, energy and internet access, but they can cause widespread issues for road and pavement users alike. Street works can disrupt people’s journeys, including through congestion, delays and road closures which affect drivers, cyclists and …
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Street works are essential for many of the services we rely upon, such as running water, energy and internet access, but they can cause widespread issues for road and pavement users alike. Street works can disrupt people’s journeys, including through congestion, delays and road closures which affect drivers, cyclists and bus users. The patchy, uneven surfaces which can be left behind once works are complete, and barriers and signs left in place for excessive periods, can be problematic for road users and worsen accessibility on pavements. (Conclusion, Paragraph 21)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges issues with street works and states that provisions already exist to address them, including regulations for charges on prolonged occupation of the highway. It notes that charges will apply to weekends and bank holidays from December 2024, aiming to encourage best practice …
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Department for Transport
2
Conclusion
2nd Report - Managing the impact of str…
Deferred
Leaving equipment or signs in place that imply to the public that street works are still ongoing when they have finished should attract a full overrun charge. (Recommendation, Paragraph 22)
Government response AI summary
The government agrees in principle that road closure signage should indicate the exact location but expresses concerns about potential safety risks. It commits to taking the recommendation away for further consideration with safety experts to balance clarity and safety.
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Department for Transport
3
Conclusion
2nd Report - Managing the impact of str…
Accepted
All road closure signage should specify exactly where the road closure is. When immediate permits are issued, this should be done as soon as reasonably practicable. (Recommendation, Paragraph 23)
Government response AI summary
The government is undertaking an ongoing update to the Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice, collaborating with devolved governments and stakeholders. It is preparing to launch a consultation outlining specific changes to improve accessibility during street works, incorporating DPTAC advice, with …
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Department for Transport
4
Conclusion
2nd Report - Managing the impact of str…
Accepted
In our report about accessibility in transport, we asked for more transparency about the impact that the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) has on the Department’s decision-making. This is important for providing assurance that policy processes in respect of accessibility have been robust and meaningful. It was disappointing that …
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In our report about accessibility in transport, we asked for more transparency about the impact that the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) has on the Department’s decision-making. This is important for providing assurance that policy processes in respect of accessibility have been robust and meaningful. It was disappointing that the Minister and Deputy Director were unable to provide specific information about DPTAC’s feedback on the Safety Code of Practice for street works or how the draft had been changed in response to it. (Conclusion, Paragraph 27)
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Government response AI summary
The government details a performance-based inspection regime introduced in 2023 for utility companies, which links inspection rates to defect performance. It commits to evaluating the effectiveness of this regime next year and will work with the Scottish government to understand their extended guarantee period for …
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Department for Transport
5
Conclusion
2nd Report - Managing the impact of str…
Accepted
We ask the Department to set out specific changes that have been made to the new Safety Code of Practice to improve accessibility during street works and how advice from DPTAC has been incorporated. (Recommendation, Paragraph 28) 31 Managing the impact on roads and pavements
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We ask the Department to set out specific changes that have been made to the new Safety Code of Practice to improve accessibility during street works and how advice from DPTAC has been incorporated. (Recommendation, Paragraph 28) 31 Managing the impact on roads and pavements
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Government response AI summary
The government commits to engaging with HAUC to review the existing two-cycle inspection cap, to understand if changes are needed due to evolving operational challenges or new evidence. The aim is to ensure the regulatory framework supports timely and cost-effective repairs and improves reinstatement quality.
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Department for Transport
6
Conclusion
2nd Report - Managing the impact of str…
Acknowledged
It was disappointing to hear that, having said in 2019 that further investigation was needed into the financial impacts of increasing the guarantee period, the Department has not undertaken any further work on the issues. This is an inefficient use of a resource-intensive consultation process. (Conclusion, Paragraph 36)
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It was disappointing to hear that, having said in 2019 that further investigation was needed into the financial impacts of increasing the guarantee period, the Department has not undertaken any further work on the issues. This is an inefficient use of a resource-intensive consultation process. (Conclusion, Paragraph 36)
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Government response AI summary
The government outlines the current oversight and dispute resolution framework for street works in England and commits to engaging with HAUC (UK) to understand if existing processes for dispute resolution, performance monitoring, and legislative application could be enhanced. It also states it will continue to …
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Department for Transport
7
Conclusion
2nd Report - Managing the impact of str…
Accepted
Local authority budgets for road maintenance are stretched thin; they can ill afford the expense of making good reinstatements which are not up to scratch. We note the concern about increasing costs being reflected in utility bills, but there is a balance to be struck: good quality road and pavement …
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Local authority budgets for road maintenance are stretched thin; they can ill afford the expense of making good reinstatements which are not up to scratch. We note the concern about increasing costs being reflected in utility bills, but there is a balance to be struck: good quality road and pavement surfaces are also in consumers’ interests. A two-year guarantee for a publicly-maintained asset is inadequate, especially since reinstatements which meet the standards tend to last more than ten years. (Conclusion, Paragraph 37)
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Government response AI summary
The government highlights existing legal frameworks that allow permit scheme fee discounts to incentivise efficient street works and early completion. It commits to engaging with highway authorities to understand how these powers are being used, identify any implementation barriers, and determine if further guidance amendments …
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Department for Transport
8
Conclusion
2nd Report - Managing the impact of str…
Deferred
The current guarantee period of two or three years for reinstatements after works, the latter being for deep excavations, is too short given that reinstatements should last more than ten years if carried out correctly. The Department should increase the standard guarantee period for all excavations up to five years, …
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The current guarantee period of two or three years for reinstatements after works, the latter being for deep excavations, is too short given that reinstatements should last more than ten years if carried out correctly. The Department should increase the standard guarantee period for all excavations up to five years, as was considered in its 2019 consultation. Utility companies should also face fines for any secondary remedial work that is required to the road or pavement within five years, as a penalty for the unnecessary disruption caused. These policies combined would create a greater incentive for works to be completed by utility companies to the right standard and relieve some of the pressure on highway authorities, which in some cases have to repair poor reinstatements after just two years. (Recommendation, Paragraph 38)
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Government response AI summary
The government's response focused on monitoring the use of immediate permits and updating the Co-ordination Code of Practice for clarity, rather than addressing the recommended increase in guarantee periods for excavations or fines for remedial work.
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Department for Transport
9
Conclusion
2nd Report - Managing the impact of str…
Deferred
The process whereby authorities inspect reinstatements for defects after works are complete is not working as well as it should be, with weak incentives for utility companies to fix the defects promptly, or at all, once they have been found during an inspection. (Conclusion, Paragraph 44)
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The process whereby authorities inspect reinstatements for defects after works are complete is not working as well as it should be, with weak incentives for utility companies to fix the defects promptly, or at all, once they have been found during an inspection. (Conclusion, Paragraph 44)
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Government response AI summary
The government focused on the existing Street Manager platform's open data for street works and its use by third-party services, rather than addressing the problems with the inspection process for reinstatements or incentives for fixing defects.
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Department for Transport
10
Recommendation
2nd Report - Managing the impact of str…
Deferred
The Department should introduce timescales for companies to repair faulty reinstatements, with meaningfully increasing fines if they fail to do so on time. The fine should increase each time a deadline has not been met, and the company responsible should also pay the Department a sum equivalent to the cost …
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The Department should introduce timescales for companies to repair faulty reinstatements, with meaningfully increasing fines if they fail to do so on time. The fine should increase each time a deadline has not been met, and the company responsible should also pay the Department a sum equivalent to the cost of compliance after the first exceeded deadline. The two-cycle inspection cap should also be lifted so that there is no limit on the number of inspections which can be carried out. This would provide an ongoing financial incentive for a defective reinstatement to be fixed by the 32 company which created the issue, instead of expecting authorities to repair it themselves and charge the costs back to the company, which would end up nullifying the guarantee period. (Recommendation, Paragraph 45)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the need for review regarding faulty reinstatements and commits to engaging with HAUC to understand if their position on the two-cycle inspection cap has changed or if new evidence warrants revisiting it, rather than directly committing to introduce timescales, increasing fines, or …
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Department for Transport
11
Conclusion
2nd Report - Managing the impact of str…
Deferred
The current dispute resolution process does not seem to be working well. Disagreements relating to the interpretation of street works legislation can end up as legal disputes which are resource intensive for authorities and utility companies alike. (Conclusion, Paragraph 53)
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The current dispute resolution process does not seem to be working well. Disagreements relating to the interpretation of street works legislation can end up as legal disputes which are resource intensive for authorities and utility companies alike. (Conclusion, Paragraph 53)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledged issues with coordinating street works for new housing developments and committed to exploring options with MHCLG to encourage early sharing of utility connection plans, but did not address the recommendation about improving the dispute resolution process for interpreting street works legislation.
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Department for Transport
12
Conclusion
2nd Report - Managing the impact of str…
Deferred
The Department for Transport should consider setting up a Street Works Commissioner in England to help ensure the consistent application and interpretation of legislation, provide an option for independent dispute resolution and monitor performance across the sector. This would provide clarity for the street works industry and help promote good …
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The Department for Transport should consider setting up a Street Works Commissioner in England to help ensure the consistent application and interpretation of legislation, provide an option for independent dispute resolution and monitor performance across the sector. This would provide clarity for the street works industry and help promote good practice. If the Department considers this approach too costly, it must identify and put in place an alternative approach to ensure that common areas of dispute can be resolved efficiently by an independent, central function whose decisions can be communicated and applied across the sector. (Recommendation, Paragraph 54) Managing disruption
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Government response AI summary
The government's response focused on lane rental schemes as a tool to reduce disruption from street works and mentioned publishing results of a consultation on devolving approval powers for these schemes, completely avoiding the recommendation for a Street Works Commissioner or alternative dispute resolution body.
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Department for Transport
13
Recommendation
2nd Report - Managing the impact of str…
Deferred
The Department for Transport should consult on amending guidance for permit schemes so that fees incentivise completion of works earlier than the period allowed for by a permit. (Recommendation, Paragraph 57)
Government response AI summary
The government states that the current legal framework already permits authorities to offer fee discounts for early completion of works and incentivise efficient practices. It commits to engaging with highway authorities to understand how these existing powers are being used and to identify if further …
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Department for Transport
14
Recommendation
2nd Report - Managing the impact of str…
Rejected
Immediate urgent and immediate emergency permits are an essential tool, but they should be used in situations when there is a genuine need or plan to urgently fix a problem. The Department for Transport should consult on how the use and definition of urgent works could be amended to prevent …
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Immediate urgent and immediate emergency permits are an essential tool, but they should be used in situations when there is a genuine need or plan to urgently fix a problem. The Department for Transport should consult on how the use and definition of urgent works could be amended to prevent the use of these permits for works which are known about by utility companies well in advance or do not require instant attention, such as a low level waterpipe leak. Options could include introducing a new category of immediate permit which accommodates work to maintain the supply of a service but is not going to be fixed immediately, or reforming immediate permits so that the level of advance warning required is linked to the severity of disruption. The Department should consider whether fines could also be used against companies which are found to have misused immediate permits. (Recommendation, Paragraph 64)
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Government response AI summary
The government recognises the importance of appropriate permit use but states its review of data found no evidence of widespread misuse of immediate permits. It will not consult on amending the definition or introduce fines as recommended, but will work with HAUC to update the …
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Department for Transport
15
Recommendation
2nd Report - Managing the impact of str…
Rejected
Collaboration and coordination of works between utility companies and local authorities relies on sharing information on upcoming works well in advance. There are currently no requirements on utility companies to share plans for their upcoming work with local authorities. The Department should introduce requirements for utility companies to share their …
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Collaboration and coordination of works between utility companies and local authorities relies on sharing information on upcoming works well in advance. There are currently no requirements on utility companies to share plans for their upcoming work with local authorities. The Department should introduce requirements for utility companies to share their plans 33 for upcoming work at the earliest opportunity, such as by making forward planning notices mandatory. The Department should keep under review how effectively this increases collaboration in practice. If it does not, the Department should develop options for tools to mandate collaboration when necessary, such as giving local authorities ability through permit conditions to enforce site-sharing. (Recommendation, Paragraph 69)
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees that early information sharing is essential but does not accept the recommendation to introduce mandatory requirements for utility companies to share long-term plans, citing existing tools and commercial sensitivity concerns. It will, however, work with the sector to explore wider adoption of …
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Department for Transport
16
Recommendation
2nd Report - Managing the impact of str…
Accepted
Up-to-date information on local street works is essential for the public, whether residents or road users. The Department should support the development and promotion of apps which make use of open source data, and ensure that the data is accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date. (Recommendation, Paragraph 70)
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Up-to-date information on local street works is essential for the public, whether residents or road users. The Department should support the development and promotion of apps which make use of open source data, and ensure that the data is accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date. (Recommendation, Paragraph 70)
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees that up-to-date information is essential and states it already provides open data from the Street Manager platform for use by third-party developers, with over 170 organisations actively using it. It will continue to engage with the tech sector and focus on ensuring …
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Department for Transport
17
Recommendation
2nd Report - Managing the impact of str…
Accepted
Coordination of street works for new housing developments is not happening as often as it should. The Department for Transport should work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on how best to ensure that authorities are notified at an early stage of, and have an opportunity to …
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Coordination of street works for new housing developments is not happening as often as it should. The Department for Transport should work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on how best to ensure that authorities are notified at an early stage of, and have an opportunity to coordinate, the plans for utility connections to new housing developments. This should include requirements for housing developers and utility companies to share plans and timelines for installation of utility infrastructure to new housing developments, and setting out guidance to minimise transport disruption from such works. (Recommendation, Paragraph 74)
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Government response AI summary
The government agrees there is scope to improve coordination for new housing developments and commits to working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to explore options for encouraging early sharing of utility connection plans by developers and utility companies.
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Department for Transport
18
Recommendation
2nd Report - Managing the impact of str…
Rejected
Lane rental schemes have worked well and can be a useful tool for authorities to manage disruption on their busiest stretches of roads. The Department for Transport should go further to encourage and support more local authorities to set up lane rental schemes by allowing all relevant authorities to do …
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Lane rental schemes have worked well and can be a useful tool for authorities to manage disruption on their busiest stretches of roads. The Department for Transport should go further to encourage and support more local authorities to set up lane rental schemes by allowing all relevant authorities to do so without the need for approval from the Secretary of State. Lane rental guidance from the Department should also encourage schemes that are set up in such a way as to incentivise the speedy completion of works, rather than imposing charges straight away. (Recommendation, Paragraph 81) 34
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Government response AI summary
The government rejects allowing all local authorities to set up lane rental schemes without Secretary of State approval, citing risks of inconsistency, fragmentation, and potential cost increases for consumers. However, it notes it has consulted on devolving approval powers specifically to Mayoral Combined Authorities and …
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Department for Transport