Decision details

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Built Environment which provided details of proposals for the Council to become a Permit Authority and operate a Permit Scheme for the purpose of co-ordinating works in streets by all works promoters.

Decision Made:

That:

(1)       approval be given to the formalisation of the legal agreement with the Secretary of State for Transport to enable the Council to become a permit authority and operate a permit scheme.

(2)       the Director of Built Environment be authorised to agree the final permit scheme with the Department for Transport;

(3)       the Head of Corporate Legal Services be authorised to enter into the necessary legal agreement with the Department for Transport; and

(4)       it be noted that the proposal was a Key Decision but had not been included in the Council's Forward Plan of Key Decisions. Consequently, the Leader of the Council and the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Environmental Services) had been consulted under Rule 27 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules of the Constitution, to the decision being made by the Cabinet as a matter of urgency on the basis that it was impracticable to defer the decision until the commencement of the next Forward Plan because this report was originally included in the Forward Plan for Cabinet on 19June 2014, however that meeting was subsequently cancelled. The Department for Transport had now indicated a timescale for approvals which would be achievable in an effective manner should Cabinet approve the report recommendations at its meeting on 11 September 2014.

Reason for Decision:

The introduction of a Permit Scheme, to replace the existing Noticing Scheme, would give the Council greater powers to influence how and when works are undertaken by works promoters on the highway network, thus seeking to further minimise disruption.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

The Council to remain as a noticing authority.