Permit scheme annual report

Staffordshire County Council, in August 2019, received cabinet approval, in exercise of its powers conferred by section 33A (2) of the Traffic Management Act 2004 and all other enabling powers to commence operating a permit scheme on all publicly maintained roads within its authority boundary, as set out in the Schedule to the Order in terms commonly known as the “West and Shires Permit Scheme”. The objectives set out were:

1. to increase the efficient running of the highway network by minimising the disruption and inconvenience caused by road works and other highway events and activities through proactive management of activities on the highway
2. to improve the quality and timeliness of information received from all activity promoters to increase and improve the publicly available data for integration into the council-wide travel information
3. to encourage a proactive approach to planning and undertaking of works on the highway from promoters and thus lessen the impact of activities on road users
4. to protect the structure of the street and the integrity of the apparatus in it
5. to ensure safety of those using the street and those working on activities that fall under the scheme, with particular emphasis on people with disabilities
6. to ensure parity of treatment for all activity promoters particularly between statutory undertakers and highway authority works and activities

The county council elected to join the already established “West and Shires Permit Scheme” which our neighbouring highway authorities were already part of including Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, Cheshire East, Warwickshire, Coventry and Worcestershire. The benefits to this were to join an already established scheme and gain access to the expertise and knowledge of the highway authorities operating under this framework.

The permit scheme went live on the 1st April 2020, just over a week after the first national lockdown during the covid pandemic.  Therefore the first two years of data in the reports were taken with caution as the highway network was operating differently during the pandemic and works, such as major renewal schemes were brought forward on major routes whilst disruption to the public would be at a minimum, compared with typical years. Prior to April 2020, the authority was notified of proposed works in the highway via Street Works notices. 

The consultation on the introduction of the West and Shires Permit Scheme by Staffordshire County Council ran for a period of 12 weeks commencing on Wednesday 27 November 2019 with a deadline for receipt of responses no later than Friday 14 February 2020. An online survey completed the consultation process, open to those affected by the introduction of the scheme, as well as interested stakeholders and members of the public. At the foot of this page is a report which provides a summary of the responses received during the consultation on the implementation of the West and Shires Permit Scheme (WaSP) and other relevant documentation required for the authority to become a Permit Scheme Authority.

The third year of operation of the scheme has highlighted some significant positive outcomes that represent real benefits to the people and businesses of Staffordshire alike, for example:

• Better control, planning and coordination of works
• Increased ability to challenge and check on activities on the highway
• Introduction of permit conditions to promote safety and reduce disruption.
• Building up a better picture of the true circumstances on a site and how these may affect the general public including pedestrians
• Demonstrated increase in collaborative working and being able to accurately record this and offer incentives via 50% reduced permit fee applications to promoter

Whilst the management of road and street works and other highways activities has continued to improve in terms of the overall objectives in year three of the operation of the WaSP scheme, it is recognised that there are improvements still to be made, such as:

• Continuing to utilise permit conditions to minimise the impact of work and congestion in critical locations
• Continue to encourage collaborative working to minimise the amount of time the highway network is subject to disruption
• Improve recording of permit refusal reasons to allow for better analysis and engagement with the affected promoters to reduce the instances of this
• Work with promoters to improve timeliness & quality of data being provided and ensure what is being promoted on the permit is reflected on site
• Improved identification & reporting of on-site condition breaches, so this data can be further analysed and any concerns addressed with the relevant promoters
• Reduce disruption by monitoring the duration information being presented by works promoters and reducing these where possible
• Continue to monitor cancellation volumes with the relevant promoters to achieve a reduction in wasted network space/time
• Monitor and challenge the use of immediate (reactive) permits

Consultation report

The consultation on the introduction of the West and Shires Permit Scheme by Staffordshire County Council ran for a period of 12 weeks commencing on Wednesday 27 November 2019 with a deadline for receipt of responses no later than Friday 14 February 2020. An online survey completed the consultation process, open to those affected by the introduction of the scheme, as well as interested stakeholders and members of the public. The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of the responses received during the consultation on the implementation of the West and Shires Permit Scheme (WaSPS).

Supporting documents