Issue - meetings

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which provided an update on the performance of the Permit Scheme which was in its third year of operation. The aim of the Scheme was to allow the Council, as a local highway authority, to coordinate both utility and local authority highways works on local roads. The purpose was to reduce the duration of these works on the local highway network to ensure the free flow of traffic and minimise disruption. Equally it was important to recognise the fundamental necessity of maintaining roads and utility infrastructure (sewers, water supply, drainage, communications, gas and electricity supply) to homes and businesses.

            The Board was advised that a third year audit of the Permit Scheme had been undertaken independently to review the operation of the scheme and to determine whether benefits achieved in previous years had been maintained. The findings of the audit were outlined in the report and highlighted that:

·         From the previous year there had been very little change in the number of permits and highway works had slightly increased. Whilst utility works had been more consistent over the 3 year period to date;

·         The duration of the permitted street work in number of days worked had reduced steadily year on year with a 28% reduction since the schemed was implemented;

·         The permit scheme had reduced the number of days worked on Halton’s street network by 4,663 days in the 3 year period;

·         The financial benefit to the road user in year 3 was:

              i.        Average monetary cost of works per day £192.00

            ii.        Number of days saved under permit scheme 1,765

           iii.        Monetary benefit to road users: £0.34m per annum; and

·         Over a three year period the saving to the road user as a result of the permit scheme was just under £1m

            RESOLVED: That the third year performance for the Permit Scheme be noted.