Permit scheme for road works and street works

The Permit Authority must demonstrate parity of treatment for all Activity Promoters, particularly statutory undertakers and the Highway Authority’s own promoters.

Equality will be measured through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

The following KPIs will be used to measure parity, KPI1 and KPI2 are mandatory and KPI3 and KPI7 are the additional ones that will be measured.

• KPI 1: The number of permits and permit variation applications received, the number granted and the number refused
• KPI 2: The number of conditions applied by condition type
• KPI 3: The number of approved permit variations (extensions)
• KPI 7: The number of inspections carried out to monitor conditions

Further KPIs may be introduced depending upon national guidance.

KPI 1: The number of permit and permit variation applications received, the number granted and the number refused.

This will be measured by promoter and shown as:

• the total number of permit and permit variation applications received, excluding any applications that are subsequently withdrawn
• the number granted as a percentage of the total applications made
• the number refused as a percentage of the total applications made
• this will be a core indicator of the operation of the permit system

KPI 2: The number of conditions applied by condition type, this will be measured by promoter and shown as:

• the number of permits granted
• the number of conditions applied, broken down into condition types. The number of each type being shown as a percentage of the total permits granted.

This KPI is dependent upon the use of standard conditions. Local or specific conditions should be grouped into a single category that may be analysed more fully if required.

The number and types of condition applied are likely to be determined by the specific location, scale and category of the activities.

There will be a need to separate the data to get down to reasonably equivalent situations. For example, if for minor activities on category 2 streets, one promoter had an average of four conditions and another had an average of seven conditions, then that would suggest an imbalance.

Similarly, if one promoter had conditions for restricted hours of working on traffic sensitive streets in 90% of cases and another had such conditions in only 60% of cases, then that would raise a question.

The KPIs will be discussed at the quarterly Local and County HAUC coordination meetings as appropriate and will be made available to any other person on request, or the authority may wish to publish them on their website.

The Permit Authority shall evaluate the scheme following the first, second and third anniversary respectively of the date it came into effect and every third year thereafter.

The evaluation shall include consideration of:

• whether the fees structure needs to be changes in light of any surplus or deficit
• the cost and benefit (whether or not financial) of operating a permit scheme
• whether the permit scheme is meeting its key performance indicators where these are set out in the Guidance
• the outcome of each evaluation shall be made available to persons referred to in regulation 3 (1) within three months of the relevant anniversary