Introduction and stakeholders
The Lincolnshire Permit Scheme (LiPS) was introduced in 2016 to better manage and co-ordinate works on the highway within Lincolnshire. Permit schemes are now a Department for Transport statutory requirement nationally. The scheme requires works promoters planning to carry out work affecting the highway, such as a utility company or the Council’s own contractors to seek permission prior to starting work.
Permit fees associated with the LiPS scheme were established to cover the cost of the operating the service with the intension that the service remains cost neutral (with respect to utility works). Since 2016, the total fee income for utility works has closely met the cost to deliver the service with modest variances placed within a ringfenced reserve. Whilst this has worked well for a number of years, the cost to administer the scheme has started to outweigh the income received and the LiPS scheme is forecast to remain operating in a deficit unless permit fees are increased.
Stakeholders
As per Regulation 3(1), the consultation included:
- every person who carries out works in the proposed specified area from time to time, to the extent the Permit Authority is aware of them doing so;
- every local authority other than the Permit Authority in whose area is situated any street to which the proposed permit scheme relates;
- where any street to which the proposed permit scheme relates is in Greater London, Transport for London (not applicable);
- where any street to which the proposed permit scheme relates is in the passenger transport area of a Passenger Transport Executive, the relevant Passenger Transport Executive;
- the emergency services which operate in the proposed specified area;
- the Secretary of State; and such other persons as the Permit Authority considers appropriate - the council deemed it appropriate to consult with all our council elected members and members of the public via Let’s Talk Lincolnshire
There were 88 responses to the survey, 71 from Lincolnshire residents, 11 were from councillors, 4 were from undertakers of works or promoters and 2 were from representatives of organisations.