Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she is taking steps to support local authorities in improving enforcement of licence conditions for street works.

The Department for Transport introduced a performance-based inspections regime in April 2023 to ensure utility companies were incentivised to produce reinstatements that are fit for purpose following works and comply with site safety requirements.  This change allows authorities to inspect utility companies with high rates of defects in their reinstatements and safety checks more often than those who comply with the statutory Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in Highways and the safety code of practice. Utility companies pay for each of these inspections. Highway authorities also have the power to direct utility companies to carry out remedial works at the utility company’s expense if they identify reinstatements that do not meet the standards in the code.

The previous Government consulted on raising the level of fixed penalty notices (FPNs) available for some street works offences including breaching permit conditions.  We will publish a response to that consultation in due course.