Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Highway Management

Forward Plan Ref: 2023/048

Contact: Keith Stenning, Head of Network Management, keith.stenning@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CA12).

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

a)    approve the submission of an application to the Department of Transport for Lane Rental in Oxfordshire.

b)    delegate decision making on the timing and specific content of the Scheme and application to the Corporate Director of Environment and Place in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highway Management.

Recommendations approved.

Cabinet had before it a report giving proposals for a lane rental scheme in Oxfordshire.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Highway Management, introduced the report.

The Council, as the Traffic Authority, had been running a successful Permit Scheme for road and street works since 2020. As a result, a further opportunity was now available to apply to the Department for Transport (DfT) for an Order to allow for the introduction of Lane Rental in Oxfordshire.

The Lane Rental Scheme (LRS) allowed for additional charges to apply to works on our busiest roads at the busiest times. This encouraged those working on the highway to avoid peak times (to avoid the charges) or pay the charges (completing the works in shortest possible timeframe), the maximum for which is £2,500 a day.

Fees arising from Lane Rental must be invested in works operations to reduce impacts, improving the highway network, and compensating society for disruptive works. In accordance with the Department for Transport guidance, it was proposed to set up joint working arrangements between the highway authority and works promotors to manage the allocation of funding arising from Lane Rental.

The introduction of Lane Rental was identified as a key ambition of the Network Management Plan 2023-2028, adopted by Cabinet in February 2023.

During discussion, members welcomed the introduction of the scheme which would help to enforce the timeliness of work by contractors.

Councillor Gant moved and Councillor Bearder seconded the recommendations and they were approved.

RESOLVED to:-

a)    approve the submission of an application to the Department of Transport for Lane Rental in Oxfordshire.

b)    delegate decision making on the timing and specific content of the Scheme and application to the Corporate Director of Environment and Place in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highway Management.