2021

RH0409 – s177 Licences & Fees (Buildings/overhangs/canopies) – 101221

A member authority is reviewing their internal s177 licence process and are interested to know what other Local Authorities do in this area of legislation.

• Does your Authority issue licences under s177 Highways Act 1980 (buildings/overhangs/canopies over the highway)?
  • If yes, what is your charging model?
  • Do you distinguish between the licence fee, annual inspection fees, legal fees and general administration fees?
  • What are your fees?
• Have you ever dealt with historic/ retrospective licences? And if so, how do you approach this (process & fees)?
• How do you manage future licences (e.g. new developments/schemes)?

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RH0408 – Gritter Standby Pay Rates – 101221

Further to the APSE Winter Resilience Forum, I’m updating the APSE data on pay rates for standby payment for gritter drivers

It is my intention to share this data with all those who respond

• Do you have a specific pay scheme for gritter drivers on standby ?
• What are you pay rates for standby?
• Do you pay a premium at weekends?

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RH0407 – Street Lighting repairs at height – 081221

A member authority is reviewing its street lighting operations. Please can you supply data on the following:

1. How does your Council Carry Out Street Lighting Repairs at height / Installs of Lanterns ?
2. Do you use single operative towers or 2 operative towers?
   1. If you use single operative towers for working at height do you have a rescue plan for if an operative becomes stuck or unconscious?
   2. Has your rescue plan been tested and what is the average time from initial call to actually having the rescue started?
   3. What equipment do you have installed to your tower bucket to monitor single man working?

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RH0406 – Suggested Salting Matrix adoption – 061221

This local authority would like to know if your local authority has adopted the suggested salting matrix within Section 8 Spread Rates for Precautionary Salting. If you are using the recommended spread rates within the National Winter Service Research Group Guidance could you confirm if you would be willing to share your outcomes/performance and any challenges you have encountered with the inquiring authority? If so, please provide the appropriate contact details.

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RH0405 – Road Construct Consent charges

A member authority is interested to hear whether other local authorities charge developers in regards to Road Construction Consent. Although the legislation differs they would be grateful to receive responses from across the UK, in particular:-

1. Do you currently charge developers for assessing and issuing/granting a formal “Construction Consent” for a new road – under section 21 of the Roads Scotland Act 1984 or equivalent in other parts of the UK?
2. If so how much do you charge?
3. If not would you like to?
4. Do you require developers to provide Quality Audits and Street Engineering Reviews, and if so when/how are these submitted (to include independent Road Safety Audit RSA’s)?

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RH0404 – Recovery of 3rd Party Claims following a road traffic collision – 251121

A Member Authority is seeking information regarding the recovery of third party claims.  Specifically, the Member Authority would like to know the following:-

1. What mechanisms/procedures do you have for recovery of 3rd party damage to highway assets.
   • For example – Safety barrier gets damaged, out of hours/standby team attend to make safe then it is followed up with proper permanent repairs a week or so later…
2. Is there a flat rate for the highways teams to attend to make safe or do you charge cost+
3. Are all the costs associated recovered ie Initial make safe to permanent repairs to staff time involved?

In addition, would you be willing to share any out of hours/standby policies/procedures for Highways and Street Lighting works?

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RH0403 – Hand Arm Vibration Monitoring - (HAV) – 161121

A member authority is reviewing their existing system of recording and monitoring Hand Arm Vibration for front line staff in Environment and Highways services.

Please could you answer the following questions:

• Do you have in place a method of monitoring & recording Hand Arm Vibration?
  • If yes, what system of HAV monitoring do you currently use?
  • Is the system effective?
  • Does it provide reliable and accurate data?
• Did you or do you undertake health screening to ascertain a level of baseline data?
• In the event of a daily exposure limit being met, how do you deploy staff thereafter?
• What is the general consensus from operational staff on using HAV monitoring equipment?
• Is captured data shared or reported to HR?

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RH0402 – Asset Management Systems – 271021

A member authority is reviewing its current asset management system and is keen to find out which asset management system other local authorities are using? In particular:-

1. Which asset management system do you currently use?
2. Can you please provide information on the strengths as well as any limitations with regards to this system?
3. Do you use any mobile systems?

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RH0401 – Coal tar in highways trenches – 271021

A member authority has an issue with Coal Tar

They are requesting suggestions on the following scenario:

As part of a proposed scheme, coal tar has been identified at around 150mm deep. As the resurfacing depth is only 100mm our intention is to leave the coal tar in situ, however, we will be trenching within the carriageway for duct crossings at a rough depth of 600mm.

• How do you currently address or what do you recommend when dealing with the excavated material from the trenching works?

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RH0400 – The use of pre-wetted salt or salt additives – 211021

A member authority is reviewing their winter policies and currently uses dry salt. They would like to hear the experience of others in relation to using pre-wetted salt or salt additives, in particular:-

1. Can you advise of any cost saving that have been identified through the use of either pre-wetted salt or a salt additive?
2. Can you advise of any advantages or disadvantages of using either pre-wetted salt or a salt additive?

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RH0399 – The use of permeable asphalt on a cycle lane or a similar

A member authority is looking to use permeable asphalt on a cycle lane in a narrow street that is too narrow for linear suds features, there are no overhanging trees at this location. The authority have had mixed reviews about the maintenance burden and would therefore be grateful to hear from other local authorities particularly:-

1. Do you have any experience of using permeable asphalt on a cycle lane or a similar environment?
2. What, if any, maintenance issues have been experienced using permeable asphalt?"

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RH0398 – Street Lighting: Electrical design software – 071021

A member authority is considering Electrical design software to assist with compliance with BS7671 as part of the Street Lighting design process.

• What software or solutions do members use for electrical Street Lighting design?
  • Please comment on the selection process undertaken, suitability, ease of use and costs. 
• Do you have an in house solution?

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RH0397 – Highway Design Staff Pay – 210921

A member authority are experiencing recruitment and retention issues with their Highways Design staff and are interested in exploring if other member Authorities have similar experiences and what benefits they offer staff to improve the overall package.

Also, if Authorities are willing to share the salary levels that you pay your Highways Design staff: Apprentice Technicians, Technicians, Engineers, Senior/Project Engineers, Team Managers, Project Managers, that would be very much appreciated.

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RH0396 – Road closures, Cycle and Motorcycle racing – 210921

A member authority has been approached to hold a series of cycling and/or motorcycle events.

This will involve road closures which could remain for up to 4 days.

They are keen to learn from other authorities who have staged similar events.

Please answer the following:

• Have you experienced hosting road cycling and/or motorcycle events?
• Who organised the road closures?
• Did you require specialist advice? 
• If so what kind and from whom?
• Did you facilitate the road closures in-house? 
• Or did you use outside contractors, if so who?
• What charges were levied on the race organiser?

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RH0395 – Vehicular Footway Crossings – 130921

1. Would your authority be interested in using such a product if it were readily available?
   • To ensure that adequate footway width was maintained for pedestrians they would only use this detail on footways with a width of 1.65m or greater.
   • For narrower, existing footways they propose replacing half-battered kerbs with standard SP2 (45° splay) kerbs with a 100mm upstand along the crossing length, and an elongated H-marking if required.
2. Do you have any crossings in your area which utilise a similar detail and, if so, are there any issues with them?
3. What detail does your authority currently use for vehicular footway crossings?

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RH0393 – Selling of cars on the Highway – 030821

A member authority is receiving large numbers of complaints about individuals selling cars on the public highway.

Despite visiting and checking whether the vehicle is abandoned/owned or parked in a dangerous location, there seems little that can do

Do you have a process in place that restricts or stops this practice?

If so:

• Please share the procedure
• Share any legislation used?

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RH0392 – Road/Street Works Register – 220721

A member authority is reviewing its Highway procedures in regard to the Road Works Register (different names may apply across the UK)

Currently, they give 3 months-notice, but this is proving restrictive when the tight program is rearranged due to events beyond their control

• How do you register surface dressing, micro-asphalting and footway slurry sealing schemes on the road works register?
• How do you maintain coordination with statutory undertakers work?
• How do you allow flexibility in the program to compensate for weather and other unforeseen incidents?

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?RH0391 – Highways - Apprentice salary schemes, performance and retention – 051121

A member authority is reviewing its apprentice schemes
Please can you answer the following:

1. How long are your apprenticeships?
2. What pay are you offering for level 2 apprenticeships?
   1. Does this follow the national apprenticeship wage or does this follow your own pay structure?
   2. Is the pay rate different between level 2 apprenticeships? For example, if you have a road worker, business support or electrical level 2 apprenticeships are they all offered the same pay rate or does it differ. If the latter why is it different?
3. Have pay rates, whether different or the same, affected apprentice retention levels?
4. Are the apprenticeships age-restricted or are they open to all applicants? Do you actively promote to school/college leavers?
5. Do you feel the age of apprentices affects the retention levels?
6. Are apprentices guaranteed a full-time job at the end of their apprenticeship, should they meet the requirements set out in the training agreement?
7. How many apprentices do you recruit each year, what is the age profile and what percentage are offered a job at the end of the apprenticeship and what is the age profile?
8. Have you recently changed your apprentice pay and has this affected the calibre of your applicants, their conduct and retention?
9. Can you please include examples, or copies of your apprentice scheme pay structure where appropriate?

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RH0390 – Fee charging information – 160821

A member authority would like to hear from other authorities on how you capture/monitor/recharge your fees information? For example, they used off-shelf software but then developed their own database which provides them with reports which enable them to monitor the Capital project and programme spend and Revenue Income.

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RH0389 – Winter Policies Review – 100621

A member authority is reviewing their Winter Policies to create more efficient service for residents. The authority would like to understand from other members who have reviewed their winter service any comments or successes in the following areas:

• Management of gritting networks with varying priority routes/service levels within them
• Use of nightshift teams for gritting
• Management by the town and parish councils of salt bins and bags for resilience
• Management and decision making within service by gritting contractor rather than client-led
• Approach and savings linked to fleet renewal or direct hire

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RH0388 – Local authority concessions for green flashed registration plates – 040621

A member authority is looking to offer concessions for vehicles with green flashed registration plates.

These schemes could include for example:

• cheaper parking.
• Access to bus lanes
• free entry into zero-emissions zones

• Do you offer any such schemes?
• Have you considered anything similar?

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RH0387 – Reactive works - obstructions – 020621

A member authority is currently reviewing practices around works that are obstructed by parked cars or similar

1. What preparations do you make ahead of reactive works e.g. letter drop, raise TTROs, enforcement, etc?
2. What do you do in the event you still can’t access a work area and reach the target date for the works?
   • Are works re-inspected, rescheduled, is work priority changed?
   • Do you make extra arrangements to stop traffic parking and if so, what arrangements are made?
3. Do you have experience of how this issue might affect insurance claims or defence when a claim is instigated after the original target period has passed?

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RH0386 – Road worker PPE – 210521

1. Does your local authority currently use either flame-retardant or fire-resistant (FR) workwear for its road worker staff?
2. If yes, do you provide inherently flame retardant or chemically coated fire-resistant garments?
3. If yes, do you provide the same standards of FR work-wear to all of your road worker staff, or only to some based on their work activities?

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RH0385 – Segregated Cycle Lane Gritting – 120521

A member authority is favouring investing in its cycle infrastructure as a response to climate change.

Have you implemented (or considered) precautionary gritting/brine spraying routes on:

• segregated cycle lanes?
• non-segregated cycle lanes?

What criteria determines your decision

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RH0384 – Highways Designs Trading Mechanism – 140621

A member authority delivers Highways Designs utilising a mixed economy service from their in-house design teams and a private service partner with whom they have a long term framework contract.

They deliver private works and charge their service on an hourly basis. They would be interested to know if any other members have a trading mechanism for delivering Highways Designs.

Do you charge on an hourly basis or a fixed price?

What recharge rates do you use for the staff across their highway design Teams (either utilising in-house providers or external consultants) for each level of profession (ie Highways Design Team Manager, Project Engineer, Engineer and Technician (which represents the structure of their teams).

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RH0383 – EV Charging Cables on the highway – 120421

A member authority is looking to define its policy on Electric Vehicle Charging on the highway

Please would you supply the following information:

1. Have you experienced dealing with requests to charge Electric Vehicles at the curbside using cables that run from the property?
2. Do you have a process in place for approving applications?
3. What safety considerations apply?
4. What enforcement measures are in place to deal with unlicensed EV charging over the Public Highway?

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RH0382 - Business cases and specifications for installing a salt barn – 290321

A member authority is currently hoping to obtain funding to install a salt barn at one possibly two of their depots.

Have any authorities recently gone through the process of preparing a successful business case, which they would be willing to share,

Also, any information on successes in installing a salt barn that contains details and information on (size, type, benefits and difficulties encountered etc) would also be welcome.

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RH0381 – Footway/ Cycleway inspections repairs – 260321

A member authority is reviewing their highway inspections for long lengths of detached footway/cycleways.

• How do you inspect these routes?
• Are they walked, cycled or driven by a suitable off-road vehicle (if so what type)?
• Are there any other parameters that may be useful to consider?

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RH0380 – Street lighting day to day repairs – 230321

A member authority is reviewing its day to day street lighting operations

• Do you employ have lone individuals to carry out repairs, or do the repair crews work in pairs?
• If lone working is employed, how is the safety of the individual operative checked and maintained?

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RH0379 – Caravans on the adopted highway-removal – 180321

A member authority is reviewing its policy towards caravans left on the adopted highway

Please could you answer the following:

• Does your authority take action to physically remove caravans and/or unregistered vehicles from the adopted highway?
• If Yes:
  • Do you have a contractor in place to carry out the removals or do you use your own in-house team?
  • What is the name of the contractor you use?
  • When removed, do you store the vehicle for a fixed period of time and if so for how long?
  • How successful are you in recovering costs incurred in this process from vehicle owners?
  • What are the contact details of the person who manages this service? (Name, email, tel)

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RH0378 – Stores - Oncosts – 160321

A member authority if reviewing the operation of their stores' facility

• Do you charge a fixed percentage on the cost of supplies issued through the stores?
• What is the basis for calculation?

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RH0377 – Street Lighting DNO faults – 110321

A member authority is reviewing its response to DNO cable faults

• Do you deploy temporary lighting in areas of multiple lighting failures as a result of DNO cable faults where the lighting has been inoperative for some time?
• If there was an incident in such an area, where would the liability lie?
  • with the Authority for not keeping the highway lit or
  • with the DNO for not restoring the supply in a reasonable timescale?
• Have you had a case result in court proceedings?

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RH0376 – Street Lighting Costs and Specification – 050321

We are seeking to establish current costs and specifications for new lighting columns

Please can you provide the following for your main column types:

• Manufacturer:
• Material
• Height
• Specification (please include if available)
• Cost unit?

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RH0375 – Pay - Highways Inspectors – 260221

A member authority is reviewing the pay of highway inspectors and street works inspectors.

Please can you complete the following:

Council name:
Highway Inspector :

Grade:
Lower limit:
Upper limit :

Street Works / Permit Inspector

Grade:
Lower limit:
Upper limit:

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RH0374 – Housing Development Signs on the Highway – 190221

A member authority is considering charging for:

• Housing developer signboards on the highway
• Black and yellow temporary directional signs to housing developments.

Please could you provide the following information:

• Do you charge for :
  • Housing Developer signs?
  • Temporary direction signs?
• What is the charge for each?
• Is it an annual charge/rent?
• What terms are attached?
• Is there a specific process for application? ( or is it a condition of planning approval)

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RH0372 – Highways Safety Inspections – 220121

A member authority is seeking advice:

Have you suspended highway safety inspections through the pandemic/lockdown?

If not:

• have they continued as normal? or
• have you implemented an alternative reduced inspection regime?

Please give brief details of the reduced regime if applicable.

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RH0371 – Idling signage and enforcement – 150121

A member authority is reviewing its policy on idling vehicles

• Have you carried out anti-idling initiatives that focus on signage and/or an enhanced enforcement programme?
  • If so, could they please provide details on the scheme?
• How do you enforce persistent idling in areas other than car parks and Clean air zones?
• Signage needs to be specific to the relevant enforcement process rather than universal. How have you resolved this issue?

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RH0370 – Abuse of Highways Operatives – 150121

I’m seeking to determine the level of abuse received by Highways operatives whilst undertaking normal duties

Please can you provide answers to the following:

• How many incidents of abuse were reported over the last 12 months? (estimates if no log)
  • Verbal abuse?
  • Visual abuse e.g. hand gestures?
  • Physical abuse?
  • Threatening behaviour e.g. cars driven towards at speed?
• Do you officially log incidents?
• As a best guess, what proportion does the number of reported incidents represent of the actual total? e.g 30%
• Do you report incidents to Police?
• In the last 2 years have there been any prosecutions?

If there are any specific aspects of workforce abuse, you would like to share, please include them.