Scottish Government

___

Roads Authorities and Utility Companies

operating in Scotland and other

interested parties

8 January 2009

Dear Sir/Madam

THE ROAD WORKS (INSPECTION FEES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 2009

The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 established a system of sample inspections of utilities road works by roads authorities. The fee for each sample inspection was originally set at £12.50, from 1 January 1993, and has gradually increased over the years.

The last increase from 1 April 2008 set a fee of £25.00 per inspection (an increase from the previous fee of £24.00). The Highways Authorities and Utilities Committee (UK) (HAUC (UK)) have since agreed a substantially revised fee of £50.00 per inspection to apply in England and Wales from 1 April 2009.

Although the level of inspection fee has historically been the same throughout the UK and the Department for Transport is soon to lay the necessary SI to give effect to this increase in England and Wales, the scale of the increase to £50.00 per inspection has led the Road Authorities and Utilities Committee (Scotland) (RAUC(S)) to form a working group to examine the recommendations put forward by HAUC (UK) and to formulate a revised inspection fee that will be appropriate for Scotland from April 2010.

As an interim measure, however, the Scottish Government have been asked to make the necessary legislative arrangements to allow for a fee of £30.00 per inspection to be implemented with effect from 1 April 2009. Before doing so, we are required in accordance with Section 134 of NRSWA to consult on these proposals

A copy of the draft Regulations is attached and any comments should be sent to Iain Gardiner at Iain.gardiner@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or by writing to him at the address below. The closing date for responses is 10 February 2009.

Many thanks.

Yours faithfully

ANGUS MACINNES

Head of Local Roads, Traffic Management and Transport Decisions Unit