Report of: John Richardson

Subject: Implications of the Traffic Management Act, 2004

Date: 16 May 2005

SUMMARY SHEET

  1. PURPOSE AND SUMMARY OF REPORT

To inform the Executive Member for Transport of the requirements of the Traffic Management Act, 2004, to appoint a Traffic Manager and also to outline resource implications brought about by the new duties involved in the management of the highway network.

  1. IF THIS IS A KEY DECISION WHICH KEY DECISION TEST APPLIES?

It is over the financial threshold (£75 000)

It has a significant impact on 2 or more wards

Non Key

  1. SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS

It is recommended that the Highway Services Manager be designated the statutory title, ‘Traffic Manager’.

It is recommended that the new posts of Principal Engineer (Network Management) and Technician (co-ordination) are approved and added to the establishment of the Built Environment Group within Transport & Design Services.

  1. DECISION IMPLEMENTATION DEADLINE

For the purposes of the scrutiny call in procedure this report is

Non-urgent 

Urgent report 

If urgent please give full reasons



IMPLICATIONS OF THE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT ACT, 2004

RON LOWES - EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR TRANSPORT

JOHN RICHARDSON - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

16 MAY 2005

PURPOSE OF THE REPORT

  1. To inform the Executive Member for Transport of the requirements of the Traffic Management Act, 2004, to appoint a Traffic Manager and also to outline resource implications brought about by the new duties involved in the management of the highway network.

BACKGROUND AND EXTERNAL CONSULTATION

  1. The Traffic Management Act, 2004 is intended to improve highway network management through the development of new working practices, common to all Highway Authorities involving a ‘whole authority approach’, and working with partners and stakeholders to improve the management of streets, information gathering and dissemination to highway users.
  1. The Act first requires that a ‘Traffic Manager’ be appointed to perform the tasks that an authority considers necessary for meeting the duty. It is now a statutory requirement that all Local Transport Authorities must have a nominated person. This post holder may however be an existing person who carries out other duties for the authority.
  1. In addition the Act gives guidance on how Network Management across the whole of an authority should be developed and improved. Although several duties are currently carried out within the authority, the additional requirements, some of which are listed below, will require additional resources to support the Traffic Manager.
  1. The guidance is wide reaching and requires the Traffic Manager to consider the effects of working practices across the whole of an authority, along with those of partners and stakeholders. The ‘Good Practice Advice’ covers such matters as:-
  • Identifying and Managing different road types
  • Monitoring the road network
  • Identifying locations where regular congestion occurs
  • Co-ordination and direction of works
  • Dealing with planned events
  • Management of incidents
  • Making the best use of technology
  • Managing parking and other traffic regulation
  • Enforcing road traffic regulation
  • Accommodating essential service traffic
  • Regular reviews of the network
  • Consultation and engagement with stakeholders
  • Provision of travel information to road users and the community
  1. In the first instance it is anticipated that the Traffic Manager will require the support of a Principal Engineer and a Technician, along with specialised consultancy support for individual studies. Other activities are already supported but the Council may require changes in future action plans of other partners and departments to meet with the requirements of the Act.
  1. It is proposed to develop the support team within the Transport & Design Services. This will ensure that existing co-ordination activities are fully incorporated into the new arrangements whilst continuing to receive the technical support required. This small team will initially sit within the Built Environment Group.

OPTION APPRAISAL/RISK ASSESSMENT

  1. It is considered appropriate that the Highway Services Manager be additionally designated with the statutory post of ‘Traffic Manager’, this being due to the current post holder having responsibility for the majority of the duties and aims of the Act, per-se and being of appropriate seniority to liaise effectively with all stakeholders and partners.
  1. Many of the other developments will build on liaison and co-ordination which currently takes place within the Built Environment Group.

FINANCIAL, LEGAL AND WARD IMPLICATIONS

  1. The legal implications described in the Traffic Management Act, 2004, are set out in the guidance. The re-designation of the existing Highway Services Manager has no financial implications at this time.
  1. The Traffic Management support team of a Principal Engineer and Technician are to be achieved through the redesignation of the existing Streetworks Manager and the appointment of a new post of Technician. The effects of this on the existing establishment creates the requirement for the Utility Officer to take on additional responsibilities and for a new Technician post to provide support. These proposals have been consulted upon with the trade unions and current post holders involved in this review and have been received favourably. The Environment Budget has been adjusted to meet the financial requirements in the order of £50,000.
  1. There are no ward implications.

RECOMMENDATIONS

  1. It is recommended that the Highway Services Manager be designated the statutory title, ‘Traffic Manager’.
  1. It is recommended that the new posts of Principal Engineer (Network Management) and Technician (co-ordination) are approved and added to the establishment of the Built Environment Group within Transport & Design Services.

REASONS

  1. It is considered that these actions are the minimum requirements to meet the requirements of the Traffic Management Act, 2004, under the guidance currently made available.

BACKGROUND PAPERS

No background papers were used in the preparation of this report.

AUTHOR: Ron Dawson

TEL NO: 728163

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