Executive Summary
This report summarises responses that were received through a Scottish Government public consultation, primarily on the use of ‘apparatus plans’ with three questions on the ‘Street Works Qualification’ regime.
The consultation, which was published on the Scottish Government’s Citizenspace web portal and Transport Scotland’s website, ran for a twelve-week period between 11 July and 3 October 2024. The Roads Authority and Utility Committee (Scotland) (“RAUCS”) and the office of Scottish Road Works Commissioner were contacted prior to launch to make them aware of the upcoming consultation. Also invited to provide their views were relevant trade unions, the HSE and other industry related interest groups.
Fifteen questions were asked as part of the consultation. The questions were a mix of closed and open with some providing a multiple choice of answers to choose from. Respondents were also asked to provide details to explain their views. The response to these questions in relation to the experience of using ‘apparatus plans’ will inform the guidance that will refine the process for road authorities and utility firms supplying information to the Scottish ‘Vault’ system and ensure it is fit for purpose. The additional questions on the ‘Street Works Qualification’ regime will be taken into consideration when shaping the future of this regime in Scotland.
For the purposes of supporting the legal requirement to supply information to Vault, a Scottish Statutory Instrument is required to help refine the specific data required for a ‘Vault submission’. While the legal keeper of the Scottish Road Works Register (“SRWR”), which houses Vault, is the Scottish Road Works Commissioner, it is important that there are clear requirements in statute that cover the minimum requirements. As in other areas within the Scottish road works sector, we anticipate that the road works community will act collaboratively and continue to submit information voluntarily as with the previous twelve years of voluntary operation.
A total of fifty-three responses were received to the consultation, of which around twenty-four came from current managerial/supervisory staff working within the industry. In terms of operatives, individuals working for both utility firms, roads authorities and their supply chain provided responses. There were also three responses from organisations responsible for setting best practice, the direct provision of plans (“others”), or informing policy making, including Scotland’s regulator of road works, the Scottish Road Works Commissioner. One response was received after the deadline but has been included in the analysis in the interests of representing as wide a set of views as possible.
Throughout this report the below groups will be referred to:
Roads Authorities and Utilities Committee of Scotland (RAUC(S))
This group consists primarily of roads authorities and undertakers. They provide support and advice to the Commissioner to improve the planning, co-ordination and quality of road works in Scotland. They are a key stakeholder group representing the road works sector in Scotland.
Policy Development Group
This group consists of representatives from RAUC(S), SCOTS (The Scottish Collaboration of Transportation Specialists), Streetworks UK (formerly known as the National Joint Utilities Group), the SRWR Steering Group, the Scottish Government and the Commissioner. It has a remit to take a strategic overview of road works in Scotland and advises particularly on the need for the development of new legislation or Codes of Practice.
Direct Engagement/Focus group
This group was made up of Operatives and Supervisors working within the road works industry. They provided one to one feedback on the draft question bank before it was finalised to ensure questions were accessible and fit for purpose. During the feedback they also provided responses to the questions. To allow for open and honest discussion, the identity of those who took part were kept anonymous.
Feedback was received from both site-based respondents and focus group members that advised they were grateful for the opportunity to be included in the policy development process.
“I'm glad that I was given the opportunity to give my views.”
- A road authority representative
Responses were received from operatives, road inspectors, designers, administrators, supervisors and individuals with split functions e.g. jobs that include some site supervision responsibility and some office-based reporting responsibility. In terms of day-to-day duties, respondents fell into the categories displayed on the below table.
| Job Type | Percentage | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Works within industry in a predominately site-based role | 40% | 21 |
| Works within industry in a predominately office-based role | 55% | 29 |
| Other | 5% | 3 |
In terms of background twenty-seven respondents worked in the road authority sector, while twenty-one responses were received from utility workers. One telecoms firm and one roads authority gave organisational level responses but informed by the views of the lived experience of their direct workforce. Five responses were received from outside of the traditional authority/utility sector split. Within traditional sector categories a total of thirty-three respondents advised that they were speaking from direct site experience within the last five years.