Ministers to scrap or improve 142 regulations in road transport Red Tape Challenge
Local authorities will be required to ensure business interests are properly considered in future when they plan to introduce a workplace parking levy scheme, the Department for Transport has announced.
The DfT said councils would have to demonstrate that “they have properly and effectively consulted local businesses, have addressed any proper concerns raised and secured support from the local business community”.
This will mean that future schemes do not impose a burden on business, the Department claimed. However, it said amendments to the Workplace Parking Levy legislation itself would not be needed to achieve this aim.
The announcement was part of a package of reforms unveiled by Transport Secretary following the road transport part of the government’s Red Tape Challenge.
The DfT said 142 road transport regulations would now be “scrapped or improved”. Many of these changes relate to licensing, registration and insurance. They include scrapping the regulation requiring motorists to hold a paper counterpart to their driving licence by 2015.
The changes of interest to local authorities include:
- A review of all traffic and highway regulations that put consultation or publication requirements on authorities
- An increase in the penalties that local authorities can apply where street works are not completed within the period agreed
- A consultation on plans to allow local authorities in England to implement a permit scheme – requiring anyone carrying out roadworks in the area to secure a permit before they can start work – without having to secure the Secretary of State for Transport’s approval
- Scrapping the Quiet Lanes and Home Zones (England) Regulations 2006. “They contain redundant powers allowing local authorities to create Use Orders and Speed Orders which are unenforceable, and have rarely, if ever, been used”. Authorities will still be able to introduce Home Zones and Quiet Lanes
- A consultation on scrapping the lower band of penalty charges that local authorities can set for certain parking offences. This will also look at allowing local authorities to set their penalty charge bands at any level up to the upper band limit – “including setting fines below the current minimum where they think it would be appropriate”
- Scrapping the regulations which set out the procedures local authorities must use for the conversion of footpaths to cycle paths. “[We] will allow for more local flexibility to introduce cycle paths, whilst ensuring there is a consistent approach taken to protect individuals’ rights”
- Scrapping the regulations setting out the procedures which local authorities must follow in making legal orders for lengths of road where dogs must be on leads
- A review of the regulations which set requirements for local authorities when tendering bus services. This will take place following the outcome of the Competition Commission’s inquiry into the local bus market.
Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk said: "I'm delighted that so many motoring regulations will be scrapped or improved, particularly those that affect business.
"The Red Tape Challenge has built up real momentum since it was launched in April. Overall, of over 1200 regulations considered so far, we have agreed to scrap or improve well over 50%.”
The report on the outcome of the Red Tape Challenge can be viewed here.
