New Roads and Street Works Act 1991

74 Charge for occupation of the highway where works unreasonably prolonged.E+W

(1)The Secretary of State may make provision by regulations requiring an undertaker executing street works in a maintainable highway to pay a charge to the highway authority where—

(a)the duration of the works exceeds such period as may be prescribed, and

(b)the works are not completed within a reasonable period.

(2)For this purpose “a reasonable period” means such period as is agreed by the authority and the undertaker to be reasonable or, in default of such agreement, is determined by arbitration to be reasonable, for completion of the works in question.

In default of agreement, the authority’s view as to what is a reasonable period shall be acted upon pending the decision of the arbitrator.

[F1(2A)The regulations may prescribe exemptions from the requirement to pay charges.]

(3)The regulations may provide that if an undertaker has reason to believe that the duration of works will exceed the prescribed period he [F2shall give to the authority, in such manner as may be prescribed, notice containing] an estimate of their likely duration—

(a)in the case of works in connection with the initial placing of apparatus in the street in pursuance of a street works licence, together with his application for the licence,

(b)in the case of other works (not being emergency works), together with his notice under section 55 (notice of starting date) [F3or notification under paragraph 2(1)(d) of Schedule 3A (notification of proposed works)], or

(c)in the case of emergency works, as soon as reasonably practicable after the works are begun,

and that the period stated in an estimate [F4contained in a notice given to an authority in such manner] shall be taken to be agreed by the authority to be reasonable unless they give notice, in such manner and within such period as may be prescribed, objecting to the estimate.

(4)The regulations may also provide that if it appears to the undertaker that by reason of matters not previously foreseen or reasonably foreseeable the duration of the works—

(a)is likely to exceed the prescribed period,

(b)is likely to exceed the period stated in his previous estimate, or

(c)is likely to exceed the period previously agreed or determined to be a reasonable period,

he [F5shall give to the authority, in such manner as may be prescribed, notice containing] an estimate or revised estimate accordingly, and that if he does so any previous estimate, agreement or determination shall cease to have effect and the period stated in the new estimate shall be taken to be agreed by the authority to be reasonable unless they give notice, in such manner and within such period as may be prescribed, objecting to the estimate.

(5)The amount of the charge shall be determined in such manner as may be prescribed by reference to the time taken to complete the works and the extent to which the surface of the highway is affected by the works.

Different rates of charge may be prescribed according to the place and time at which the works are executed and such other factors as appear to the Secretary of State to be relevant.

[F6(5A)The regulations may—

(a)prescribe more than one rate of charge in respect of the same description of works, and

(b)provide that charges are to be paid in respect of any works of that description at the rate which appears to the highway authority to be appropriate in relation to those works.

(5B)The regulations may make provision for the determination of the duration of works for the purposes of the regulations.

(5C)And they may, in particular, make provision for works to be treated as beginning or ending on the giving of, or as stated in, a notice given by the undertaker to the highway authority, in the prescribed manner, in accordance with a requirement imposed by the regulations.]

(6)The regulations may make provision as to the time and manner of making payment of any charge.

(7)The regulations shall provide that a highway authority may reduce the amount, or waive payment, of a [F7charge -

(a)in any particular case,

(b)in such classes of case as they may decide or as may be prescribed, or

(c)in all cases or in all cases other than a particular case or such class of case as they may decide or as may be prescribed.]

[F8(7A)The regulations may make provision as to—

(a)the application by local highway authorities of sums paid by way of charges, and

(b)the keeping of accounts, and the preparation and publication of statements of account, relating to sums paid by way of charges.

(7B)The regulations may create in respect of any failure to give a notice required by the regulations a criminal offence triable summarily and punishable with a fine not exceeding [F9level 4] on the standard scale.]

(8)The first regulations for the purposes of this section shall not be made unless a draft of them has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament; subsequent regulations shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Textual Amendments

F1S. 74(2A) inserted (1.2.2001 subject to transitional provision and saving in Sch. 2 Pt. II of the commencing S.I.) by 2000 c. 38, s. 256(2); S.I. 2001/57, art. 3, Sch. 2 Pt. I, (as amended by S.I. 2001/115, art. 2(5))

F2Words in s. 74(3) substituted (1.2.2001 subject to transitional provision and saving in Sch. 2 Pt. II of the commencing S.I.) by 2000 c. 38, s. 256(3)(a); S.I. 2001/57, art. 3, Sch. 2 Pt. I (as amended by S.I. 2001/115, art. 2(5))

F3Words in s. 74(3)(b) inserted (29.6.2007 for E. for specified purposes, 26.11.2007 for W. for specified purposes, 1.4.2008 for E.W. in so far as not already in force) by Traffic Management Act 2004 (c. 18), ss. 52(5), 99(1); S.I. 2007/1890, art. 2, Sch.; S.I. 2007/3174, art. 2, Sch.

F4Words in s. 74(3) substituted (1.2.2001 subject to transitional provision and saving in Sch. 2 Pt. II of the commencing S.I.) by 2000 c. 38, s. 256(3)(b); S.I. 2001/57, art. 3, Sch. 2 Pt. I (as amended by S.I. 2001/115, art. 2(5))

F5Words in s. 74(4) substituted (1.2.2001 subject to transitional provision and saving in Sch. 2 Pt. II of the commencing S.I.) by 2000 c. 38, s. 256(4); S.I. 2001/57, art. 3, Sch. 2 Pt. I (as amended by S.I. 2001/115, art. 2(5))

F6S. 74(5A)-(5C) inserted (1.2.2001 subject to transitional provision and saving in Sch. 2 Pt. II of the commencing S.I.) by 2000 c. 38, s. 256(5); S.I. 2001/57, art. 3, Sch. 2 Pt. I (as amended by S.I. 2001/115, art. 2(5))

F7Words in s. 74(7) substituted (1.2.2001 subject to transitional provision and saving in Sch. 2 Pt. II of the commencing S.I.) by 2000 c. 38, s. 256(6); S.I. 2001/57, art. 3, Sch. 2 Pt. I (as amended by S.I. 2001/115, art. 2(5))

F8S. 74(7A)(7B) inserted (1.2.2001 subject to transitional provision and saving in Sch. 2 Pt. II of the commencing S.I.) by 2000 c. 38, s. 256(7); S.I. 2001/57, art. 3 Sch. 2 Pt. I (as amended by S.I. 2001/115, art. 2(5))

F9Words in s. 74(7B) substituted (4.10.2004 for E., 26.11.2007 for W.) by Traffic Management Act 2004 (c. 18), ss. 40(4), 99(1); S.I. 2004/2380, art. 2(d)(iii) (with art. 3); S.I. 2007/3174, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4)