Beacon Council - Street and Highway Works

In April 2003 Kirklees Council, represented by the Highways Service, was awarded Beacon Council Status for the theme of Street and Highway Works for 2003/04. The theme deals with the work on roads and pavements by highway authorities maintaining their network and by the Utility companies installing, maintaining and repairing their apparatus. Businesses, public transport users, pedestrians, cyclists, private motorists and other road users expect these works to be carried out with the minimum of disruption. In November 2002, 10 local authorities were shortlisted for beacon council within the theme and in December and January a panel of assessors from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Department for Transport and the Improvement and Development Agency visited each of the authorities for presentations about how they have put in place strategies to minimise disruption. Six authorities, all with clear strategies, policies and practices in place to minimise the disruptive effects of both highways and street works were given the award. The selection panel determined that "Kirklees aims to deliver a 'seamless' consistent approach to minimising disruption regardless of how it is caused". Comprehensive service strategies have led to a range of initiatives, for example an inspection regime, public information and a tracking database with successful outcomes. A team of officers attended a presentation ceremony in London and said. "We are just the figurehead. This award is the result of many years of dedicated and continuous hard work by everyone in the Highways Service. Everyone has worked to make sure that we provide the best possible service to the people in Kirklees and the award is the recognition of that work on the national stage. It will re-double our efforts to continue to further improve that service, not just in the Beacon year but for years to come." Highways Officers being presented with Beacon Council Award. From left to right: Frank O'Dwyer, Streetworks Manager; Terry Brown, Assistant Director; Nick Raynsford, Minister for Local Government; Richard Bunney, Highway Network Manager. All authorities selected had to submit an application form to the office of the deputy prime minister detailing how they have implemented strategies and processes to minimise disruption on the highway network and how they work in partnership with utilities, contractors and other local authorities. When Local authorities are awarded Beacon Council status they are expected to share their good practice with others and are required to submit a Learning Agreement to detail how this will be carried out. Details of our key areas can be found in the Case Study[PDF 102kb]. Further information about Beacon events and the Beacon Council Scheme as a whole can be found at www.idea.gov.uk/beacons, the site of the Improvement and Development Agency.

Beacon Co-ordinator: Joanne Barnes. Telephone number: 01484 225510.