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Community

Whilst the road work authorities and the undertakers are the key players in the Scottish road works community, there are a number of bodies in place which have a valuable role. The following diagram sets out the relationships between these bodies:

Diagram showing the relationships between bodies in the Scottish road works community.

  • Scottish Ministers - are responsible for appointing the Commissioner and for the Scottish Government.
  • Scottish Government - has the responsibility for the development and procurement of any new or amended legislation required.
  • Scottish Road Works Commissioner (SRWC) - is required each year to give the Scottish Ministers a report on the performance of his functions. Also advises the Scottish Government on any requirements for new or amended legislation.
  • Policy Development Group - consists of representatives from RAUC(S), SCOTS (the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland), NJUG (National Joint Utilities Group), chair of the SRWR Management Group, 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.
  • Roads Authorities and Utilities Committee of Scotland (RAUC(S)) - consists primarily of roads authorities and undertakers and provides support and advice to the Commissioner to improve the planning, co-ordination and quality of road works in Scotland.
  • Scottish Road Works Register Management Group - assists the Commissioner (as keeper of the Register) in the development and day-to-day operational management of the Register.
  • Area RAUCs -  there are four Area RAUCs which support and advise RAUC(S). Below them are local RAUCs groups.  

 

ORGANISATIONS ACTIVE IN SCOTLAND

Here is a list of authorities and undertakers active in Scotland (last updated 20 June 2024):

Authorities

Aberdeen City Council
Aberdeenshire Council
Angus Council
Argyll & Bute Council
City of Edinburgh Council
Clackmannanshire Council
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council)
Dumfries & Galloway Council
Dundee City Council
East Ayrshire Council
East Dunbartonshire Council
East Lothian Council
East Renfrewshire Council
Falkirk Council
Fife Council
Glasgow City Council
Highland Council
Inverclyde Council
Midlothian Council
Moray Council
North Ayrshire Council
North Lanarkshire Council
Orkney Islands Council
Perth & Kinross Council
Renfrewshire Council
Scottish Borders Council
Scottish Government (Transport Scotland)
Shetland Islands Council
South Ayrshire Council
South Lanarkshire Council
Stirling Council
Tay Bridge Joint Board
West Dunbartonshire Council
West Lothian Council

Undertakers

Arqiva
BP
BT
CityFibre Metro Networks Ltd
Commsworld Limited
Converged Communication Solutions Limited
Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited
Eclipse Power Networks Limited
EE
Electricity Network Company Ltd
Energy Assets Networks
Energy Assets Pipelines
Enquest
ES Pipelines Limited
ESP Electricity
Exolum Pipeline Systems Limited 
Fibrus Networks GB Limited
Fulcrum Electricity Assets Ltd
Fulcrum Pipeline Limited
Glide Fibre Ltd
GoFibre Holdings Limited
Grain Communications
GTC Pipelines Limited
Hutchison 3G
Hyperoptic
Indigo Pipelines
Indigo Power
Ineos Chemicals Grangemouth Ltd
INEOS FPS
InFocus Public Networks
Internetty Limited
Last Mile Electricity Limited
Last Mile Gas Limited
LLothian Broadband Networks Limited
Lumen Technologies UK Limited
Moray Offshore Windfarm (West) Ltd
mua Electricity Limited
mua Gas Limited
National Gas Transmission Plc
Neos Networks 
Netomnia Limited
Network Rail
Nexfibre Networks Limited
NorthConnect
Open Fibre Networks Ltd
Optimal Power Networks Limited
Persimmon Homes Ltd
Petroineos Manufacturing Scotland Ltd
Premier Transmission Limited
Royal Mail
Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc 
Scottish Water
SGN
Shell UK Limited
Sky UK
SP Energy Networks
Talk Talk Communications Limited 
Telefonica UK 
Trooli Ltd
Verizon
Virgin Media 
Vodafone Limited 
Voneus Limited
Wifinity Limited
Zayo

 

UK WIDE ORGANISATIONS

Highways Authorities and Utilities Committee (United Kingdom) (HAUC(UK)) - is a UK group which is a forum for matters of mutual interest in relation to street works.

 

ROADS AUTHORITIES & UTILITIES COMMITTEE (SCOTLAND) - RAUC(S)

TERMS OF REFERENCE AND CONSTITUTION

PURPOSE

1. The Roads and Utilities Committee of Scotland RAUC(S) shall provide support and advice to the Scottish Road Works Commissioner (SRWC), with a view to improving the planning, co-ordination and quality of road works in Scotland.

2. RAUC(S) shall support and advise the SRWC in undertaking his general functions of:

a. Monitoring the carrying out of works in roads in Scotland;

b. Promoting compliance with the 1991 Act and obligations imposed under it; and

c. Promoting the pursuit of good practice by the wider road works community.

ACTIVITIES

3. RAUC(S) will discuss subjects of interest and, where appropriate, will aim to agree a joint course of action including, for example, the development of best practice and performance reports, advice on future legislation and the submission of representations to the Scottish Government, SRWC, HAUC UK and other organisations.

4. Meetings are normally quarterly or as required by business.

MEMBERSHIP

5. The Committee comprises representatives appointed by SJUG, local road works authority appointees and representatives from the Scottish Government, Transport Scotland and Network Rail. Other appropriate bodies may be invited to attend as dictated by the business of the meeting. The Joint Chairs of HAUC UK have a standing invitation to attend, as does the SRWC.

Undertakers

6. In the case of SJUG, representation will consist of the Chairman of SJUG who, ex officio, is Undertaker Co-Chair, and twelve members appointed from the following undertaker groups:

a. Gas.

b. Telecommunications.

c. Power.

d. Water and Sewerage.

Local Road Works Authorities

7. There are twelve representatives, three appointed by the local roads works authorities in each of the four Area RAUCs. The Roads Co-Chair will be approved by SCOTS to whom the Co-Chair will report. The Roads Co-Chair is, ex officio, a member of the SCOTS Liaison Committee, and may attend the SCOTS Executive where necessary.

Scottish Government / Transport Scotland

8. The Scottish Government is represented as the "legislative" body and a Transport Scotland representative attends to represent the trunk road interests as road works authority.

Network Rail

9. Network Rail is also a member of RAUC(S).

Substitutes

10. Members of the Committee may send substitutes from their organisation to meetings and additional members may be co-opted when necessary.

Area RAUCs

11. Chairs of Area RAUCs are members of RAUC(S) and are counted within the numbers given above (paragraphs 6 and 7 above).

WORKING GROUPS

12. RAUC(S) may from time to time establish working groups to discharge specific functions. Continuing (permanent) working groups include:

a. Policy Working Group: made up of the RAUC(S) Co-Chairs (Vice Co-Chairs as alternates), the SRWC and representatives from Scottish Government, NJUG and SCOTS. It is responsible for developing strategic policy on road works and determining possible future legislative requirements.

b. SRWR Management Group: responsible for assisting the SRWC (as keeper of the SRWR) in the development and day-to-day operational management of the SRWR.

c. Gazetteer Group: responsible for issues arising from the National Street Gazetteer which is required for the effective operation of the SRWR. (Note - this is one Group where equal numbers may not be appropriate - see 14 below).

Membership

13. Chairs and members of RAUC(S) Working Groups do not have to be members of RAUC(S). The chair of a Working Group who is not a member of RAUC(S) will attend RAUC(S) meetings as required.

14. Working Groups comprise equal numbers of road works authority and undertaker representatives.

CO-CHAIRS AND CHAIR OF THE SRWR MANAGEMENT GROUP

15. RAUC(S) operates with Co-chairs who take it in turn to chair RAUC(S) Meetings. To assist in providing continuity, Co-Chairs and the Chair of the SRWR Management Group each normally serve for 2 years with the staggered 'retiral' of one Co-Chair/Chair each year. Vice Co-Chairs are appointed to establish alternates and the first in line of succession.

HIGHWAY AUTHORITIES AND UTILITIES COMMITTEE (HAUC [UK])

16. RAUC(S) is a member of the HAUC(UK) Committee in its role as a forum for matters of mutual interest in relation to street works.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

17. RAUC(S) shall review complex disputes and reach decisions. Where disputes cannot be resolved they shall be passed to the SRWC to be settled.

 

AREA RAUCS / CO-ORDINATION MEETINGS

MODEL TERMS OF REFERENCE AND CONSTITUTION FOR AREA RAUCS

1. Terms of Reference

(1) To report to RAUC(S);

(2)To act as the area focus for RAUC(S);

(3) To provide a forum for discussion on issues relevant on an area basis;

(4) To review straightforward local disputes brought to it and reach decisions. Where decisions are not accepted by the parties the dispute shall be referred to the SRWC;

(5) To monitor the performance regionally of both the undertakers and the road works authorities under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991;

(6) To refer local initiatives to RAUC(S) for recommended adoption nationally;

(7) To promote mutually beneficial good working practices in the light of RAUC(S) policy and current legislation; and

(8) To deal with specific remits from RAUC(S) within required timescales and to report back to RAUC(S) on these.

2. Constitution

(1)Representatives will be appointed by the undertaker and road works authorities. The client should attend meetings rather than the contractor/agent. Representatives from other organisations such as contractors may be invited to meetings with observer status at the discretion of the Area RAUC. The SRWC has a standing invitation to be represented.

(2) The Chairmanship and secretariat shall rotate between the undertaker and/or road works authorities or by arrangement locally; A Line of succession is established with the next Chair being designated as Vice Chair.

(3) All organisations will be able to submit matters for inclusion on the agenda for meetings;

(4) Meetings will be held every 4 months, or at the request of the Joint Chairs (or Secretaries if local arrangements allow);

(5) Members may send substitutes to meetings and additional members may be co-opted when necessary; and

(6) The Area RAUCs may set up working parties and sub-groups to work on particular subjects.

(7)The Area RAUCs will elect their 3 local road works authority representatives to attend RAUC(S).

3. Frequency of Meetings

Meetings in each area every 4 months

 

LOCAL LIAISON / CO-ORDINATION MEETINGS

MODEL TERMS OF REFERENCE

1. Terms of Reference

To co-ordinate works on roads to minimise inconvenience to road users, involving: `

(a)consideration of both road works authorities' and undertakers' specific major projects;

(b) medium term and annual programmes (both capital and maintenance) for works for road purposes and road works;

(c) local policies affecting road works, including traffic management proposals;

(d) reviewing performance at local level, including damage prevention; and

(e) road works permissions.

Wider issues will be referred up to Area RAUCs.

2. Membership

Representatives may come from any undertaker or road works authority. As the occasion requires, the representatives from adjacent road works authorities, local planning authority, the Police, Emergency Services, disabled groups or others may attend.

3. Frequency of Meetings

Quarterly

 

HAUC(UK)

The Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC(UK)) was established in 1986 by the constituent bodies of the local Highway Authorities and the Utilities to assist the Secretary of State in arriving at proposals for new street works legislation. HAUC(UK) played a significant role in the drawing up of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, its subsidiary legislation and associated Codes of Practice.

The main aims of HAUC(UK) are:

  • To advise the Secretary of State on issues relating to street works legislation;
  • To provide guidance to practitioners; and
  • To provide a forum for matters of mutual interest in relation to street works.

HAUC(UK) is currently working with the Department for Transport on the implementation of the Traffic Management Act 2004 (TMA) and associated secondary legislation.