Local Highway Maintenance Transparency Report 2025 - 2026

Gateshead Streetworks permit scheme was established in 2020. It has grown from a team of one Streetworks Controller, two Permit Support Officers and one Inspector to three Permit Inspectors and three Permit Support Officers under the supervision of the Streetworks Controller.  

The team assess permits to manage and minimise delays and other impacts on all road users, promote best practice and enhance coordination, collaboration, and cross boundary cooperation across the North East region, particularly in the area covered by the North East Combined Authority. The team actively drive compliance with inspections and issue penalties and fines, in accordance with the legislation, when noncompliance is identified.

It's important that new resurfacing works are not undermined by being repeatedly dug up by utility companies and we use our Streetworks permit powers to manage this.

Key to this is coordination and good working relationships between the council and utility companies with the council being seen to be acting fairly to all parties and having regular coordination meetings.

Operationally we monitor the permit durations and challenge any that seem excessively long as well as seeking to optimise resource allocation from the utility side. We carry out regular street works inspections to make sure if a road has to be dug up it is properly reinstated to appropriate standards with any issues addressed promptly.

We also focus on any defects that may be apparent when the reinstatement has been finished and also at regular prescribed intervals after the reinstatement has been completed.