London street works officers have claimed a Whitehall proposal, that noticing systems and co-ordination powers be contracted out to private contractors, would reduce the ability of councils to co-ordinate works.

The Department for Transport, highlighting the need for local authorities to ‘review and challenge the way they provide services,’ has proposed amending the ‘de-regulation and contracting out’ orders to allow contractors to process notices and give directions.

Under the proposals, out to consultation, contractors would be able to accept notices from undertakers, to give directions on when and at what time works might be carried out, and restrict street works following substantial road works.

Barry Lucas, the highways chair of London Highways Authorities and Utilities Committee, said the problem was, ‘unless you have an incestuous relationship with your contractor’, farming out noticing systems would delay information reaching co-ordination meetings.

‘The meetings between highway authorities are quarterly, so there’s every chance that major street works projects will slip through the net, and other boroughs won’t find out about them until a week before they’re due to take place.’

With some of the functions, such as giving directions that placing apparatus in the street was likely to cause disruption, there might be a conflict of commercial interest, according to Lucas – ‘a recipe for legal wrangling in the courts’.

‘You could have Fred Bloggs contractor doing your contract, and another part of Fred Bloggs company wanting to install some apparatus, and a rival to Fred Bloggs also wanting to go in. Would there be confidence that the contractor’s decision was fair?’

The DfT is seeking views until 22 February on whether or not the proposed activities would be suitable for contracting out.