Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders Charging and Advertising
Argyll and Bute Council · 19 June 2025
Back to Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee — 19 June 2025 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE 19 JUNE 2025 SERVICES TEMPORARY TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDERS CHARGING AND ADVERTISING 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 In recent years, several organisations have raised concerns regarding the requirement to pay for Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTROs), particularly for events, and have questioned how these orders are advertised. 1.2 Following these enquiries, officers committed to bringing a report to the June meeting of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure (EDI) Committee. This report would include recommendations relating to event charging and advertising. This report provides an update on that commitment and seeks Members' agreement to undertake a wider review. The aim of this review is to ensure a consistent approach is applied to all applications and events. RECOMMENDATIONS It is recommended that the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee:- • Agrees that officers carry out a review of the event application costs associated with TTRO charges and advertising; • Agree that a report outlining the scope and methodology of that review, including engagement with event organisers, will be reported to the next Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee; and • Agree that the current Fees and Charges in relation to TTROs for events are suspended and the loss of income estimated to be up to £45,000 in 2025/26 is funded from the Priorities Investment Fund.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE 19 JUNE 2025 SERVICES TEMPORARY TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDERS CHARGING AND ADVERTISING 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and The Road Traffic (Temporary Restrictions) Procedure Regulations 1992 provide powers to the Council, as a Traffic Authority, to place restrictions on roads under their control. 2.2 As far as practicable, the Service seeks to recover reasonable costs for the provision of road restrictions or closures. Advertising in a local newspaper incurs a cost to the Council on top of this. 2.3 In recent years, several organisations and event organisers have raised concerns about the requirement to pay for the temporary orders and queried how these are advertised. This resulted in an agreement to provide a report to the June Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee. 2.4 Whilst gathering information for this report it was noted that there appears to be inconsistencies across the area in relation to charges with some events not going through the application process and therefore potentially not following our fees and charges policy. 2.5 This report seeks agreement to carry out a wider review of the events application process including fees and charges. The detail of how that review will be carried out and engagement with event organisers will be reported to the next Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee. 3.0 RECOMMENDATION 3.1 It is recommended that the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee: • Agrees that officers carry out a review of the event application costs associated with TTRO charges and advertising; • Agree that a report outlining the scope and methodology of that review, including engagement with event organisers, will be reported to the next Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee; and • Agree that the current Fees and Charges in relation to TTROs for events are suspended and the loss of income estimated to be up to £45,000 in
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2025/26 is funded from the Priorities Investment Fund. 4.0 DETAIL 4.1 Argyll and Bute Council receive a large number of applications for various events across our Council area from Running events to Christmas lights being switched on. 4.2 Several organisers have asked that the fees be waived for charities and often provide evidence of this as Registered Charity Number. Members should note that this could include organisations from youth groups to football clubs to racing clubs and not necessarily charities like Cancer Research or the British Heart Foundation, for example. The impact of exempting any group that is registered as a charity could result in no fees being collected for events. This will impact a revenue stream which supports two full time equivalent (F.T.E.) members of staff (alongside the s14 charges) and could impose a burden on already constrained budget. 4.3 Recently we reviewed our event applications which are now online and the view of officers is that a wider review is required including engagement with event organisers. 4.4 The Council at its budget meeting on 27 February, agreed the fees and charges for 2025/26 which included an amendment to the fees being charged for Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders where event organisers are now responsible for paying officers costs as well as the advertising fees associated with a road restriction or closure. 4.5 Officers have further noted that some events are not following the application process and as a result roads are being closed potentially in contravention of the relevant Road Traffic Regulations. 4.6 Whilst there was a commitment by officers to provide a report to the June Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee with recommendations around event charging and advertising, officers suggest that further investigation is required to allow a better understanding of the local inconsistencies around events. With this in mind, officers recommend a full review is carried out of our events charging and applications in relation to TTROs which would be brought to a future Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee. 4.7 To support this, it is further recommended that Members agree to suspend the current Fees and Charges in relation to events requiring a TTRO. It is expected that this could cost up to £45,000 in 2025/26 and Members are asked to agree to fund this pressure from the Priorities Investment Fund. 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 This report seeks Members' agreement to undertake a comprehensive review of the event application costs associated with TTRO charges and advertising. A report outlining the scope and methodology of this review will be presented at the
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next meeting of this Committee. In the interim, Members are also being asked to agree to suspend the current fees and charges for TTROs related to event advertising until the review is completed. The anticipated cost of this suspension could be up to £45,000 in 2025/26. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy – legislative not policy. 6.2 Financial – the suspension of charges will lead to a loss of income. It is expected that this would be up to £45,000 in 2025/26 and it is recommended that Council agree to fund this loss from the Priorities Investment fund. 6.3 Legal – potential challenge if community newspapers are used instead of reconsider local newspapers, the likelihood of challenge is unknown. 6.4 HR – none. 6.5 Customer Service – clarity in what charges apply will allow event organisers to plan accordingly. 6.6 Risk – potential legal challenge if deemed to have incorrectly advertised notices. 6.7 Climate Change – none known 6.8 Fairer Scotland Duty: none known. 6.9 Equalities - protected characteristics – none known. 6.10 Consumer Duty – none known. 6.11 Islands – none known. 6.12 Children’s rights and wellbeing – none known. Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure: Kirsty Flanagan Policy Lead for Roads and Transportation: Councillor John Armour June 2025 For further information contact: Stephen Hall, Interim Head of Roads and Infrastructure Service stephen.hall@argyll-bute.gov.uk Hugh O’Neill, Network and Standards Manager hugh.oneill@argyll-bute.gov.uk