Roads and transport

DISCLAIMER
The duties listed below are currently under review and have not yet been formally signed off by the relevant professional association. The information provided is for reference only and should not be treated as final or authoritative guidance. Please verify any decisions against approved sources or seek professional advice. Updates will be published once sign-off is complete.

Manage and maintain public roads

Councils have a duty to manage and maintain all public roads within their area.
Ensure road safety

Councils have a duty to make sure public roads are as safe as possible for everyone who uses them.
Maintain street lighting on public roads

Councils have a responsibility to maintain street lighting on public roads.
Make improvements to public roads

Councils have the power to make improvements to public roads to keep them safe, efficient, and fit for modern use.
Construct new roads

Councils have the power to build new roads when they are needed to improve transport links or support development.
Implement traffic management schemes and regulation orders

Councils have the power to implement traffic management schemes and make Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs).
Designate and enforce parking management

Councils have the power to manage parking on local roads by designating where vehicles can and cannot park and enforcing those rules.
Provide roadside amenities

Councils have the power to provide certain roadside amenities to make journeys safer and more convenient.
Promote sustainable transport

Councils have the power to promote sustainable transport, encouraging travel options that are better for the environment and reduce congestion
Regulate proper use of disabled parking

Councils have the power to regulate and enforce the proper use of disabled parking spaces.
Enforce penalty notices for contravention bus lane use

Councils have the power to enforce rules on bus lane use and issue penalty notices when drivers break those rules
Oversee adoption of private roads

Councils are required to oversee the legal process for private roads becoming public roads and to act where public safety is at risk.
Oversee adoption of private roads
Acquire land by compulsory purchase for road purposes

Councils have the power to acquire land through compulsory purchase when it is needed for building or improving roads.
Coordinate road works and ensure compliant reinstatement

Councils, as Roads Works Authorities, have a duty to coordinate all works on roads for which they are responsible.
Carry out chargeable inspections of roadworks

Councils can carry out a set number of paid‑for inspections on roadworks while they are happening and after they have been completed.
Enter into Quality Partnership Schemes

Councils have the power to enter into Quality Partnership Schemes with bus operators to improve local bus services.
Make a Quality Contract Scheme

Councils, as local transport authorities, can create a Quality Contract Scheme (QC scheme) for bus services in their area.
Secure provision of public transport services where not provided commercially

Councils have a duty to make sure people can access local bus services, even in areas where private operators do not run them.
Influence Rail and Ferry Services

Councils do not run rail or ferry services directly, but they have an important role in influencing how these services fit with local transport plans.
Plan, deliver, and promote active travel

Councils have a duty to plan, deliver, and promote active travel, which means making it easier for people to walk, cycle, and wheel as part of their daily journeys.
Provide public information on local bus services

Councils have a duty to make sure people can easily find information about local bus services.
Subsidise bus services

Councils have the power to subsidise bus services to make sure essential routes continue to operate, even if they are not profitable for commercial operators.
Enter Bus Service Improvement Partnerships (BSIPs) or franchising arrangements

Councils have the power to improve local bus services by entering into Bus Service Improvement Partnerships (BSIPs) or introducing franchising arrangements.
Implement ticketing schemes and smart ticketing

Councils can introduce ticketing schemes that make it easier for people to use public transport.
Consider integration with rail and ferry services in local transport strategies

Councils have a duty to consider how rail and ferry services fit into their local transport strategies.
Influence service provision through Regional Transport Partnerships and consultation

Councils have the power to influence rail, ferry, and wider transport services through Regional Transport Partnerships and consultation processes
Support ferry infrastructure or local piers

Councils have the power to support ferry infrastructure and local piers, usually through their harbour management powers.
Support development of airports

Councils have the power to support the development of local airports, but this is limited by law and subsidy control rules.
Apply for Harbour Empowerment or Revision Orders to manage or improve harbours

Councils have the power to apply for Harbour Empowerment or Harbour Revision Orders when they want to manage or improve a harbour.
Comply with safety and environmental standards for harbour operations

Councils that manage or operate harbours have a duty to follow all safety and environmental standards.
Provide road safety education, training, and information

Councils can provide road safety education, training, and information to help reduce accidents and keep people safe on the roads.
Provide, manage, and maintain off-street car parks

Councils can provide, manage, and maintain off-street car parks to support local transport and accessibility.
Coordinate and regulate utility works on public roads

Councils must coordinate and regulate utility works on public roads to keep traffic moving safely and protect road infrastructure.
Control Obstructions and Works Affecting Roads

Councils, as roads authorities, must regulate and manage anything placed on or under a public road, including obstructions, apparatus, excavations, vaults, and cellars.
Control Obstructions and Works Affecting Roads
Make a Scheme for Constructing a Bridge over Navigable Waters

When a council, acting as a local roads authority, wants to build a bridge as part of a public road across navigable waters, it must promote a formal scheme under the Act.
Administer the National Concessionary Travel Scheme

Councils help residents apply for and obtain a National Entitlement Card (NEC), which is required to access free bus travel for eligible older and disabled people.
Support the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme

Councils play a supporting role in the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme by assisting with local NEC applications, including verifying identity and providing help for families who need support accessing the system.
Publish prior information notices in local print media

Councils must tell the public in advance about certain proposals or decisions that could affect them, and give people a fair chance to comment or object.
Administer and enforce the Blue Badge scheme

Councils are responsible for running and managing the Blue Badge scheme.
Manage council fleet operations

Councils must look after all the vehicles the council owns or uses, such as vans, cars, and maintenance trucks.
Ensure seatbelts of dedicated school transport

Councils must ensure that every seat in vehicles used for school transport - like buses that take pupils to and from school or on school trips - has a seat belt.
Provide school crossing patrols

The council has the power to provide school crossing patrols to help children cross roads safely on their way to and from school.
Provide free home-to-school transport for eligible pupils

Councils are responsible for arranging free transport for pupils who qualify, such as those living beyond a set distance from school or with additional support needs.
Improve road and entrance safety for pupils

Councils may take measures to reduce the risk of accidents for pupils travelling to or from schools or other educational establishments under its management.
Remove abandoned vehicles from roads and open land

Councils must remove vehicles that have been abandoned on roads or in open spaces when they are reported.
Enforce vehicle emissions regulations in Low Emission Zones

Councils must enforce vehicle emissions regulations in Low Emission Zones to reduce air pollution and improve public health.
Determine Roads Construction Consent (RCC) applications

Roads Construction Consent (RCC) is legally required when a developer wants to build new roads or extend existing ones within a development.
Require, assess and manage road bonds

Before the council can approve Roads Construction Consent (RCC) for new residential developments, the developer must provide a financial road bond.