Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Permit Scheme

Policy Statement - Circumstances in which the Permit Authority will review, vary or revoke permits on its own initiative

Once a permit has been issued, the activity promoter should have reasonable confidence that the road space will be available for them. However, circumstances beyond the Permit Authority's control may occur which may cause the Permit Authority to review the permit and, as a result, may lead to the conclusion that the permit or its conditions need to be varied or revoked.

The Permit Authority's policy is to avoid making such variations other than in exceptional circumstances which could not reasonably have been predicted or where the impact is significant. Such events may include floods and other adverse weather conditions, burst mains, dangerous buildings, etc. which may result in traffic being diverted onto the road where the activity was underway or about to start.

If the consequent disruption of such events cannot be mitigated in a way other than by varying or revoking the permit, the Permit Authority will adopt the following procedure:

• as soon as the Permit Authority is aware that it may be necessary to vary or revoke a
• permit, it will contact the activity promoter to discuss the best way of dealing with the situation
• if these discussions lead to an acceptable solution for both the Permit Authority and the activity promoter, the activity promoter will apply for a permit variation from which the Permit Authority will grant the new permit. Failing that, the Permit Authority will issue an "Authority Imposed Variation"
• in the event that agreement cannot be reached, and the Permit Authority believes the terms to be reasonable, then the activity promoter would have the option of invoking the dispute resolution procedure
• no fee will be charged for permit variations or the revoking of a permit where it is initiated by the Permit Authority unless, at the same time, the activity promoter seeks additional permit variations
• the above policy does not restrict the Permit Authority from revoking a permit if the activity promoter is considered to be acting unreasonably and causing unnecessary disruption to the flow of traffic or pedestrians.