Scaffolding licence terms and conditions

The licensee is entirely responsible for the scaffolding and must adhere to the terms and conditions set out below.

Failure to comply with these terms and conditions may result in enforcement action, including fixed penalty notices and/or prosecution. If any of the requirements of this Licence are not complied with, we may take such measures as necessary to mark, guard, light or remove the scaffold and clean and repair the highway and the licensee shall be liable for the costs incurred in such measures.

Enforcement officers will be patrolling the streets of the borough on a regular basis to make sure that all scaffolding is legitimately sited; adhering to the terms and conditions set out in the permit and promptly removed following their permit expiry.

Terms and conditions

1. The licensee shall not leave the scaffold on the public highway unlicensed
2. A laminated copy of the permit (or subsequent renewal) shall be displayed on site in a visible position whilst the scaffolding is erected
3. The licensee shall ensure safe access for pedestrians is maintained at all times. This is to include a clear and protected footway or temporary footway width of 1.2 metres minimum
4. The licensee shall ensure no existing road sign or line is obstructed or rendered less effective by the construction of the scaffold
5. The erection and removal of the scaffolding shall take place between the permit start and end dates
6. Scaffold poles on public footways shall be covered with red and white tape for high visibility
7. Scaffold poles on the public footway shall be covered with yellow rubber sleeving
8. No cross poles should be placed across the footway between ground level and first lift level
9. The first level shall be closed double boarded and all levels to have kick/toe boards
10. The upper levels shall have netting attached to prevent any debris from falling onto the public highway
11. Clear headroom of 2.4 metres shall be provided above sections of the footway where a gantry is present for pedestrians to walk through
12. Pole base plates (either metal or plastic) shall be in place to protect the footway
13. Scaffold boards are not to be placed underneath poles or base plates
14. The scaffold shall be lit during the hours of darkness using bulk head lights attached to the poles at 3 metre spacing. The lights must be present on the scaffold at all times for inspection
15. Poles, boards or associated fittings are not to be stored on the highway during erecting and dismantling the scaffold.
16. The scaffold company name and contact details shall be clearly displayed on the structure
17. The licensee shall remove or reposition the scaffold if required by us, or the police, or legal undertaker's access to our/their apparatus
18. All ladders or climbing aids should be removed and locked away each evening to prevent unauthorised persons from climbing the scaffold
19. The licensee shall keep the gantry (if applicable), footway and roadside around the scaffold free from rubbish or obstruction
20. The scaffold must remain in use by the licensee, new contractors will need to make a new permit application in order to take over the permit of a scaffold
21. The licensee shall notify the Highways Licensing and Enforcement Team when the scaffold has been removed
22. The licensee shall have public liability insurance of £5 million to work on the public highway. Failure to have insurance would result in your permit becoming invalid
23. The scaffold shall not be used for advertising purposes without consent in writing (planning permission) from our Planning team
24. Scaffold delivery lorries must not obstruct vehicular traffic during the delivery, erection, dismantling or removal of the scaffold

Erection of scaffolding

1. The scaffold shall be erected, used and dismantled in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines and compliance with the relevant safety legislation including the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and BS EN 12811-1:2003, the codes of practice for areas and working scaffolds and special scaffold structures in steel. There must be compliance with the H.S.E (Health and Safety Executive) conditions and guidance notes and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
2. The licensee shall ensure all personnel working with the scaffold are competent and efficient and take all the relevant and necessary safety precautions
3. Scaffold lorries must not be parked on the road so as to obstruct road users during delivery, erection, dismantling and removal of the scaffold
4. The licensee shall undertake the erection of the scaffold in off peak hours i.e. early morning, at night or weekends. This is very important where the location is within a town centre, or a busy pedestrian area. In quiet streets, the times may be negotiated. In all cases, the times of erecting the scaffold shall be agreed in advance with us
5. Where a temporary footway closure is required as part of the permit, or for erecting the scaffold, a pedestrian and traffic management plan shall be agreed in writing, in advance with us, to safely divert pedestrians and /or traffic
6. The licensee is responsible for providing a pedestrian and traffic management plan to include the signing and guarding of the site, in accordance with Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual 1991, and the Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice
7. The licensee is responsible for the suspension of any parking bays and for providing all banksmen, signage, barriers, ramps etc as agreed in the traffic management plan. These items shall be checked and secured in the correct position each morning prior to commencing work
8. The licensee shall ensure the scaffold is removed on or before the expiry of the permit unless an application for a renewal of the permit has been made to, and authorised by, us
9. Where Planning Permission, Building Control approval or any other consent is required for the proposed works, the relevant authorisation shall be in place prior to requesting a permit and placing a scaffold on site
10. Poles, boards or associated fittings are not to be stored on the highway during erecting and dismantling the scaffold
11. The licensee shall notify us when the scaffold has been removed