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10 | 5TH - 11TH SEPTEMBER 2014 | UTILITY WEEK Interview It's not quite that simple – but Gallienne's vision isn't far away. "We want to be in a situation as far as possible (and it's not always possible), that we're carrying out major works at the same time, or at least going in sequentially, with only one set of reinstatement done." This, he believes, will find a far more sympathetic public. "If you explain why and for how long, in terms of streetworks, people will understand it and get it. There is a point at which things become unacceptable and there needs to be more effective co- ordination providing greater opportunity to reduce road occupation." There's the rub. The interaction with the planning authorities is oen fraught, with frustrations on both sides. This is just about to get more complicated, when a government move to further devolve certain powers to local authorities takes effect this autumn. Permit schemes for streetworks currently pass through the Department for Transport, where they are "rigorously examined and approved", and NJUG has the right to comment, which it has done more than 20 times in the past few months. This all changes in October when these powers devolve to local authorities. Gallienne fears this could destroy consistency, creating confusion and costing utilities – and ultimately customers – time and money. "One of the things that concerns us is that if the guidelines and conditions that have been set down are not complied with or are misinterpreted, what oppor- tunity do we have as utilities to appeal? We're lobbying hard into government at the moment to say there needs to be the ability for utilities to have somewhere to go and say that a particular scheme is being incorrectly applied, it doesn't comply with the regulations or codes of prac- tice conditions, and we believe there should be a referee who can rule on that." Gallienne cites the Scottish model: "They have a Roads Works Commissioner and she has responsibil- ity looking across roads authorities and utilities, on an equal basis. Where they're not working together effectively, she can put pressure to bring everyone up to the correct level." Does Gallienne believe there should be a similar com- missioner in England? "That's a difficult call because people would see it as another quango. But once we've extracted the data showing the rising administration cost of permit schemes as just one example, it could become clear that the cost of having a small office, which would monitor and provide checks and balances, would pay significant dividends." This data-gathering is the next phase for NJUG. It is collecting numbers to quantify the cost of streetworks, and specifically the potential cost of the changes to permit schemes. "We're looking at the future cost risk to utilities if permit schemes and lane rental are rolled out across the whole of the country, and other potential aspects of leg- islation which are out there, because then we can start to put a scale and number on that. It won't be insignifi- cant and there's only one place it goes to, which is the public, and we need to question the benefit of it." With this information, says Gallienne, NJUG will be "fully armed to move forward". It's already made changes below the radar. First, Gallienne, who took the helm at NJUG in August last year, tightened up the organ- isation's structure. A diverse membership organisation, it represents utilities of all kinds, as well as contractors and other members of the supply chain. "We have 53 members in total and a number of companies affiliated to NJUG. One of the things I wanted to change when I joined was to provide board-level representation of contractors – because it's the contractors who are actually carrying out a great deal of the work. We have resolved this and Dan Holland, the managing director of Amey utilities and defence division, has just joined the board. "I've restructured NJUG to have a strategic board that's looking forward and really understanding where we should be adding value, and what actions we have to take. In addition, we have a management team, which we didn't have before, which is the engine room of NJUG, which is now responsible for ensuring that the strategy agreed by the board is delivered." With its own house in order, NJUG can concentrate on the serious business of influencing policy. "We are now very focused on representing our members in our interface with government and stakeholders, particu- larly in the run-up to the election and beyond. I've spent quite a large proportion of my time visiting all our members and stakeholders, and had close to 100 visits in the first 12 months. "I've been explaining the way in which NJUG is changing, and setting our key areas of focus in terms of driving up standards of work and minimising road occupation where safe and practical to do so, as well as understanding the true costs of undertaking streetworks. I think we have clarity on that now." For Gallienne, success means avoiding the kind of political interference that has become standard in the energy supply sector. "It's about being trusted to self- regulate; an acceptance that we are able to demonstrate we are responsible and delivering to the standards required. Success is a period of stability where we're able to concentrate on delivering further excellence rather than implementing new legislative requirements with no clear benefits to the community as a whole." With a background running international operations for water companies, including stints in Bulgaria and Manila, Gallienne is well versed in the importance of diplomacy and relationships. When the call came about the NJUG job, he saw "something I could get my teeth into and make a difference". Aer a year in the job, he's well on the way. "The cost risk won't be insignificant and there's only one place it goes to, the public, so we need to question the benefit [of permit schemes]" Streetworks category added to Achievement Awards Utility Week and NJUG have teamed up to launch the new Streetworks award, which will be presented at the 2014 Utility Week Achievement Awards on 8 December. The shortlist for the Streetworks award will be drawn from the winners of the NJUG awards, which will be hosted by Louise Ellman MP, chair of the Transport Select Committee, on 19 November in the Houses of Parliament and sponsored by Affinity Water and Virgin Media. This year will see seven award categories, with NJUG introducing a specific category of 'innovation' to the newly revised NJUG Vision for Streetworks. The award categories are: • Safety • Quality • Minimising disruption • Keeping the public fully informed • Sustainability • Avoiding damage • Innovation Entries for the NJUG awards close on 15 October. See njug.org.uk for details.