1.Which Local Authority vehicles are stopped from using the bus gates (ie cannot use them)
Devon County Council and Exeter City Council vehicles being used in pursuance of statutory powers or duties are permitted to use the bus gates. Such vehicles not being used in pursuance of statutory powers or duties would not be permitted to use the bus gates.
2. What is the reasoning for any Local Authority vehicle being exempt, other than it seems obvious to allow refuse lorries for ease of routing schedules. Why are exempt LA vehicles deemed a priority over users such as blue badge holders, carers, community nurses etc? Is the exemption a business decision to save on travel claim mileage and to improve time efficiencies? If not, what are the reasons?
The exemption for local authority service vehicles has been implemented to enable public services to be delivered as efficiently as practicable. It is expected that Local Authority vehicles would comply with the bus gate restrictions unless it was considered necessary to utilise the exemption, such as refuse collection and school transport vehicles. The exemption of Local Authority vehicles is consistent with other restrictions.
Local authority service vehicles can usually be easily identified, as they are typically branded with the logo of the relevant local authority. In contrast, vehicles used by care workers and the other groups listed above are less likely to be readily distinguishable from other vehicles, as such groups may use their own (unbranded) vehicles. Therefore, the bus gate restrictions would be less enforceable if the latter groups were exempted, likely reducing compliance and thus reducing the effectiveness of the Active Streets trial in relation to reducing traffic on residential streets.
3. What mechanisms are in place to ensure that LA vehicle users only use the bus gates whilst on official business? Is it possible that employees are using the bus gates out of work hours?
No formal mechanisms are in place to ensure local authority vehicle users only use the bus gates in pursuance of statutory powers or duties. It is possible that local authority employees may be using the bus gates for other purposes, however if this is not expressly permitted under the relevant Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (the Devon County Council (Various Roads, Exeter) (Prohibition of Vehicles) Experimental Order 2023, as modified), such employees may be liable to enforcement action.