Purpose

Ensures the permits offered for the trial traffic filters are appropriate and workable. 

New permit is in response to feedback from the court. The location of the court means a significant detour might be required for some magistrates who drive to court.  Unpaid magistrates can be challenging to recruit and retain, and the court has raised concerns about magistrates’ personal security when travelling to and from court.

The driving test centre permit added under a delegated decision in July 2026 has proved administratively unworkable for the test centre and in agreement with them the permit will no longer be offered.

Decision

Addition of new permit type

Additional permit allowing travel through the traffic filters locations for unpaid magistrates serving at Oxford Magistrate’s Court.

Free permit, managed by the court and applicable only on up to 30 days per magistrate per year in line with estimated sitting days provided by the court.  Can only be used by magistrates travelling to or from the court.

Removal of permit type

The driving test centre permit added under a delegated decision in July 2026 has proved administratively unworkable for the test centre and in agreement with DVSA the permit will no longer be offered.

Reasons for the decision

Addition of magistrates’ permit

• Change is in response to feedback from the court. The location of the court means a significant detour might be required for some magistrates who drive to court.  Unpaid magistrates can be challenging to recruit and retain, and the court has raised concerns about magistrates’ personal security when travelling to and from court.

• Change is consistent with the objectives of the traffic filters scheme and the council’s broader transport policies, and helps ensure the scheme is appropriate, workable and equitable.

• Change demonstrates that the council has continued to listen to feedback as part of its commitments to customer service and community engagement.

• The change is minor and does not materially alter the impacts of the scheme approved by cabinet in November 2022.

Removal of driving test centre permit

The driving test centre permit added under a delegated decision in July 2026 has proved administratively unworkable for the test centre and in agreement with them the permit will no longer be offered.

Alternative options considered

Officers considered:

• not making the changes at all
• different changes that could achieve the same or similar outcomes

The recommended changes were considered to be the simplest and most effective way to achieve the desired outcome.  Not making the changes at all could lead to reasonable accusations of unnecessary inflexibility and unwillingness to respond to feedback.