DISRUPTION BY UTILITY COMPANIES

That this House notes with concern that too often roads and pavements are dug up by utility companies with little or no co-ordination; recognises the frustration this causes for local residents and businesses; laments the limited powers given to local authorities to direct, co-ordinate and manage this disruption; and calls on the Government to invest local authorities with the necessary powers effectively to co-ordinate the digging up of roads and pavements by utility companies.