Overview

Environmental permits, licences and consents (PLCs) require a company secretary to sign the application. Network Rail uses a Delegation of Authority (DoA) process to transfer authority from the company secretary to an appropriate senior colleague. 

For environmental PLCs, authorisation should be given to the colleague with the ultimate control over the activity or asset that needs the PLC.

A DoA must be authorised for all environmental PLCs, whether the PLC requires a signature of an ‘Officer of the Company’ or not.

If you’re unsure whether you need a DoA, please contact the Environment and Sustainability inbox environmentandsustainability@networkrail.co.uk

Applicability

This process applies to Network Rail–owned and managed PLCs. Delegation can only be given to permanent Network Rail employees.

• External contractors are responsible for managing their own PLCs
• If a PLC obtained by an external party needs to be transferred to Network Rail, that third party also needs a DoA

How the process works

1. Contact the Technical Authority team at: environmentandsustainability@networkrail.co.uk
2. The team will arrange a meeting to confirm that the proposed delegate understands the associated environmental and organisational risks
3. On approval, Technical Authority will advise the appropriate authority that delegation of authority can be given.
4. A delegation letter will be signed by the appropriate authority meaning that delegated authority is formally applied and the delegate can sign and submit the relevant environmental applications.

Further guidance

You can find the Delegation of Authority guidance note on the Guidance notes page.