Issue - meetings

The Corporate Director of Economy & Place to present a report which seeks approval for funding allocations to commence the ward funding element of the council’s highway maintenance programme and adopt maintenance categories for development of a new Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Plan.

Resolved:  (i)      That, following Council’s approval in July of the supplementary budget allocating an extra £1m for immediate highway repairs and £1m for cycling and walking initiatives, £500k of the highway funding and £500k of the cycling and walking funding be allocated to wards to distribute.

                   (ii)      That approval be given to commence immediately with the ward funding element of the highway maintenance programme detailed in the report to Executive on 29 August 2019 entitled ‘Refresh of Ward Committees’.

                   (iii)     That approval be given to adopt the maintenance categories for the development of a new Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Plan (HAMP), namely: Ward Funding, Reactive Maintenance, Preventative Maintenance and Proactive Maintenance.

                   (iv)    That, as part of the annual budget process, funding be considered in accordance with the categories identified in (iii) above.

                   (vi)    That the current balance between the funding categories be maintained until such time as a new HAMP is adopted, noting that any significant deviation from the current balance ahead of adoption of the HAMP would require specific advice.

Reason:     To ensure that the council’s investment in assets responds to community needs and the council’s commitment to ward funding, while ensuring that budget allocation is as effective as possible and delivered in accordance with best practice and the Well Managed Highways Infrastructure Code of Practice,

The Assistant Director of Transport, Highways & Environment presented a report which proposed allocations to commence the ward funding element of the council’s highway maintenance programme and sought approval to adopt maintenance categories for the development of a new Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Plan (HAMP).

A review of the HAMP was required in order to continue receiving the maximum annual funding for highway maintenance from the Department for Transport, currently £250k, and comply with the Well Managed Highways Infrastructure code of practice. The HAMP would provide a framework for budget recommendations against each category of maintenance.  It would also help Members determine the right balance between each category, in light of the current £120m shortfall in the funding requirement for the council’s highway.  Since ward councillors were well placed to  identify highways issues in their communities, it was proposed to create a budget for wards to spend on highway maintenance, via the decision process outlined in the report to Executive on 29 August 2019 (Minute 31of that meeting refers)

The Executive Member for Transport welcomed the report and the proposed new categories.  Having noted the comments made under Public Participation, it was

Resolved:  (i)      That, following Council’s approval in July of the supplementary budget allocating an extra £1m for immediate highway repairs and £1m for cycling and walking initiatives, £500k of the highway funding and £500k of the cycling and walking funding be allocated to wards to distribute.

                   (ii)      That approval be given to commence immediately with the ward funding element of the highway maintenance programme detailed in the report to Executive on 29 August 2019 entitled ‘Refresh of Ward Committees’.

                   (iii)     That approval be given to adopt the maintenance categories for the development of a new Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Plan (HAMP), namely: Ward Funding, Reactive Maintenance, Preventative Maintenance and Proactive Maintenance.

                   (iv)    That, as part of the annual budget process, funding be considered in accordance with the categories identified in (iii) above.

                   (vi)    That the current balance between the funding categories be maintained until such time as a new HAMP is adopted, noting that any significant deviation from the current balance ahead of adoption of the HAMP would require specific advice.

Reason:     To ensure that the council’s investment in assets responds to community needs and to the council’s commitment to ward funding, while ensuring that budget allocation is as effective as possible and delivered in accordance with best practice and the Well Managed Highways Infrastructure Code of Practice.