Report No: 91/2020

(Key Decision)

Cabinet approved that the additional Pothole and Challenge Funding received of £1,295,000 be used for carriageway works and added to the Highways Capital Maintenance Programme originally approved in April 2020.

Cabinet noted that the total value of the revised Highways Capital Maintenance Programme was now £3,252,000.

Cabinet delegated to Director of Places in consultation with Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure, Highways & Transportation & Road Safety and Portfolio Holder for Resources the authority to re-prioritise the planned programme of highways schemes if necessary up to a threshold of 20% of total programme value.

Councillor Stephenson, as the relevant Cabinet Member notified members that they had received additional funds and the report outlined how the Council were intending to spend the funds. It would address complete works which they would not have been able to do from existing capital maintenance budgets. Appendix A provided a breakdown of broad headings and Appendix B provided a more detailed breakdown of individual schemes.

In response to questions asked, Councillor Stephenson explained that the revenue budget report provided more detailed information on drainage and that work was being carried out by Tarmac to address specific areas that had previously been affected by spring water and land drainage issues.

Councillor Hemsley proposed an additional recommendation be included in the report to ‘Delegate to Director of Places in consultation with Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure, Highways & Transportation & Road Safety and Portfolio Holder for Resources the authority to re-prioritise the planned programme of highways schemes if necessary up to a threshold of 20% of total programme value’. Councillor Stephenson explained that this would allow for some flexibility and latitude and noted that she believed it to be a prudent move.

RESOLVED:

1)    That the additional Pothole and Challenge Funding received of £1,295,000 be used for carriageway works and added to the Highways Capital Maintenance Programme originally approved in April 2020 be approved.

2)    That the total value of the revised Highways Capital Maintenance Programme was now £3,252,000 be noted.

3)    That authority be delegated to Director of Places in consultation with Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure, Highways & Transportation & Road Safety and Portfolio Holder for Resources to re-prioritise the planned programme of highways schemes if necessary up to a threshold of 20% of total programme value’

Reason: It is recommended to approve the allocation of the Pothole and Challenge Fund funding for the future maintenance of the carriageway assets using a risk based approach. Additionally to reshape the whole highways maintenance capital programme to provide significant investment in carriageways, much needed investment in footways and highways drainage. Approval will allow the Council to fulfil its statutory duties with regard to highway maintenance and road safety.