Agenda item

Briefing Note of the Head of Highways

The Scrutiny Board considered a Briefing Note and comprehensive presentation of the Head of Highways which provided an update on the Highways Asset Management Programme and an overview of the scoring mechanism, as well as delivery of the programme. Additionally, the note focused on the effectiveness of strategy in managing potholes and overall performance in line with the One Coventry Plan (OCP) indicator National Highways and Transport Network (NHT) resident satisfaction survey data.

In July 2022 the scheme assessment process was reviewed by the Communities and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Boards. No additional comments or recommendations were made by the Board.

The use of asset management principles has been applied for many years in Coventry to ensure appropriate investment with longer term planning and this is set out in detail within the Highways Infrastructure Asset Management Plan which was also published in 2016.

The note stated that every year during December and January the Councils Highway Maintenance Technical Services engineers, working with the Asset Management Engineer prepare a draft programme of schemes for approval by senior highway managers which is then presented to Cabinet. The schemes are presented as part of the Transportation and Highway Maintenance Capital Programme in March each year.

Pre and proceeding the officer’s presentation, Councillor P Hetherton, the Cabinet Member for City Services, drew the Board’s attention to a number of important salient points. Namely that, currently the state of highways has been a popular issue in the press and the council is working hard to tackle not just issues on the roads but also on pavements and footpaths – modern technology, such as the JCB Pothole Pro, has been a crucial tool in overcoming these challenges. She also highlighted the ongoing long-term issue of climate change, and the impact wetter weather is having in exposing road surfaces to the increased likelihood of potholes and damage. She stated these challenges were likely to remain in the future.

The Board questioned Officers and the Cabinet Member and received responses on a number of matters relating to the Highways Asset Management Programme:

·  Which areas receive pothole maintenance first and how is this selected? How is deprivation related to this?

·  What is the mechanism for determining deprivation in the city?

·  Who are the Highways Operation Team (DLO) operatives in each area and how do we get in contact with them?

·  What is the process of assigning a score to each pothole in the ‘worst first’ approach?

·  Continuing surface treatment plans still being in use and the state of unmaintained pavements in residential areas – the financial investment needed to repair footpaths.

·  Works carried out by City Fibre, Severn Trent and other utilities companies lifting paving slabs, flooding areas, cutting IT cables, and inflicting permanent damage on pavements and roads as a result – are fines imposed as a result of this damage?

·  How to enforce against illegal dropped curbs.

·  Increasing use of vans on roads and the knock-on effect of parking on pavements not built to withstand continual parking.

·  Possibility of S&R construction assisting in identifying potholes and the lifecycle of removed paving slabs of good condition.

·  Assigning priorities for potentially life-threatening potholes.

·  The role of the planning committee in determining dropped curbs on new developments for those with accessibility issues.

·  The backlog of highway maintenance jobs due to recent weather conditions.

·  Encouragement through council literature such as Citivision for residents converting front gardens into driveways to apply for a dropped curb.

The Cabinet Member concluded the Board’s questions by drawing their attention to the Travel Access Plan which will be used as a guide for all road users and pedestrians. She also touched upon the questions raised around the works and damages carried out by City Fibre and the difficult meetings held with them as a result. Additionally, she highlighted the use of new technology such as drones to survey road conditions during different times of the day. New technologies, therefore, feed into the council’s approach to address ongoing climate change issues, with drainage being an especially crucial issue. She emphasised, however, that nothing beats employees on the ground who can address critical issues straight away and continue to do an amazing job across the city.

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Board considers the content of the briefing note and appendices.