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ITEM EX11(a)

EXECUTIVE – 11 NOVEMBER 2003

REVIEW OF HIGHWAY REPAIRS AND DRAINAGE

Report by Assistant Director (Highway Management)

Introduction

  1. This report is written to provide my response to the recommendations of the Environment Scrutiny Committee and assist the Executive in making a decision on these.

  2. The Scrutiny Review Panel discussed with me whether to take on this Review before they committed themselves to it. We agreed that the Panel’s wish to approach the Review from the Public’s perspective would be a helpful and useful response to the Best Value Inspectors’ criticism that the authority should carry out more in-depth research into public opinion about the highway maintenance service. The Panel’s work on this has resulted in a thorough and very informative survey. The use of the South Oxfordshire Area Forums as part of this exploration of opinion seems to me to be one of the better uses of these Forums.

    3. Response to the Recommendations

  3. I Concur with all of the recommendations. They are coincident with our maintenance policy development, or with the Best Value Review Action Plan, or can comfortably be fitted into work in progress.

  4. Considering the substantive recommendations individually:

    5. R2 is our current policy

    R6 fits in with the general thrust of the conclusions of the Best Value Review of Construction Procurement.

    R5 can be incorporated into the Best Value Review of Customer Care currently being carried out.

    R7 is in the Best Value Review Action Plan and an objective that in any case deserves continuing attention.

    R8 is another recommendation that will be considered within the Customer Care Review.

    R3 is consistent with the Code of Good Practice for Maintenance Management and something we should do.

    R4 is a formalisation of the way we already work with District Councils and the Environment Agency (who have a very good pamphlet that exactly addresses this recommendation).

    R9, R10 and R11 are all within the ambit of the Customer Care Review.

  5. There are a few statements and opinions within the body of the report, mostly under the Monitoring Section to do with supervision and contractual arrangements, that I do not completely agree with. But there are few and do not detract from acceptance of the recommendations.

RICHARD DIX
Assistant Director (Highway Management)

Background papers:

Contact Officer: Richard Dix Tel: 01865 815663

October 2003

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