Meeting documents

Return to Agenda

ITEM EX20

1. This Manual sets out the main policies that apply to the maintenance and management of County roads in Oxfordshire. It defines the level of Service provision and protocols that apply to Highway Management, and should be a valuable reference for officers, members, parish councils and the community.

Need for and purpose of the Policy Manual

2. Production of a Policy Manual is identified as an action in the 2001/02 Environmental Services Service Plan, and is a recommendation in the report on the Best Value Inspection of Highway Management.
3. In July 2001, a new national ‘Code of Practice for Maintenance Management - Delivering Best Value in Highway Maintenance’ was published which gives guidance on standards of good practice in highways maintenance. It also promotes a best value culture, and good communication with the public. Importantly, it recognises that authorities will have differing needs, resources and priorities, and will develop maintenance regimes that best suit their circumstances.
4. We have reviewed our practices as a result of this new guidance, and made some changes accordingly. The Policy Manual is extremely important in this respect, as it is the record of our consideration of the level of service provision, and the Council’s defence in respect of public liability claims should this be called into question.

Consultation on the Policy Manual

5. The draft version of the Policy Manual has been placed in the Members’ Resource Centre . The content of the draft Manual includes the following topics:

• structural, routine and reactive maintenance
• highway structures
• public lighting
• minor traffic schemes
• licences and charges
• enforcement
• winter service
• materials and the environment

6. In keeping with the Council’s Values in the Oxfordshire Plan, and bearing in mind the best value principles of the new national Code of Practice, the draft Manual will form the basis of widespread consultation with officers, members, parish and district councils and a range of interest groups over the next few months. In line with the Executive’s decision on 19 February, it is envisaged that the draft policy Manual should be considered by the Environmental Scrutiny Committee in the cause of the consultation. The final version of the Policy Manual following consideration of feedback from the consultation will be reported to the Executive for approval in October 2002.
7. It is intended that there is an annual review of the Policy Manual with any substantial revisions or additional policies being reported to the Executive for approval.

Financial and Staff Implications

8. Most policies have a financial implication, as they often relate to levels of service provision, and therefore cost. Others will be formulated to manage risk, and consequently liability. The policies will be delivered within the Highway Maintenance budget.
9. The new Code of Practice for Maintenance Management recommends service inspection regimes that, if adopted without revision, would require substantial additional staff to carry them out. For the time being the inspection regime will operate with existing staffing levels pending further consultation with Risk Managers on the implications of any different policy to that recommended in the Code.

RECOMMENDATIONS

10. The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. subject to (b) below, agree that the Director of Environmental Services circulate the draft Manual for consultation as outlined in the report, and continue to develop the document before reporting back to the Executive in October 2002 for approval of the final version of the Manual;
2. Identify any additional topics to be covered by the Manual;
3. refer the draft Manual to Environment Scrutiny Committee for comment as part of the consultation.

DAVID YOUNG
Director of Environmental Services

Background Papers: Nil

Contact Officer: Kevin Haines, Group Manager Tel: (01865) 815687

March 2002

Return to TOP