Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/105

Contact: David Tole, Transition Manager Tel: (01865) 815942

Report by Director for Infrastructure Delivery (CA6).

The County Council’s current Highway Maintenance Policy and Strategy are based on the old National Code of Practice for Highway Maintenance (Well Maintained Highways) which has now been superceded by the new Code of Practice, ‘Well-managed Highway Infrastructure’, commissioned by DfT and published in late 2016.

Refreshing the policies and supporting principles will underpin improvements in the effectiveness of highway maintenance delivery, and assist in meeting planned savings in the delivery of frontline services. It is also one of the key steps towards satisfying criteria required by the DfT to achieve the highest level of maintenance funding available through the Incentive Fund process.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)          Approve the draft Highway Infrastructure Management Policy;

(b)          Agree to the arrangements for sign-off of other documents as set out in the report; and

(c)          Establish an Advisory Group as set out in the report.

Recommendations agreed.

The County Council’s current Highway Maintenance Policy and Strategy are based on the old National Code of Practice for Highway Maintenance (Well Maintained Highways) which has now been superseded by the new Code of Practice, ‘Well-managed Highway Infrastructure’, commissioned by DfT and published in late 2016.

Refreshing the policies and supporting principles will underpin improvements in the effectiveness of highway maintenance delivery, and assist in meeting planned savings in the delivery of frontline services and to maximise funding Through the DfT Incentive Fund process. Cabinet considered a report that set out a draft policy for approval together with recommendations for a future approach.

Councillor Bob Johnston, local councillor for Kennington & Radley referred to the diagram on page 26 and stated that he was anxious to ensure that the road closures for Armistice Day ceremonies would be able to continue. Councillor Hudspeth commented that this was a high level document but that local services were held across the County which he expected would be accommodated.

Councillor John Sanders, Shadow Cabinet Member for Environment, noted that there were still other documents to come forward and he queried when and how councillors would get oversight of these additional documents. He was assured that councillors would get oversight and that an advisory group was to be set up.

Councillor Constance, Cabinet Member for Environment, moved the recommendations. Owen Jenkins highlighted that the policy set out very new thinking. The policy provided a core statement and a set of underpinning principles and it would take a couple of years through the proposed CAG to review all the documents. What was proposed was a risk based, targeted spend that should reflect local need, with greater local engagement.

During discussion Cabinet welcomed that the policies and procedures were to be shortened. In response to a query as to how local engagement would be achieved and local knowledge fed in to the procedures Owen Jenkins stated that they would be looking to the CAG to consider that.

RESOLVED:             to:

(a)          approve the draft Highway Infrastructure Management Policy;

(b)          agree to the arrangements for sign-off of other documents as set out in the report; and

(c)          establish a Cabinet Advisory Group as set out in the report.