Agenda item

The Committee considered a report of the Corporate Director of Neighbourhoods and Climate Change which provided information on the highway asset management service delivery (for copy of report and presentation see file of minutes).

Paul Watson, Strategic Highways Manager delivered a presentation, highlighting that the highway network is the council’s highest value asset.  He explained that the Highways Act places a duty on the local Highways Authority to maintain the adopted highway and he referred the Committee to the Highway Maintenance Plan which sets out the council’s service levels for inspection, condition and routine maintenance and the Transport Asset Management Plan which is the long term plan for managing the highway through programmed maintenance. 

The Committee noted the council’s Highway Safety Inspection Manual and details of the inspections undertaken to assess the safety of the network. The Committee also received information on defects which are allocated a repair category, with those requiring immediate repair being repaired within 2 hours.

The Strategic Highway Manager also provided information on asset inspections which are annually reported to the Department for Transport. In terms of performance, in 2016 Durham County Council was one of three authorities to achieve the maximum band 3 rating which resulted in £1.6 million of additional funding. 

The Committee also heard that innovation work takes place, such as that done in partnership with Rainton Construction, to reduce carbon emissions and a GOVTECH artificial intelligence project with the potential to reduce the need to review 800 sites per year, saving staff time and fuel costs.  The Strategic Highways Manager highlighted that strong policies for managing the highway asset provides the council with a robust defence against third party claims. 

Councillor Potts referred to safety issues caused by slippery footpaths, covered with algae and moss. The Strategic Highways Manager replied that rural link roads and urban connected footpaths have been identified for further investment over the coming year and the Clean and Green Team are investigating areas that require attention due to loss of access caused by overgrown vegetation, with defects to be repaired by a patching team.

Councillor Jackson spoke of a national chain which delivers goods to a building in his ward causing wear and tear to paving stones and he asked if the council has recourse against private companies causing damage to the surface of footways.  The Strategic Highways Manager replied that the council has enforcement powers available in order to protect the digital and fibre optic technology located below the footpath.  The Strategic Highways Manager said he would be happy to speak to Councillor Jackson to discuss the matter further.

Councillor Adam congratulated the team on the hard work and expressed the view  that footpaths are a concern and he asked if there was a strategy in place to achieve the 5% target.  The Strategic Highways Manager acknowledged there is work to be done to achieve the target however the service continues to drive the work forward through an annual programme of approximately 100 major footpath schemes with additional investment in areas of most need.

In response to an issue raised by Councillor Hutchinson regarding potholes in the Kelloe ward, the Strategic Highways Manager said he would be happy to speak to Councillor Hutchinson to investigate the issue.

Councillor Elmer referred to the ecological emergency and the competing demands of protecting species and wildlife habitats and improvements to the transport network and he asked what processes the Highways Service has in place to support wildlife habitats.  The Strategic Highways Manager replied that the service is mindful of disruption to natural habitats and he added that measures are in place, for example, enforcement action to prevent verge parking.  The service also works with experts to assess ecological impacts.

Councillor Earley referred to the number of potholes and asked if advances in technology were likely to improve processes and increase the longevity of repairs. Paul Anderson, Highways Maintenance Manager, referred to the inspection regime to determine timescales for repairs to be completed.  He added that a three year investment programme will assist to maintain standards.

Resolved:

That the report be noted.