Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Operations is attached.

Jon O’Connor Group Leader, Asset Manager provided the Committee with a presentation which has been appended to the minutes.

Following the presentation Councillor Vernon opened to Councillor Quinn Cabinet Member Environment, Climate Change and Operations to provide an overview of the report. Councillor Quinn highlighted to members key concerns for highway maintenance and their budgets.

Councillor Boroda questioned how much allowance has been made for unprecedented pressures. In response Jon O’Connor Group Leader Asset Manager advised that it is based on current pressures not future anticipated pressures.

Discussions took place regarding the £2 million allocated within the budget with the details yet to be provided.

Councillor Bernstein highlighted from the presentation that the asset of Bury

roads is £1 billion which is significant and it would need huge investment. It was questioned how the ‘human factor’ in decision making is used in the approval process. Councillor Quinn, Cabinet Member Environment, Climate Change and Operations provided assurances that the officers are the experts, and they make the decisions. Councillor Quinn Cabinet Member Environment, Climate Change and Operations advised there is an interactive map that shows the programmes of work across the borough which could take place as a learning opportunity for the Scrutiny Committee.

Discussions took place regarding individual areas planned under the programme of works and reserves list.

Members discussed the various weights each type of data is given to make decisions on road works.

Members sought further information on the ‘Safer routes for Schools Schemes’, in response the Committee were advised this is a scheme that looks at area surrounding a school and what can be done to encourage parents to walk or cycle to school.

Members sought clarity on ‘collision hotspots’ within the borough. Members were informed that annually the Council looks at collisions in a five-year period and a list is drawn up of areas with the highest number of collisions. Following the exercise, the operations team look at the areas to see if there are any engineering measures that can be put in place to prevent collisions occurring in the future. Carmel Foster-Devine, Head of Engineering advised she would provide a list of hot-spots to the Committee following the meeting.

It was agreed:

1.    Councillor Quinn and Officers be thanked for their attendance and update

2.    All Councillors receive a copy of the presentation provided by Jon O’Connor Group Leader, Asset Manager.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Operations is attached.

Councillor Alan Quinn, Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Operations, presented the report which set out proposed priorities for Highway Investment Strategy tranche 3 (HIS3) and the Highway Maintenance element of the City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) funds, and set out the priorities of the Integrated Transport Block funding.

Members discussed the report, noting the £6.1m allotted to GM for highway repairs in the recent Budget announcements was welcomed but wasn’t enough to meet demand. Prevention of potholes was preferable and more cost effective but unachievable with chronic underfunding as existing problems took priority. Members also discussed improving communications of when resurfacing works would be taking place and also manage expectations for how long the process would take.

Decision:

Cabinet:

1.    Approved the resurfacing schemes in Appendices 1 & 2 and delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Operations to approve any changes in the ranking of resurfacing schemes required by any fluctuations in construction prices and network deterioration that are recommended by officers;

2.    Approved the proposed works on structures detailed in the report;

3.    Approved the programme of works associated with the Integrated Transport Block funding in Appendix 4; and

4.    Delegated authority to the Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate change and Operations to approve the programme of preventative maintenance works.

Reasons for the decision:

The Council as the Highway Authority in Bury has a statutory duty to maintain those parts of the public highway, including structures deemed to be publicly maintainable. The provision of DfT funding alone is not sufficient to stop some highways reaching functional failure when more expensive localised repairs are required to keep the highway safe for the public. This could also increase the Council’s exposure to potential compensation claims.

Other options considered and rejected:

To not invest an additional £10 million as HIS3, this was considered and rejected.