Agenda item

The Service Director, Highways and Engineering provided Members of the Public Service Delivery, Communities & Prosperity Scrutiny Committee with an update on the highway infrastructure within the County Borough with reference to the Highway Asset Management Plan (HAMP) and investment strategy.

A Highway Asset Management Plan (HAMP) sets out a structured approach to managing the highway asset based around the following core elements

·       Hierarchy

·       Inspection

·       Defect

·       Repair

·       Programmed Repairs

·       Planned Maintenance

Due to the extensive investment in the highway infrastructure, with delivery a priority, the COVID pandemic and lack of staff resources (which has been recently resolved) a new HAMP and ASOR will now be upgraded.

The Service Director, Highways and Engineering reiterated to Members the significance of the Highways infrastructure as one of the biggest assets that RCT Councils owns, valuing at over £3.2 Billion (2021 gross replacement cost). The Highways infrastructure consists of:

·       1,295km of Carriageways

·       1,159km of Footways

·       1,567 highway structures including 196 Road Bridges

·       29,404 Streetlights

·       134 Traffic signals (signalised junction and pedestrian crossings) Plus surface water sewer systems and road gullies, miscellaneous street furniture, signs, bollards, vehicle barriers, pedestrian barriers, etc.

Considerable investments have been received within the Highways infrastructure Asset Management. Regarding the performance specifically on Roads, the Service Director, Highways and Engineering referred Members to section 4.4 of the report which highlighted the position regarding Class A, B and C Roads in RCT.

The statistics highlighted in section 4.4 compare favourably to the condition in 2010/11, due to the extensive funding received which has aided in the substantial improvements.

The Service Director, Highways and Engineering referred Members to section 5 of the report which highlighted graphs of the investment strategy. Section 5 of the report highlighted to Members the significance of continual funding to maintain Highways and park structures within RCT. 

The Director of Frontline Services referred Members to section 8.4 of the report which highlighted the year-on-year investment position and condition of the Highway from 2011/12. Similarly, to the Service Director, Highways and Engineering, the Director of Frontline Services reiterated to Members the significance of funding to maintain and improve the Highways within RCT.

The Service Director, Highways and Engineering referred Members to a presentation which highlighted the projects undertaken and the significant improvements across the highways in RCT. The projects included work on Park Structures, Footways, Carriageways, Culverts, Bridges, VRS, and Retaining Walls

The Chair was pleased with the presentation, as it provided an outlook on successful projects undertaken throughout RCT and investments provided.

One Member sought clarification on the works undertaken whether on Bridge 240 or Llywna Farm. The Service Director, Highways and Engineering was able to confirm it was the Bridge located on Footway 240.

One Member wanted to congratulate the Service Director, Highways and Engineering for their extensive and efficient work, specifically focusing on their good use of selecting excellent contactors to undertake the projects.

One Member wanted to thank the team for their effective work on the Ynysmeurig Bridge in Abercynon.

The Chair inquired on the budget required to improve the standard of all roads in RCT.

In response the Service Director, Highways and Engineering informed Members it would take 10s of Millions of Pounds, which does not consider all structures in RCT. The Service Director of Highways and Engineering advised Members that there are over 170 highway structures which are currently on the priority list requiring work undertaken to them. 200 inspections of bridges are undertaken every year by staff to identify any repairs and upgrades needed for instance, the drainage system, traffic lights etc. Continual funding will be required to ensure all highways are up to date.

One Member congratulated the Highways team and informing Members of RCT road infrastructure as far superior compared to other Local Authorities.

The Chair wanted to make a recommendation to the Cabinet to encourage investment to the Highways department.

The Public Service Delivery, Communities and Prosperity RESOLVED:

-       To note the update on highways infrastructure within the County Borough reference   to the asset management strategy and investment strategy.

-       To note the expenditure required to maintain the highway infrastructure asset.