Agenda item

As resolved at ESC on 12 January 2022, the select committee is receiving the Highways Annual Service Review 2022.

Councillor Caroline Thomas, Cabinet Member for Transport, Street Scene and Flooding, introduced the report to the Committee alongside Dave Thomas, Head of Highways Asset Management & Commissioning, and Samantha Howells, Director – Highways & Transport.

It was explained that the report reviewed the performance of the highways service across the year 2022, and also provided an update on the status of contractors and suppliers involved in service delivery. The report was also noted as demonstrating the application of good practice and asset management principles which apprises future Department for Transport (DFT) funding. Members were informed that the Ringway maintenance contract had been extended to April 2023 and that the Council was in the process of demobilising from Ringway while concurrently undertaking a mobilisation phase with the new contractor, Milestone Infrastructure Ltd, which had impacted on recent activity but allowed for continuity between services.

Contextual details were provided to explain some of the results from the review, such as volatile weather conditions impacting road conditions and the impact of the rise of inflation. Further details were given as to the introduction of the LHFIGs (Local Highway and Footway Improvement Groups) in April 2022, and Cllr Thomas stated that they had experienced difficulties in recruiting officers to support that work but further reviews on the matter would be undertaken. The Performance Management Framework was detailed with regard to the decline in skid resistance across the network, and the proportion of reactive maintenance against planned maintenance which was explained as partly being due to adverse weather conditions. It was confirmed that the framework would be reviewed and updated in time for the 2023 review to match the DFT Incentive Funding Scheme.

The national resourcing issues regarding qualified engineering staff was raised and officers noted that their recruitment method had been amended in response. Furthermore, long term investments had been made into their apprenticeship programme which was fully affiliated with the Institute of Civil Engineers and had already produced two professionally qualified engineers. Further challenges faced with regard to material availability, inflation rises, and overall workload as a result of the change from CATGs to LHFIGs were detailed. The move from Ringway to Milestone Infrastructure Ltd was further discussed, and Members were reassured that the majority of the existing Ringway and Parish Stewards operatives across the network were given the opportunity to transfer to the new provider, and had done so, under the new Milestone contract.

During the discussion, points included:

·       Thanking officers and Ringway on their hard work throughout the year(s).

·       Reassurance as to the retention of existing operatives, in particular the Parish Stewards. It was noted that they would be receiving different branded vehicles to those operatives working for Milestone Infrastructure Ltd. The importance of the Parish Stewards was emphasised due to their valued status in communities and their ability to gather intelligence and distribute information.

·       The impact of climate change and adverse/volatile weather conditions on roads, and how these would affect Wiltshire Council’s ability to meet the commitment to be carbon net zero by 2030 as set out in the Climate Strategy. It was explained that officers had altered the new maintenance contract with Milestone to include a scoring matrix, specific requirements/criteria to meet, and an explicit section on achieving net zero. Examples were given of moving fleets to electric vehicles, better utilisation and planning of reactive events, and reducing mileage. Benchmarks would be set up and regularly reviewed and any lessons learnt within this new contract with Milestone would be rolled out to other contracts. Officers were comfortable that they were on the right track to meet the net zero commitment but noted the steep learning curve being experienced, and the anticipation of further advances and improvements in technology to aid this.

·       The limited budget available to invest in network resistance and road maintenance.

·       Standing water on carriageways was noted as being one of the biggest issues regarding worsening road conditions, thus officers were ensuring that drainage infrastructures were as efficient as possible.

·       The incoming introduction of LCWHIPs (Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans) which would seek to identify locations suitable for active travel schemes ready to seek funding to allow delivery. Schemes were being developed and introduced in Trowbridge, Salisbury and Chippenham thus far.

·       Engagement with other departments across the Council such as Leisure Services and Public Health to encourage a mind shift among residents to undertake active travel such as walking and cycling where possible. Officers were in the process of a bid with the DFT for active travel funding, the result of which would be confirmed at the end of March 2023. Furthermore, Active Travel England would become a statutory consultee in planning from June 2023.

·       LHFIGs were explained as being monitored and controlled on a local level, rather than on a strategic level, where the prioritisation and order of projects would be decided. Ongoing challenges were experienced within the LHFIGs due to insufficient resources to meet demand, such as recruitment issues, officer workloads and budgetary restraints.

·       Ensuring that new developments were connected through cycle paths to bring cohesion to future active travel schemes.

·       The potential to liaise and collaboratively work and coordinate projects with neighbouring Local Authorities in active travel schemes.

·       The monitoring of the usage of the new active travel schemes and analysis of any data gleaned. Officers confirmed that this was something that could be undertaken and encouraged interested Members to contact them outside of the meeting for further information.

·       The Street Lighting Project initially proposed a reduction from 13m kilowatt hours to 5.262m kilowatt hours and Members asked if the target remained feasible. Officers confirmed that the conversion to LED lights was almost finished and that within the new Milestone contract, further LED works would be undertaken alongside potential future rollouts for projects such as increasing the number of road sign lights. It was noted that although substantial financial savings had been made and electricity usage was decreasing, as more developments were finished, further street lights were erected and as such, the electricity bill would naturally increase and be exacerbated by the price increase per unit.

At the conclusion of the discussion, Cllr Bob Jones MBE proposed to move the recommendations which was seconded by Cllr Dr Brian Mathew. After which, it was:

Resolved:

a)    The Committee endorsed the Highways Annual Review of Service and confirmed that the performance of the Council’s highways contractors has been ‘good’ during 2022.

b)    The Committee welcomed the results summarised in the Highways Performance Management Framework.

c)    The Committee asked for an interim report on the Milestone contract in 6 months.

d)    The Committee requested a report on the highways service and the Performance Management Framework in a year’s time.