To receive presentations from Parvis Khansari, Associate Director for Highways and Transport, and Adrian Hampton, Head of Local Highways.
Minutes:
The Board received a presentation from Parvis Khansari - Associate Director for Highways and Transport, and Adrian Hampton - Head of Local Highways, Weather, Emergency Services and Streetscene – South.
A copy of the presentation slides are attached to these minutes as requested.
The main points included:
· Information of the process of how we make decisions about which road to maintain, how we prioritise the more minor roads, and how we prioritise our services.
· The Council had underinvested on roads over the past decades and now had a backlog of maintenance.
· Wiltshire Council (WC) was responsible for looking after approximately 4500km of roads. To look after this network we have to decide and prioritise how best to look after it and maintain it. We have to have a system to prioritise the work. Information was collected by several methods, there was a survey vehicle which drives all the roads yearly, sending live data to HQ and another vehicle which dragged a wheel along the road to measure friction. A team of people analyse this data, in addition to information coming in from the public and other sources.
· It was a statutory duty for us to make sure the road is safe, the data tells us which areas the safety features were failing in.
· A list of priorities was sent to the local members for input and following and slight changes it then goes to Area Board for adoption.
· Up to 2013 we did not engage local members, as there was not enough funding to make it worthwhile. Then Cabinet gave up additional funding so we started consulting Area Boards on the list of works.
· The large maintenance jobs over the last 3 years, including skid resistant treatments, resurfacing, surface dressing and hand machine dressing were shown on slides.
Comments and Questions were the received, these included:
· The resurfacing in Shrewton on the road from Rollestone crossroads all the way down the high street had not been carried out and yet appeared on the map. When we asked the Council, they said the work was never intended to be done, the surface was an issue for cyclists. Answer: The High street had not yet been done as it was not considered as a priority right now. There was a programme for looking at safety issues like that for cyclists; however that area had been classified as safe. If there were more than 3 fatalities in 3 years then it becomes a priority for us. We have 80 of those sites at present, so we must be realistic about what we can achieve.
· On the approach to Amesbury off the 303, the surface was appalling there. It had been patched up but the skid resistance there was bad. The road can be dropping apart but the skid resistance is ok, how do you bring the two factors together? Answer: There were exceptions to everything we do. Our roads were full of utilities; they come and dig things up regularly. They have a 2 year embargo where they are not allowed to did up unless there is an emergency.
· As a unitary Councillor we need to give answers to the community. We have no idea when the teams are coming to do the roads, could you provide us with the data in advance? Answer: The roads under the red line on the graph (in the presentation) should be done. We have been coming to the Area Board for 4 years, there was a list of proposed works which was approved by the Board early this year. This list could be re-circulated.
Action: A copy of the list of roads to be donefor 2016/17, is attached to these minutes.
· Are you happy with the contractors you use? Answer: We use Tarmac at the moment as our main contractor. Up to a year ago they were sub contracted to Balfour Beatty, however, that didn’t work. We asked them to step aside and let us deal with Tarmac directly. Since then, in four months this year we were able to deliver almost all of the works.
Adrian Hampton explained that:
· There were 3 new contractors delivering our services for the discretionary works, reactive works and top up options.
· The Parish steward scheme was prioritised by parish councils, with their priorities being set by them.
· The way in which sweeping was carried out had changed this month, and now there would be a schedule. All roads swept once a year, residential twice a year and other bigger roads weekly. Works would be driven by the My Wiltshire app, so we could now ensure that our resources were directed to the dirty streets.
· Ringway would visit 59,000 gullies. If a gully does not need emptying then they will leave them, to maximise the use of the gully tanks.
· Rural verges would be cut once per year. If however on junctions we require additional cutting the tractors would undertake this. Information on the land which was maintained is available online by following the link: http://www.realitygeo.com/explorer.aspx?cfg=wiltsgr
· All works for the Masonry and Pot Hole gangs would be prioritised according to the Council’s highway inspection manual. Only requests meeting the inspection manual criteria would be undertaken. All works must be reported through the My Wiltshire system.
· All works reported would be inspected against the inspection manual to ensure only appropriate works were undertaken.
· There were six tractors available for the whole county, which would be scheduled by Ringway. Work priorities would be identified by the Highway office.
· All works for the Litter gangs would be prioritised according to the statutory Code of Practise for Litter and Refuse. Only requests meeting the criteria would be undertaken.
· Lines and signs – there was a tiny budget so these had to prioritise them.
Comments and questions were then taken, these included:
· The Resurfacing at Droveway had not been done, as it had been dropped off the list for this year. Answer: This would be given priority for next year, but the lists had not been produced yet.
· With regards to speed signs, everything was supported by the My Wiltshire system. If they were 30/40mph signs they would be replaced, but if other signage then it would not be replaced. That was the difference between statutory and discretionary signage.
· Was there a way for parishes to find out what the reference numbers refer to? Answer: Sadly not at the moment. It would happen when the My Wiltshire system expired next year, it would be re-contracted, so at the moment we will not be directing lots of funds in to expanding this system.
· A345 from Durrington to Figheldean there were no white lines on the road there, they should be there, it was a dangerous road. Are they coming? Answer: lines and signs would be inspected by Adrian’s team, it was done by the inspection manual.
Action: Adrian will get the road looked at
· There was a claim against the Council following damaged caused by a pothole, which was then repaired, but the pothole next to it was not, surely its a false economy to fill one and not the other? Answer: Anything that comes through from now, a technically qualified person would go out and inspect the situation. They will assess if all the potholes in that area are of a satisfactory filled level. We have duties in relation to making sure the road is safe. However it is realised that it is impossible to fix things as soon as they appear, if we do not know about them then we cannot fix them. We need them to be reported and we need time.
· What was happening with the replacement of the damaged barriers in Shrewton? Answer: Whilst the insurance details had been provided, the driver had not accepted the fault.
· For the incident in Cholderton, no claim was possible, therefore at this moment in time there was no plan to carry out works to repair there.
· Is the Council not responsible for ensuring the safety of drivers on a road alongside a stream? Answer: Those barriers were not restraint barriers if there was a drop of 6m or more or flood area, then this would meet the criteria. This was not the case for the road here, so there was not a safety issue.
Action: A copy of the presentation slides are attached to these minutes for information as requested.