Agenda item

During the ESC-Executive Annual Meeting on the ‘Highways and Transport’ portfolio it was agreed that the ESC receive information on how streetworks operate in Wiltshire; in order to help better understand the partnership between the Council and Utilities Management companies.

The Committee to receive a report about how streetworks are managed in Wiltshire in comparison to other Local Authorities, with information relating to signage, pedestrian access and the added value to the Council.

The Committee considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Waste, outlining how street works by utility companies and others are managed by the Council.

The Committee was reminded that during their Executive Annual Meeting on the ‘Highways and Transport’ portfolio, it had requested information about how streetworks operate in Wiltshire, to help the Committee’s understanding of the partnerships between the Council and Utilities Management companies.

The report highlighted detailed information about the highway network in Wiltshire, the Councils responsibilities in managing the highway network, including reinstatements of the highway and inspections of works undertaken by utility companies. In addition, the report contained information about the new Highways Infrastructure Management System and how the Council engaged with national policy.  

The following matters were raised during the debate:

·         The quality of reinstatements and the materials used to match existing materials.

·         Introduction of new powers to encourage streetworks during quiet periods.

·         Guidelines on ‘Ghost Works’ where works had commenced then been left unattended for a period of time.

·         Examples of the use of universal conduit to house services pipes and cables alongside pavements.

·         The coordination of Council streetworks to coincide with utility companies. 

·         Repairs to street lights and future use of LED lights retro-fitted to existing lighting columns.

·         Suitability of diversion routes during works to major roads, for example the A303 and proposed works at Stonehenge, and the impact on trade in town centres.

·         Dropped kerbs for residential properties.

·         The new Highways Infrastructure Management System (HIAMS) and how it provides mobile working for street works technicians, and links to the Councils website providing improvements to the information available to the public.

The Head of Highways Asset Management and Commissioning informed the Committee that temporary reinstatements may be left for six months and that the utility company only guaranteed the reinstated surface for two years. After this time, responsibility for the reinstated surface became the responsibility of the Council.  It was noted that in some instances reinstated surfaces start to fail with a short space of time. It was suggested that Parish Councils check the reinstatement works after a period of eighteen months and report any defects to the Highways Engineers. This would then enable the responsibility of a reinstatement repairs to be with the utility company.

Resolved:

i)             To acknowledge the high number of works activities and notices on the highway network dealt with annually by the Council’s street works team.

ii)            To recognise the efforts made by the Council’s Network management team to balance the competing demands for the limited road space on the highway network.

iii)          To support the efforts being made to provide better information to the public through the website and the introduction of more mobile working for the street works team.

iv)          To encourage the engagement of the Council’s street works team in national working groups and with the Department for Transport.

v)            The Chairman to ask the Committee in one year’s time whether they would wish to review how HIAMS has impacted on streetworks and, if so, an item be added to the Committee’s Forward Work Programme.