The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “R”) details how the Planning, Transportation & Highways service currently manages the Local Highway Maintenance (LHM) function and allocates resources.

Document “R” also provides an update with regard to current operations being undertaken on the network and the costs of works undertaken in the current financial year.

Recommended –

(1)       That the current operational methods adopted for Local Highway Maintenance be noted.

(2)       That the costs to date for the 2019/20 financial year be noted.

(3)       That the 2018/19 updated list of CAT C and D works as shown in Appendix 5 to Document “R” be noted.

(4)       That the list of completed and ordered CAT C and D works for 2019/20 as shown in Appendix 6 to Document “R” be noted.

(5)       That the details of gullies cleaned within the constituency as shown in Appendix  to Document “R” be noted..

Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

(Andy Fisher – 01535 618297)

Resolved –

(1)       That the current operational methods adopted for Local Highway Maintenance be noted.

(2)       That the costs to date for the 2019/20 financial year be noted.

(3)       That the 2018/19 updated list of CAT C and D works as shown in Appendix 5 to Document “R” be noted.

(4)       That the list of completed and ordered CAT C and D works for 2019/20 as shown in Appendix 6 to Document “R” be noted.

(5)       That the details of gullies cleaned within the constituency as shown in Appendix  to Document “R” be noted..

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: Regeneration & Environment

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place

 (Andy Fisher – 01535 618297)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “R”) detailed how the Planning, Transportation & Highways service currently managed the Local Highway Maintenance (LHM) function and allocated resources.

Document “R” also provided an update with regard to current operations being undertaken on the network and the cost of works undertaken in the current financial year.

Appended to the report were details of work undertaken as part of the Local Highway Maintenance function; technical and operational staff overviews; Category A and B works updates; an updated 2018/19 category C and D works list; current category C and D works undertaken and details of completed gully cleaning in the Keighley constituency.

The budget for the Keighley constituency broken down into Category A, B, C and D works was discussed and it was explained that a large proportion was required for Category A and B issues in the area.  It was explained that the Keighley constituency had a significant volume of culverts and becks and following very wet autumn drainage problems had occurred. 

It was explained that there was a very rigid gully cleaning programme in the Keighley constituency and work was undertaken with the Cleansing and Neighbourhood Teams during periods of severe weather.

Following a detailed presentation Members raised a number of queries to which the following responses were provided:-

·         Work not completed on Category C and D works during 2018/19 could be because of limited resources with staff engaged on more urgent issues.

·         A 40mm pothole on the highway or 25mm holes on the footway would be dealt with urgently.  All maintenance reports/requests for repairs should be made through the Council’s Contact Centre to allow them to be assessed and recorded. 

·         There were 93,000 gullies in the District and appendix 7 detailed the number of gullies in each ward in the Keighley constituency.

·         It was very difficult to prevent damage to the highway or gullies when residents were carrying out building works at their private homes. 

·         Leaves blocking gullies formed a film preventing water drainage.  Due to the wet weather in autumn there had been more leaf fall and work was undertaken with the Cleansing Service to sweep areas more regularly and thoroughly.  There had been very limited occasions when roads had needed to be dug to clear gullies and that was an expensive process.  There were drainage problems on the main road towards the hospital and that location was cleaned more regularly.

·         There were problems, in some areas, with parked cars preventing the gullies from being cleaned.  Days of action could be arranged when cars could be moved.  Members were asked to report those issues via the Council Contact Team.  Members wishing to arrange days of action should speak to their Ward Officer.

·         Pot hole repairs which Members felt were not to a satisfactory standard could be because the tarmac was laid at an inappropriate temperature.  It should not be installed to repair pot holes at temperatures below five degrees.  A jet patcher had been used successfully in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41