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)

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 Keighley constituency but it was an expensive process. It was agreed to monitor the standard of repairs carried out. 

·         To address subsidence on cobbled areas was expensive and would require 10 metres to be removed to repair 1 metre. 

·         Unless they were located in a listed area replacement for flags which had been stolen would be in tarmac.

·         The largest problem caused by water was drainage from fields.  It was acknowledged that land owners did have responsibility for their land there were, however, problems with enforcement.

A Member raised concerns that although there were a relatively small number of gullies in the Ilkley ward the area was very hilly and there was a lot of leaf fall.  He questioned if locations he had highlighted in the Ilkley Ward would be treated as a priority to prevent problems occurring. In response it was explained that the service would respond to particular reports.  The reduction in resources since 2010 was discussed.  The assistance provided from Ilkley Parish Council with the purchase of grit bins was discussed and it was suggested that approaches could be made with the Parish Council and voluntary groups to assist with the removal of leaves.  A Member questioned if the Highways Service would collect leaves which had been cleared and it was explained that it would be the Parks Department who could assist. 

A Member made reference to a number of Category five potholes in the Ilkley area and that their location in cul- de- sac locations had designated them as low priority.  It was explained that following parking restrictions imposed in Ilkley town centre use of those areas had increased and it was queried if the priority could be reconsidered. 

Members raised a few anomalies in the appendices to Document “R” and reported that some locations had been identified as being in the incorrect Wards.It was agreed that all Members would email the Highway Service to advise of inaccuracies in their Wards.

A lack of co-ordination between the District and Town and Parish Council regarding grit bin locations was raised as a concern and it was explained that whilst Parish and Town Councils purchased the bins from the Council the Council was not consulted on where they should be located.   Whilst the scheme worked well problems did arise if the bins were empty when inclement weather arrived.  A Member who was also a member of Keighley Town Council explained that they utilised a private contractor to fill their grit bins. Following suggestions that the schemes could be co-ordinated it was explained that the differing criterion used by Keighley Town Council to obtain a grit bin would make that difficult.  It was agreed to discuss that issue with the Councillor outside of the meeting.

Members were reminded that Bradford was the highest city in the UK and assurances were provided that there was a robust winter service plan in place with the priority being to keep A and B roads open during periods of severe weather.  Good arrangements were in place with the bus operators and the buses did adhere to the gritted routes.

Arrangements to receive future Local Highway Maintenance updates and function overviews were discussed.  It was acknowledged that allocation of the budget had not been devolved to the Committee so no decisions were being made but that it was useful to be made aware of progress and where the budget was spent.  It was agreed that in future the information should be emailed direct to Members as opposed to the formal presentation of a report to Committee. 

In conclusion officers were commended for the impressive work undertaken on Law Street.

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