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

The report also updates the committee with regard to current operations being undertaken on the network and the indicative costs of works undertaken in the current financial year.

Recommended –

(1)       That the Keighley Area Committee notes the current operational methods adopted for Local Highway Maintenance.

(2)       That the Keighley Area Committee notes the costs to date for the 2017/18 financial year.

(3)       That the Keighley Area Committee notes the list of completed and proposed CAT3 works as shown in Appendix 5 to Document “K”.

(4)       That the Keighley Area Committee notes the number/percentage of gullies cleaned within the constituency as shown in Appendix 6 to Document “K”.

(Environment and Waste Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

(Andy Fisher – 01535 618297)

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

The report also updated Members with regard to current operations being undertaken on the network and the indicative costs of works undertaken in the current financial year.

A Member questioned why some essential gully repair works did not appear on the list of work to be undertaken and was advised that the department had received funding from the Department for Transport’s Challenge Fund and those works were being carried out with that funding.  The works reported in the appendices to Document “K” were funded from the revenue budget.  Repairs were also being carried out on the Addingham by-pass and the Aire Valley from the Challenge Fund and it was agreed that the list of all works to be undertaken from that funding would be circulated to Members.

Issues with gullies in the locality of the former Bronte School were raised and Members were requested to email the precise locations to officers for investigations to be conducted.

It was questioned why works which had been identified on Appendix 5 to the report (current CAT3 Works List 2017/18) in the Keighley East Ward had been selected as the road was a short minor road located on a cul-de-sac and appeared to be in a good state of repair.  It was confirmed that the locations were selected following reports after an engineer’s inspection.  It could be that the road was beginning to deteriorate but it was agreed to check that out.

Concerns were raised that the ability to report blocked gullies on line had been removed. Difficulties experienced with calls to the customer service centre were also reported. In response the Strategic Director was not aware that the on-line facility had been stopped and it was agreed that the Area Co-ordinator would discuss the concerns raised with the Customer Services Department.  Members were advised that they were able to report blocked gullies via the Council App.

The report referred to the need, due to the constantly changing state of the highway and unpredictability in new matters arising, to amend the programmes of work included in Document “K”.  As the budget was devolved to Members the way in which those changes were communicated to Members was questioned.  Members were concerned that they may advise their constituents that work was scheduled only to find that it had subsequently been removed from the schedule.  In response those concerns were acknowledged.  It was explained that the works were assessed by technical staff and ranked on a priority needs basis.  Issues such as flood damage or urgent works arising did not provide the time to communicate with Members prior to the work being undertaken.

It was questioned if the location of all gullies in the District were logged on a Global Positioning System (GPS)  and it was explained that all locations were categorised but that they were not GPS referenced.  The locations of gullies which repeatedly required attention were questioned and it was requested that a list of those gullies be provided to Members.

A Member questioned why gullies in Keighley West area had not received as much attention as other wards in the district and it was explained that wards showing low percentages of cleaning over the last two years would be cleaned in the near future.  Wards with high percentages (such as Ilkley and Craven) were affected by the number of major roads (“A” roads), which had a greater priority and were cleaned more regularly.  It was agreed that a breakdown of gully cleaning in the six months prior to that included in Document “K” would be provided to that Member.

Resolved –

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

(2)       That the Local Highway Maintenance costs to date for the 2017/18 financial year be noted.

(3)       That the list of completed and proposed CAT3 works as shown in Appendix 5 to Document “K” be noted.

(4)       That the number/percentage of gullies cleaned within the constituency as shown in Appendix 6 to Document “K” be noted.

(5)       That the Strategic Director, Place be requested to provide, to Members, details of the schemes being considered for support from the Department for Transport’s Challenge Fund.

(6)       That the Strategic Director, Place be requested to consider a process of informing the Area Committee of the method in which changes are made to the CAT3 Works List as contained at Appendix 5 to Document “K”.

(7)       That the Strategic Director, Place be requested to include a list of the location of gullies subject to repeated visits.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place  

(Environment and Waste Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee)