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

It 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 current operational methods adopted for Local Highway Maintenance be noted.

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

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

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

(Environment and Waste Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

(Andy Fisher – 01274 618297)

The Strategic Director, Place submitted Document “Q” which detailed how the Planning, Transportation and Highways service currently managed the Local Highway Maintenance (LHM) function and allocated resources.  The report also updated the Committee with regard to current operations being undertaken on the network and the indicative costs of works undertaken in the current financial year.

The Principal Engineer provided a summary of the report, highlighting that the percentage spend so far this year was low (35%) due to staffing resources being concentrated on fee earning capital works.  He was confident that the scheduled works for the Shipley Constituency could be undertaken within the remaining time.  With reference to the table showing gullies cleaned in the Shipley Constituency between 30/9/15 and 30/9/17 (Appendix 6) he stated that Windhill and Wrose showed a value over 100% arising from additional visits due to the number of A roads, steep roads and busy junctions. 

 In response to Members’ questions, the Principal Engineer reported that:

·         The CAT3 works for Holden Lane, Baildon had been ordered and should be completed during the current financial year.  Enquiries would be made as to when the works were due to be undertaken.

·         Resources had been diverted to a capital works scheme at North Street, Keighley and operational staff were expected to work there until the end of December 2017.

·         Gully cleaning was undertaken on a two year cycle for each ward.

·         A list of hot spot areas for gully cleaning was being compiled and more co-ordinated work was being undertaken with the cleansing team. Some gullies may require cleaning less frequently, for example every five years, instead of two years, which would free up resources to concentrate on hot spot areas. 

·         In other constituencies there were sometimes problems accessing gullies to clean them due to parked vehicles and Days of Action were therefore arranged with the Ward Officers to co-ordinate the gully cleaning and provide residents and businesses with prior notice.

·         Gully cleaning was funded from the revenue budget.

·         The total budget last year was £1.7m and this year is £1.54m.  The allocations for constituencies across Bradford were calculated on factors such as the length of roads and population amongst other things.  The Shipley Constituency had been allocated 20.9% of the funding, the Keighley Constituency had received 22.8% and Bradford South, West and East constituencies had received less than 20%.

·         A sink hole, such as the one that had recently occurred in Baildon, could not be foreseen during inspections.

The Chair requested that the list of hot spot areas for gully cleaning be circulated to Members as well as the cycle of when gully cleaning works were due to be undertaken in their ward.  He stated that Members could provide local knowledge of any hot spot areas not on the list.

The Chair raised concern that funding for highway maintenance works could be lost if works were not undertaken within the financial year.  He stated that bad weather conditions could also delay the works and questioned at what point consideration would be given to employing additional resources to undertake the constituency work.  The Principal Engineer agreed to report back to Members on this matter.

A Member raised concern that the bottom of Carr Lane was becoming increasingly dangerous and queried whether it was due to be resurfaced soon.  In response, the Principal Engineer stated that funding for resurfacing works came from a different fund but he would check and get back to her.

Resolved –

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

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

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

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

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: Environment and Waste Management

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place