The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “M”) details how the 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 Bradford West Area Committee notes the current           operational   methods adopted for Local Highway Maintenance.

(2)       That the Bradford West Area Committee notes the indicative costs       to date for the current financial year.

(3)       That the Bradford West Area Committee approves the list of       current and proposed CAT3/4 works as shown in Appendices 5      and 6.

(Andy Whelan – 01274 434409)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “M”) detailed how the service currently managed the Local Highway Maintenance (LHM) function and allocated resources. It 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 was at the meeting and invited by the Chair to introduce the report. He stated that Local Highway Maintenance issues were devolved to the Area Committee control in 2013. As part of the commitment to the devolution process, information relating to the operation of Local Highway Maintenance was to be reported to all Area Committees on a regular basis. The need to undertake highway repairs throughout the District was identified through a variety of sources including general public calls to the customer contact centre, inspections as a result of service requests dealt with by the Area Teams or as a result of observations by highway officers in the course of undertaking other duties, programmed condition, safety and other surveys, safety Inspections, reports from Bradford West Ward Co-ordinators Office and of course, enquiries by Ward Members.

Succeeding introduction, a question and answer session ensued:

·         How were priority schemes identified to the highways department?

o   The maintenance of the local highway network was essential to ensure the safe passage of all road users and therefore sites would be assessed by technical staff and ranked on a needs and priority basis;

·         What was the reason behind loose road chippings?

o   Surface dressing was financed from a separate highways budget but loose road chippings were best for the maintenance of the effective life of a road;

·         Why was the removal of block paving and patch repair on block paved table top crossing outside of Margaret McMillan School not considered as a priority and ranked as a Cat 1 immediate works?

o   During first implementation, the works was ranked under Cat 3 hence not dangerous;

·         The footway in many parts of Lower Grange was appalling, in particular, Bedivere Road which was horrendous. Why were remedial works not being actioned?

o   Every road was inspected at least once a year some remedial works could not be accomplished due to on-going financial constraints;

·         The footway on Charteris Road, Lower Grange was equally in a extremely poor condition?

o   This has been noted and an officer will go out to inspect;

·         What would be categorised as a level for intervention based on the surface for footways?

o   Depressions and bumps more than 25mm deep or high including the deterioration of the surface; and,

·         Had there been an increase or a decrease in the number of insurance claims from footway falls?

o   Through the past recent years, a decrease.

During the ending of the discussion, a Toller Ward Member of the Committee highlighted that in addition to the CAT3/4 implementation, the outstanding works of the footway between the properties 2 – 13 on Scotchman Road and requested remedial works be acted on in the near future.

 Resolved –

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

(2)       That the indicative costs to date for the current financial year.be            noted.

(3)       That the list of current and proposed CAT3/4 works as shown in           Appendices 5 and 6, attached to Document “M” be approved.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place