Issue - meetings

Oral report of Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport

PowerPoint slides attached

The Committee considered an oral report and PowerPoint presentation (slides attached at Appendix 1 to the signed minutes) of the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport updating them on the progress made with regard to the Highways Transformation Programme.

During his presentation and report the Cabinet Member highlighted:- (i) the Future Highways Delivery Model (including an overview of the Hybrid Mixed Economy; a Contract Extension Update; a Review of Organisational Structure and; Functional Management Aligned to Local Patch); (ii) Transforming the Current Offer; (iii) Additional Investment Update (including Capital Investment; Structural Maintenance; Minor Capital Maintenance and Work Stack Reduction; Repairing Places Pilot; Customer Services Improvements and; Revenue Investment) and; (iv) Priorities for Quarter Four 2022/23.

In the full and wide-ranging discussion which ensued Members gave detailed scrutiny to the progress made in the Programme to date, asking questions, seeking clarification and raising areas of concern as necessary, including:- (i) the importance of communication with local residents and customer satisfaction; (ii) management of highway works by statutory undertakers and quality controls and; (iii)  the need for a County-wide traffic and transport management strategy to reduce ‘rat-runs’ and divert heavy goods vehicles from minor roads.

In reply, the Cabinet Member acknowledged the concerns of Members stating that perceptions of the existing delivery arrangements were often poor. However, he reassured them that future arrangements would prioritise quality in order to arrest the decline in the condition of the highway network which had occurred in recent years. He went on to urge Members to use the various channels provided to report highways defects and confirmed that the new emphasis on quality had been communicated to the Authority’s existing Highways Strategic Partner. However, the Council’s ability to control operations by statutory undertakers was limited.

With regard to ‘pot-holes’, the Cabinet Member confirmed that new technology had been trialled with a view to improving the speed and effectiveness of repairs and outlined the new approach to communications and ‘Local’ Member involvement.

In conclusion, the Committee agreed that satisfactory progress had been made in the Highways Transformation Programme to date but urged the Cabinet Member to have regard to their comments, particularly in respect of the need to build confidence and improve quality, in his work to implement the future delivery model for the service.

RESOLVED – (i) That the oral report and presentation be received and noted.

(ii) That satisfactory progress had been made in the Highways Transformation Programme to date.

(iii) That the Cabinet Member be urged to have regard to the above-mentioned comments in his work to implement the new future delivery model for Staffordshire Highways.