Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport

The Committee considered details of operational performance on two long-term highway service delivery contracts, Infrastructure+ and the Streetlighting Private Finance Initiative.  Infrastructure+ was an overarching agreement between the County Council and Amey, providing an outcome focused approach to the delivery of highway and non-property infrastructure services across Staffordshire.  In May 2003 Lighting for Staffordshire Ltd commenced delivery of the street lighting Private Finance Initiative contract, which would operate for a period of 25 years.  The appointed service provider tasked with works delivery was E.on Energy Solutions Ltd, which was the majority shareholder of Lighting for Staffordshire ltd.  The value of the contract at its commencement was £250m and the Council received a Revenue Support Grant of £1.54m per annum to support delivery of the contract.

Members received details of Infrastructure+ Outcomes 2018-21, an Infrastructure+ Performance Management Roadmap, an Infrastructure+ Performance Report from February 2019, a Lighting for Staffordshire Progress Report, and a Lighting for Staffordshire Annual Service Report 2017-18. 

A member asked if the reporting system could be modified to accommodate the reporting of more than one pothole when they were in close proximity to one another.  They also expressed concern over the quality of repairs made by utility companies and asked if there was any recourse on this.  Officers responded that utility companies were required to comply with the New Roads and Streetworks Act (NRSWA) specification requirements for highways reinstatements.  Members urged officers to ensure that the contract with Amey was managed effectively and that the service and response times that were agreed in the contract were met. 

Members were informed of the timetable of the streetlighting PFI asset replacement programme.  Since 2012/13 13,500 LED lights had also been installed across the County in an Invest to Save Programme.  In response to a question about switching street lights out from midnight, particularly in rural areas, officers informed members that the LED technology already provided dimming and that local communities were able to request switch-off.  However, the savings would be negligible given the reduction in energy charges for that period. 

RESOLVED – That the update of contract performance for the Infrastructure+ Partnership and the Lighting for Staffordshire Private Finance Initiative be noted.