Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report of the Executive Manager (Asset Management) introducing a verbal update on the Highways Annual Improvement Consultation.

The report of the Executive Manager, Highways provided the Outer West Community Committee with an update on the Highways Annual Improvement Consultation.

The presentation which was appended to thew submitted report was shown at the meeting and the Community Committee were invited to make comments.

The Community Committee were informed of the following points:

• The consultation on next years’ programme closed on 2^nd September. Lists of the proposed works had been provided to Councillors and Parish Councils at the start of July requesting comments.
• Members were provided with an explanation of the Well-Managed Highway Infrastructure Code of Practice.
• Explanation of how the Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Strategy aligns with the corporate vision and contributes to the vision for Leeds.
• Members noted that the service is currently undertaking more preventative work which is surface dressing. It was noted that the life of a road is generally 10 years.
• The service is continually reviewing all streets, and these are added to a sheet with a colour code to show what stage of repair the road is in. All roads are inspected by an engineer and a scoring system is used and checked over a 3-year cycle. The service wish to get to the position that only 10% of roads are in poor condition.
• Each year all Members receive lists of roads requiring work and the priority given to them. Members are requested to make comments. Members were advised that all emails are noted and responded to.

Responding to direct questions from the Community Committee further information was provided:

·  Specific issues with groundworks will be picked up separately outside of the meeting but it was confirmed that concerns regarding concrete beds under tarmac deteriorating will be picked up.

·  Priority work beyond 5 years is influenced by preventative work carried out to free up funding for streets that have already failed.

·  Cul-de-sacs wouldn’t usually be treated with surface dressing, but alternatives can be considered. It was noted that leaflets are provided to streets that are being surface dressed, and it is possible to create a leaflet / note for nearby cul-de-sacs explaining the process.

·  In response to a question regarding North Leeds testing new surface with recycled plastics, it was explained that it has not been down long enough to be able to compare this to other techniques.

·  The 5-year plan does not address managed decline and can only be addressed with a higher budget. The service will continue to seek more funding and use better techniques to efficiently make use of the budget.

·  There is a hierarchy in terms of decision making and there is a balance to make in terms of streets that feel ‘overlooked’. Streets with a school or main route to a hospital will be higher in the hierarchy.

·  There is currently no intention to reinstate a budget to consider requests for unadopted streets to be taken on. However, should communities be able to come together to bring a road up to an adoptable standard, the Council will consider adopting the road.

·  It was acknowledged that signage doesn’t mitigate speeding and alternative techniques can be looked at but will come at a premium and may impact the overall programme.

·  Frustration with roadworks being disconnected and having an impact on the community is acknowledged. There is a wider issue with people not updating notices and completing work on time and there are discussions being had regarding the Department for Transport looking at having 1 street management system which will alleviate some frustrations.

RESOLVED: To note the contents of the report and presentation.