Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of City Development which follows a White Paper Motion resolution from the full Council meeting held on 20^th March 2024. This report provides an update on the work being undertaken to address the highways maintenance backlog in the face of current and historical financial challenges. The matter has been considered by the Infrastructure, Investment and Inclusive Growth Scrutiny Board and a Statement of the Scrutiny Board is appended to the report.

The Director of City Development submitted a report providing an update on the work being undertaken to address the highways maintenance backlog in Leeds in the face of current and historical financial challenges.

In presenting the report, the Executive Member highlighted that this report followed a White Paper Motion resolution from the full Council meeting held on 20th March 2024. It was noted that whilst the Council had provided almost £200m of Capital investment in highways maintenance since 2010, a backlog of £288m still existed, which had been exacerbated by inflation and also adverse weather conditions. It was noted that the challenges faced were being experienced by Local Authorities nationally. The Executive Member extended his thanks to Infrastructure, Investment and Inclusive Growth Scrutiny Board for the work which they had undertaken in this area, and reference was also made to the joint letter being sent to Government on such matters in the names of Councillor Bithell as relevant Scrutiny Board Chair and Councillor Pryor as relevant Executive Member.

The Board welcomed Councillor Bithell to the meeting, who was in attendance for the consideration of this item in her position as Chair of the Infrastructure, Investment and Inclusive Growth Scrutiny Board. The Scrutiny Board had produced a statement on this matter which was appended to the submitted report for the Board’s consideration. Councillor Bithell thanked Members and officers involved in this piece of work and acknowledged the high level of activity and innovation being undertaken by the service. The scale of the challenges being faced were also highlighted. Councillor Bithell provided an overview of the key conclusions and recommendations of the Scrutiny Board, as highlighted in the appended statement.

In considering the report, a Member raised several enquiries regarding the current position with respect to Network North funding, the service’s utilisation of the latest technology and innovation, and also regarding the latest backlog position. 

Regarding the Council’s current highways maintenance backlog position and the worst affected Ward within that, it was undertaken that this information would be provided to the Member in question.

The Board received further information on the actions which continued to be taken in order to innovate the service and adapt to new technology in this area. It was noted that experiences would be shared with other Local Authorities in order to ensure that best value was delivered.  It was also highlighted that the service wanted to embrace the Scrutiny Board’s recommendations and also embrace new technology, with it being emphasised that highways maintenance remained a key priority of the Council. Responding to a further question, it was noted that associated review work continued to be undertaken and that at the appropriate time, recommendations would be brought forward which covered new ways of working across the whole of the highways service.

In conclusion, the Executive Member extended his thanks to Highways Services for the vital work that they continued to undertake throughout the city.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the submitted report, including the maintenance strategy and policy as presented, be noted and endorsed;

(b)  That it be noted that the submitted report was considered by the Infrastructure, Investment, and Inclusive Growth Scrutiny Board at its July 2024 meeting and that a Scrutiny Board Statement has been submitted to the Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Sustainable Development and which is attached to the submitted report at Appendix B.