Issue - meetings

Report ES18083

A new highway guidance document, ‘Well – managed Highway Infrastructure – A Code of Practice’, published by the UK Roads Liaison Group (UKRLG) in October 2016, supersedes previous versions of the Code (following an initial implementation period) and covers management of the carriageway, footways, street lighting/structures, and highway assets.

The new Code of Practice (CoP) is designed to “promote the adoption of an integrated asset management approach to highway infrastructure based on the establishment of local levels of service through risk-based assessment”. The UKRLG guidance recommends formally approving this asset management approach.

Although the CoP is not a legal requirement, it does recommend highway maintenance standards and is frequently a key component in court decisions. It is also used to determine whether or not a highway authority is complying with good industry practice and its statutory duty to maintain and repair the highway. As such, failure to adopt the CoP and its recommendations might compromise the Council’s defence.

A summary of 36 recommendations from the CoP, covering all areas of highway maintenance for roads was appended to Report ES18083 together with the Council’s progress in implementing the recommendations. Also appended to the report were:

·  the Council’s Highway Asset Management Policy and Strategy demonstrating how highway asset management supports the Council’s corporate vision and aims and responds to the Mayor’s Transport Strategy;

·  L B Bromley’s network hierarchy or series of related hierarchies; and

·  the Council’s methodology for implementing highway safety inspections, including inspection frequency.

The Highway Asset Management Policy and Strategy document will be implemented according to a Highway Asset Management Framework, documenting how the Council is working towards an integrated asset management approach to manage its highway. A Framework document is being developed and revised in light of the new CoP.

Members supported the Code of Practice (and its implementation).

RESOLVED that:

(1)  the Portfolio Holder be recommended to approve -

·  adoption of the publication ‘Well – managed Highway Infrastructure – A Code of Practice’, its recommendations and risk based approach for management of the highway network

·  the ‘Highway Asset Management Policy and Strategy’

·  the content of documents included in the appendices to Report ES18083outlining a risk based approach for highway inspections, a network hierarchy/frequency of highway inspection, and investigatory levels; and

(2)  the Portfolio Holder be recommended to note the progress in meeting remaining recommendations of the Code of Practice.