Agenda item

Report ES14009

Members considered proposed programmes of planned footway and carriageway maintenance for completion during the 2014/15 financial year. Roads to be considered in subsequent years as reserve schemes or potential programmes of planned maintenance were also provided to Members.

The approach to prioritising roads for maintenance was discussed. Officers considered the prioritisation strategy to have worked effectively with value management helping to direct funds to the busiest roads in poorest condition. However, it was acknowledged that this may have been to the detriment of unclassified roads - the condition index suggesting that 20% of unclassified roads now required planned maintenance soon. 

Councillor Grainger supported the direction of some resources to unclassified roads, questioning the inclusion of A223 Sevenoaks Road (High Street to Cardingham Road) in the Priority 1 Programme, suggesting it appeared to be in a reasonable condition (although the Chairman considered its condition poor between Charterhouse Road and Park Avenue). Officers were looking to work with Members to address unclassified roads and the stage was almost reached where measures other than surface patching were necessary to prevent further reactive costs.

In view of the Council’s financial position and the condition index for unclassified roads, officers would welcome a discussion with Members on trialling different road treatment materials for unclassified roads. Some carriageways had already failed structurally and officers were looking at other treatments. The Vice-Chairman suggested a breakdown of roads needing more than surface repair. 

Councillor Rideout referred to any risks from heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and plant travelling to building works along unclassified roads. She suggested visiting roads where there had been significant building work to assess whether HGVs/plant had caused any road damage. However locating such roads was considered difficult, and unclassified roads should be able to withstand the impact of HGVs at low levels. More impact might arise if any vehicle/plant applied consistent road pressure from “mechanical feet”. It would be difficult to impose weight limits in view of access requirements for emergency vehicles. Councillor Grainger suggested smaller blocks rather than large slabs to prevent footway damage by HGVs; any increased costs could be worthwhile longer term. 

Councillor Grainger provided further observations. He understood that Medway Council carried out surface dressing on unclassified roads. He also advocated the division of minor roads into treatment lengths e.g.40/50 metre in order to treat solely those lengths requiring attention. He further suggested that Members contact officers if there were specific maintenance problems with roads in their ward.

Concerning a working group to consider, inter-alia, the level and projections of the condition index and treatments for unclassified roads, the Chairman recommended that this should be considered at the first Environment PDS Committee of the new Council Year - a further meeting of the Waste Minimisation Working Group being the highest priority for the current year. In advance of any working group next year, the Vice-Chairman suggested that officers research the approach taken by Medway Council on surface dressing for unclassified roads.

RESOLVED that the Environment Portfolio Holder be recommended to: 

(1) agree that the schemes listed at Appendix A to Report ES14009 should form the basis of the Council’s programme of planned highway maintenance for 2014/15 and, subject to budgetary provision, that the works be progressed;

(2) note the reserve schemes and potential programmes of work for future years as listed at Appendix B to Report ES14009; and

(3) note the proposed TfL funded programme of highway maintenance works (Principal A Roads) for 2014/15 as set out at Appendix C to Report ES14009.