Agenda item

Report ES17004

Following the Council decision on 12^th December 2016 to approve £11.8m capital funding for investment in planned highway maintenance, Members considered future schemes of planned carriageway and footway maintenance, comprising Phase 2 of the investment programme (the first having been approved In January 2017). The works in Phase 2 were estimated to cost £2m and reports on further phases of the programme would be considered in the autumn following the completion of additional technical assessments.

The capital funding enables improvement to the condition of non-principal and unclassified roads and footways in the borough, reducing demand for reactive maintenance and enabling annual revenue savings of £2.5m. The revenue savings will amount to £12.5m over five years from 2017/18, partly offset by an estimated £167k reduction in treasury management income over the period. Value for money and customer satisfaction will also be improved by the works with unplanned network disruption reduced. The maintenance will also contribute to reducing trips and other accidents some of which could result in third party claims for damages.

For the proposed footway schemes, a parking delivery problem was highlighted in discussion at the head of Sidney Road, Beckenham. This would need input from traffic and road safety officers and it was confirmed that programme data is circulated between officer teams.

The Council expected notice of three months from utility companies on proposed works affecting the highway; similarly, the Council was expected to provide notice of at least three months for highway works. Upon the Council providing notice, utility companies are unable to carry out utility works within two to five years except for priorities such as new customer connections or emergencies. This is normally respected by utility companies.

It was thought that roads in two estates in the Farnborough and Crofton ward had not received maintenance during the previous 40 years. Clarity was sought on the criteria for prioritising roads in the programme; both Kings Wood Close and Wyndham Close (with five properties) listed for Phase 2 were considered less of a maintenance priority than other roads in Farnborough and Crofton. The Head of Highways asked for a list of roads in the ward considered to be in poor condition - these would then be checked against condition data.

A concern was raised that with the introduction of buses with two doors on some bus routes, bus passengers using the centre doors were having to step on to grass verge. The problem was likely to worsen in winter months and it was suggested that hard standing areas be extended. A programme of bus improvements is available through LIP funding and it would be possible to raise cage marking for buses in discussion with TfL. Members were invited to advise the Head of Traffic and Road Safety of particular bus stop locations causing concern. 

In view of a further burst water main incident in the borough (Masons Hill), an enquiry was made on whether major leaks were more prevalent in Bromley compared to other boroughs or more frequent now than in the past and whether action such as lobbying the regulator was required. The Committee was advised that it was not considered that Bromley was worse than average at the current time and no action was proposed at this time.

Members supported the recommendation to the Portfolio Holder subject to taking account of Ward Member comments on specific schemes. 

RESOLVED that subject to taking account of Ward Member comments on specific schemes, the Portfolio Holder be recommended to agree that the schemes listed at Appendix A to Report ES17004 form the next phase of the Council’s investment programme of planned highway maintenance for 2017/19, to be undertaken by the Council’s existing highway term maintenance contractors.