Agenda item

ES20367

A Member noted that there was an improvement plan in place with respect to Riney. She asked what sort of improvement could be expected by June. The Assistant Director for Highways said that he hoped the current backlog of 200 jobs would be reduced to just a handful. The Committee was informed that the claiming of low service damages had been put on hold until June. A Member noted that the previous minutes had indicated that Riney would be up to speed by April 1^st. It was further noted that any compensation claimed because of pot-hole damage would not be borne by the Council, but it would be borne by the contractor.

The Assistant Director for Highways informed the Committee that Riney had now appointed a new management team. The Council were doing their best to encourage Riney to work better and smarter. Some frustration was expressed by the Committee regarding Riney’s performance; the Chairman said that the Council had to manage things as best they could via the existing contract while officers explored options for delivery at the end of the existing contract in 2026.

A Member raised the matter of re-painting the yellow lines in roads, and the fact that this work was also not being completed within agreed timescales. The Assistant Director explained that re-lining was sub-contracted out to another contractor. He felt that after a slow start, the sub-contractor now had a better understanding of what was required.

Members discussed the matter of KSIs. A Member asked that information should be provided in reports to show what positive action was being undertaken to reduce KSIs. Councillor Alisa Igoe asked that it be noted that she was of the view that the KSI projection of 124 was appalling. 

A Member asked the Assistant Director for Highways what was the oldest pothole on register. The Assistant Director responded that he would find out and report back. The Member responded and said that he was aware of a pot-hole that had been outstanding for 431 days. He wondered what other pressures could be put upon the contractor, as it was Ward Councillors that  got the blame for pot-hole issues. The Assistant Director responded that the Director of Environment and Public Protection had been involved in high level discussions with Riney’s management and also that the low service damage penalties were there to encourage good performance. A Member requested that outstanding work be shared more widely with Members and not just with the Portfolio Holder. 

It was noted that at the June meeting, there would be a report regarding options for the future Highways Maintenance Contract. It was expected that any lessons learnt from issues relating to the current contract would be taken into account  when drawing up the new contract. The Committee was informed that in this regard, there would be two reports coming to the Committee, one would be in June and there would be another report which would come either in the autumn or winter which would be more detailed.

The Portfolio Holder for Transport, Highways and Road Safety said that Riney was not operating in an efficient or planned manner. There had also been constant changes in management. The Council had employed a part time programmer to try and assist Riney in a more efficient planning of the work schedule. He said that one of the lessons learned would be not to ‘put all your eggs in one basket’ and that the Council should not use just one contractor. He also said that in any new contract, the use of new technology should be specified. This could involve capital investment, either directly on behalf of the contractor, or possibly the Council could purchase equipment that the contractor could use. In any new contract, priority should be given to main roads and junctions.

A Member referenced the comment in the report that LBB was doing well in comparison with other boroughs with respect to KSIs and asked if these figures were available. He was informed that these figures were available on the Council Website.

RESOLVED that the Environment and Community Services Portfolio Holder, and the Portfolio Holder for Transport, Highways and Road Safety, endorse the outcomes, aims and performance measures set out in the 2023/24 Environment and Community Services Portfolio Plan.