Report to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport
Report submitted by: Executive Director of Environment
Date: 7 December 2009
Part I - Item No. 2
Electoral Divisions affected:
All
Allocation of Transport Asset Management Grant
Contact for further information:
John Thorp, 01772 538565, Environment Directorate
[email protected]
Executive Summary
In 2009, the Department for Transport (DfT) decided to allocate additional funds to
local authorities to assist them in developing their asset management capability for
highway assets. The County Council was successful in its bid and received
£154,800 capital for 2008/09 and £145,200 capital for 2009/10, together with
£109,000 for revenue funding.
Approval is sought to spend the capital grant to improve the understanding of the
assets so that decision making can be more effective and allow optimum allocation
of resources for the management of the highway infrastructure to meet the needs of
its customers.
Recommendation
The Cabinet Member is asked to approve the addition of a scheme to the County
Council's Capital Programme totalling £300,000 for Highways Asset Management.
This will be fully grant funded by the DfT.
Background and Advice
In 2008 the government realised that local authorities required additional funds to
'pump prime' the concept of asset management in highway maintenance by building
up its highway inventory and analysis capability.
Local authorities were asked to bid for the money and the County Council was
successful in receiving the full amount allocated for Lancashire:
2008/09
2009/10
£154,800 capital + £109,000 revenue
£145,200 capital
-2The letter agreeing to the bid came in late February 2009 which was too late for
2008/09. The financial rules indicated that the 2008/09 monies could be rolled
forward into the 2009/10 year and therefore an additional £300,000 was made
available to both improve the knowledge of the highway inventory and more
importantly to extract better decision making and optimise allocations.
Over the last few months considerable thought has been given to the areas where
knowledge of the network is weak and where improvements can be made to
individual databases to extract better network analysis. Consideration has also been
given to areas where the County Council has a risk of legal action for failing in its
duty under the Highways Act and also the impact of climate change on the highway
network.
It is proposed that the DfT inventory funding will be used to:







Purchase and develop a deterioration model for highway maintenance to
provide the optimum time for resurfacing;
Undertake additional drainage inventory surveys in flood risk areas;
Introduce a video collection of inventory data;
Undertake a cycleway condition survey;
Inspect and report on the condition of highway crash barriers throughout the
county to reduce legal risks;
Continue with the update of the bridges database system;
Obtain a programme to link accidents and skid resistance of the highway to
make the highway safer for the public and limit legal exposure.
The DfT grant will allow the County Council to develop its existing inventory
knowledge but more importantly will allow better analysis of the data leading to
optimal allocation of resources.
Consultations
Consultations have taken place with all heads of service within Highways and
Environmental Management to establish their priority needs.
Implications:
This item has the following implications, as indicated:
Risk management
The majority of the proposed spend has been targeted at areas where the County
Council has a legal duty and may be failing in that duty or where climate change will
directly affect the highway infrastructure and the customers using it or living
alongside the highway.
Financial
The cost of the scheme would be fully met by a grant from the DfT.
-3Legal
If the County Council fails to undertake the proposed works then it fails in its legal
duty under the Highways Act.
Procurement
Where external procurement is required, Corporate Procurement will be consulted.
Any representations made to the Cabinet Member prior to the issue being
considered in accordance with the Public Notice of Forward Plans
Name:
Organisation:
Comments:
N/A.
Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985
List of Background Papers
Paper
Date
Nil.
Reason for inclusion in Part II, if appropriate
N/A.
Contact/Directorate/Tel
-4-
Decision Taken: Declarations
Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport
Allocation of Transport Asset Management Grant
Original recommendation, as set out in the report, approved without
amendment.
Yes
Original recommendation amended and decision as follows:
No
I have a personal/prejudicial interest in this matter.
No
If an interest is declared please give details below:
Keith Young
Cabinet Member for Highways and
Transport
7 December 2009
Chief Officer
I certify that this is an appropriate and
accurate record within the terms of
Standing Order 35(2) and (3) of the
decision taken by the Cabinet
Member.
Jo Turton
Executive Director of Environment
7 December 2009
*Delete as appropriate