Issue - meetings

Highway Asset Management principles enable informed decisions to be made about investment and maintenance funding; assist in the targeting of resources to where they can be most effective and enables the identification and management of the risks associated with our statutory duties to manage and maintain public infrastructure. It is a requirement of the Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Guidance and Well-Managed Highway Infrastructure produced by the Department for Transport (DfT), that highway authorities have an Asset Management Policy and Strategy. Each legacy authority had its own policy and strategy. In producing a new BCP Policy and Strategy for Highway Asset Management, we have reviewed these legacy documents against current best practice and produced a set of documents that can be adopted and will shape the way we deliver our highway maintenance programmes for the next 5 years in line with DfT requirements. 

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)           approves adoption of the draft Highway Asset Management Policy and Strategy; and

(b)           delegates authority to the Director for Growth and Infrastructure, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport and Sustainability, to approve the subsequent Asset Management Plan and other associated operational documents that will be produced following the adoption of the Policy and Strategy. 

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Transport and Sustainability

Reason

By adopting the principles set out in the Highway Asset Management Policy and Strategy, this would enable informed decisions to be made about investment and maintenance funding; assist in the targeting of resources to where they can be most effective and enable the identification and management of the risks associated with the Council’s statutory duties to manage and maintain public infrastructure. This will be used to inform the proposed highway maintenance programme and ensure that BCP Council are able to fully utilise funding awarded.

The Portfolio Holder for Transport and Sustainability presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'D' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was informed that highway asset management principles enable informed decisions to be made about investment and maintenance funding; assist in the targeting of resources to where they can be most effective and enables the identification and management of the risks associated with our statutory duties to manage and maintain public infrastructure, and that further to this that it is a requirement of the Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Guidance and Well-Managed Highway Infrastructure produced by the Department for Transport (DfT), that highway authorities have an Asset Management Policy and Strategy.

Cabinet was advised that each legacy authority had its own policy and strategy, and that in producing a new BCP Policy and Strategy for Highway Asset Management, we have reviewed these legacy documents against current best practice and produced a set of documents that can be adopted and will shape the way we deliver our highway maintenance programmes for the next 5 years in line with DfT requirements.

In presenting the report the Portfolio Holder advised of the following amendment to Appendix 2 (page 14 of the appendix) page 68 of the PDF whereby the last line should be amended to read;

‘Applying principles of sustainability within highway maintenance may have an impact on investment priorities and lifecycle costs of the highway assets’

And the following additional paragraph being inserted after the above:

‘Our approach to Highways Maintenance considers the service’s direct andindirect impact on our communities and on the environment. Within the funding and resources available, we will explore innovative materials, treatments and techniques that will maximise our use of environmentally friendly and recycled materials and minimise waste and carbon use.

We will appraise the benefits of materials and treatments for maintenance and environmental impact, nature conservation and biodiversity in line with the Council’s wider environment and sustainability priorities.’

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board addressed the Cabinet thanking the Portfolio Holder for the amendments to Appendix 2 which reflected the discussion at the recent Board meeting.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)           approves adoption of the draft Highway Asset Management Policy and Strategy; and

(b)           delegates authority to the Director for Growth and Infrastructure, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport and Sustainability, to approve the subsequent Asset Management Plan and other associated operational documents that will be produced following the adoption of the Policy and Strategy. 

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Transport and Sustainability

To consider the following Transport and Sustainability related reports scheduled for Cabinet consideration on 14 April 2021:

·       Highway Asset Management Policy and Strategy

The O&S Board is asked to scrutinise the reports and make recommendations to Cabinet as appropriate.

Cabinet member invited to attend for this item: Councillor Mike Greene, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Sustainability.

The Cabinet report for this item is included with the agenda for consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Board.

Highways Asset Management Policy - The Portfolio Holder for Transport and Sustainability presented a report, a copy of which was circulated to Board members and which appears as Appendix 'A' to these minutes in the Minute Book. Issues raised in the subsequent discussion included:

·       The asset inventory as outlined in the report and whether priority was given to measuring current assets. This information was still being collated from preceding authorities, including outstanding data on footways.

·       Surveys – Highways were scanned in a specialised vehicle and pavements were walked. There was a four-year inspection programme during which every footway would be inspected.

·       The outcomes of the climate review and Health and Safety review as outlined in the appendix of the report and the potential positive impact. That the document was extensively proscribed by the Department for Transport.

·       The increasing number of cycleways across BCP.

·       The two types of surveys for footways - serviceability inspections to determine future works and forward plan, and risk-based safety inspections.

·       Reactive and proactive maintenance and how the policy may help reduce reactive maintenance issues. A Board member suggested that there was a mismatch between these issues.

·       Issues were raised regarding CO2 reduction, methods which took account of climate change, flooding, tree planting and gulley cleaning. How actions being taken to address these issues could be reflected within the Policy.

·       Making crossings more intuitive and including more experimental technology and assets which would make life easier for people within the Policy. The Portfolio Holder advised that the prescriptive nature of the policy would mean it needed to include information on the assets being maintained in the most cost-effective way. However, he undertook to look into whether it would be possible to include this within the policy.

·       Whether electric charging points were included within the highway assets structure. The Portfolio Holder undertook to follow up on whether these were included and whether the strategy needed to be updated to include them.

The most intelligent type of crossings were zebra crossings, which were also cost effective. The Portfolio Holder was asked what the policy position was on these and it was noted that this would sit within the realm of health and safety and there was currently lots of consideration about which type of crossings were most appropriate. The Chairman suggested that the Portfolio Holder gave this further consideration and thanked the Portfolio Holder and officers present for their input.