Agenda Item No 8

The Vale of Glamorgan Council

Scrutiny (Environment and Regeneration) Committee: 13th July 2017

Report of the Director of Environment and Housing Services

Highway Resurfacing 3 Year Plan 2017 to 2020

Purpose of the Report

1. To advise Committee of the Highway Maintenance 3 year Resurfacing Plan.

Recommendation

1. That Committee note the contents of this report.

Reason for the Recommendation

1. To advise Committee on Highway resurfacing works planned for 2017 to 2020.

Background

2. The local highway network within the Vale of Glamorgan is a valuable asset to the community for which the Council is responsible. The way it is managed and maintained has a direct impact on residents, businesses and visitors who use it on a daily basis.
3. All users depend on a reliable service from the local highway network in order to sustain the Vale of Glamorgan's economic and transportation needs and it is therefore essential that the network is maintained in as good a condition as possible.
4. The carriageway surfacing locations proposed in the Highway Maintenance 3 year Resurfacing Plan represent the outcome of technical scanner survey data and physical on-site condition assessments of the local highway network by experienced highway maintenance staff. The locations have been assessed and recorded in a prioritised manner to ensure the most appropriate and effective use of the available resources in order to best maintain the Vale of Glamorgan's local highway network.

Relevant Issues and Options

5. The Highway Maintenance 3 year Resurfacing Plan attached at Appendix A, identifies carriageways requiring treatment to prevent further surface and structural deterioration. The carriageways listed within the Plan for 'surfacing' (page 2 of Appendix A) have been assessed in accordance with a 'Carriageway Resurfacing Prioritisation Scoring System' which is attached at Appendix B.
6. The 'Carriageway Resurfacing Prioritisation Scoring System' identifies several criteria and data factors which enable a score to be derived and the prioritised 3 year Plan for surfacing works to be established. Surfacing works are more costly and this form of treatment generally relates to major and heavily trafficked routes.
7. Delivery of the Plan is dependent on receiving appropriate funding. Roads that will receive surfacing works this financial year will be selected from the prioritised list. Committee will note that the roads scoring 390 have been prioritised for surfacing this year. All the routes on this list require attention, however with the limited funding available, it is suggested that remaining funds be utilised to undertake the other forms of treatment identified. One of the benefits of doing this is that a greater length of highway can be treated. Those roads on the surfacing list which do not receive works this year due to budget constraints will automatically follow through into next year's Plan. The Highway Maintenance 3 year Resurfacing Plan is reviewed annually.
8. In addition to proposed surfacing works, the planned micro-asphalt and surface dressing programmes are essential low cost preventative treatments to halt the ongoing deterioration of the road surface to prevent premature failure and more costly resurfacing works in future. These treatments maintain and extend the life of the highway asset whilst achieving the optimum benefit from the highway maintenance Capital budget available.
9. Based on the estimates shown, there is insufficient funding available to complete all the routes indicated on the micro asphalt and surface dressing lists, however officers will seek to undertake as much of this work as is possible, with any routes not addressed moving to the programme for 2018 / 2019.
10. The roads listed on the micro-asphalt and surface dressing programmes are derived purely from on-site assessment of the Council highway network based on professional and expertise engineering judgement. These programmes have been listed alphabetically as the prioritisation of this work between routes is similar. All would benefit from the treatment indicated and work to all the routes identified will be achievable within the budgets available over the next 2 years (2017 / 2018, 2018 / 2019).
11. The surface dressing works are sensitive to road temperatures and weather conditions and have recently been completed to take advantage of a suitable weather window and the Council's appointed specialist surface dressing contractors programme of works nationwide.
12. The Highway Maintenance 3 year Resurfacing Plan provides the foundation for delivering a well-maintained and managed highway infrastructure. It ensures levels of service are optimised and that the highway infrastructure asset is managed wherever practicable, in the most efficient manner to meet the expectations of all highway users.

Resource Implications (Financial and Employment)

13. There is currently no road maintenance grant funding available from the Welsh Government.
14. The funding therefore available to deliver this year's programme of resurfacing works will be from within the Council's Capital budgets. It has been requested that £500k from the 2018 / 2019 budget is brought forward to the 2017 /2018 capital budget to enable works to be undertaken as soon as possible. This will provide a total budget of £1.3million for 2017 / 2018 against an estimated total cost of £3.683m for the full three year programme.
15. All highway treatments shown in the programme will be managed and supervised by existing staff resources within the Visible Services and Transport Section.

Sustainability and Climate Change Implications

16. Sustainability and climate change are considered during the contract preparation to minimise waste and maximise the use of recycled materials wherever practicable.

Legal Implications (to Include Human Rights Implications)

17. The Council has a duty to maintain the Highway pursuant to the Highways Act 1980.

Crime and Disorder Implications

18. There are no crime and disorder implications in respect of this report.

Equal Opportunities Implications (to include Welsh Language issues)

19. There are no equal opportunity implications to this report.

Corporate/Service Objectives

20. A well maintained highway contributes to corporate Well-being Outcome 4: An Active and Healthy Vale and Objective 7 to Encouraging and promoting active and healthy lifestyles.
21. The Visible Services and Transport Service Plan (2017 - 2021) action ER9 identifies:

"Review the road surfacing plan for 2017/18".

Policy Framework and Budget

22. This matter is within the policy framework and budget.

Consultation (including Ward Member Consultation)

23. There has been no individual Ward Member consultation on this matter as it is a Vale wide issue.

Background Papers

None

Contact Officer

Paul Gray - Routine Maintenance and Street Lighting Manager

Tel. No. 02920 673 200

Officers Consulted

Operational Manager, Legal Services

Accountant, Building and Visible Services

Responsible Officer:

Miles Punter - Director of Environment and Housing Services