Agenda and minutes

Andy Shaw, Streetpride Community Delivery Manager, to report.

-           to advise the Cabinet Member on the level of highway damage caused by the recent extreme winter weather and detail the action taken and proposed to address the situation.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Streetpride Community Delivery Manager, advising the Cabinet Member on the level of highway damage caused by the recent extreme winter weather and detailing the action taken, and action proposed to be taken, to address the situation. 

It was explained that the freeze/thaw action associated with the extreme winter weather had dramatically accelerated the deterioration of the highway network to the extent that considerable lengths of carriageway were in need of urgent repair.  Also many more dangerous defects had been created.

It was acknowledged that this was a national problem and the Local Government Association had written to the Department for Transport seeking emergency funding to be advanced from funds budgeted for next financial year to help finance the most urgent repairs.

The report contained details of actions taken, and proposed, to address the situation in Rotherham.  Details were also set out of the cost of identified urgent winter damage and potential sources of funding.

It was pointed out however that additional funding would be needed to address other severe damage on both precautionary and non-precautionary routes, and as yet no funding sources for these repairs had been identified.

In additional it was reported that the condition of the roads would impact on public satisfaction and on the Local Area Agreement target regarding condition of principal roads.

Reference was also made to attendance at the recent Highways and Street Lighting Conference where issues of winter maintenance and the operation of the Salt Cell were discussed.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the report and the action to address the identified “Priority Damage”, as detailed in the report now submitted, be approved.

(2)  That a verbal update be provided for the next meeting of the Regeneration Scrutiny Panel on 9^th April, 2010.

(3)  That a further update report be submitted to the Cabinet Member for Streetpride in approximately one month’s time.

(4)  That a full report together with implications be submitted in July to both the Cabinet Member for Streetpride and the Regeneration Scrutiny Panel.