Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

1.    That Cabinet note the strategic approach to the management and maintenance of Rotherham’s Highways.

2.    That the decision of the Strategic Director Regeneration and Environment to approve the indicative Highway Repair Programme for 2022 / 2023 be noted.

3.    That Cabinet note any additional in year funding to deliver highways repairs and that the Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment may utilise that funding in accordance with the strategic approach to the Management and Maintenance of Rotherham’s Highways as laid out in this report.

Consideration was given to the report which described how Rotherham’s highways were strategically managed and maintained in accordance with the agreed Highway Asset Management Policy Strategy and Highway Asset Management Plan (HAMP). The Council had a statutory duty to maintain its highways through S.41 of the Highways Act 1980.

The report also reviewed the current strategy for the management and maintenance of Rotherham’s Highways and the impact the recent Council funding had on the highway network. The current performance in terms of the condition of Rotherham’s highways and in terms of the delivery of highways maintenance services was also described.

It was reported that the additional investment in Rotherham’s roads was making a real improvement to the highway network and was evidenced by the improvement in the condition of the estate roads and classified network along with a continued reduction in the number of potholes reported and highways claims received against the Council. The Highway Repair Programme for 2021/22 delivered repairs across 247 Maintenance Schemes, equating to 77.993km of roads and an area of 481,777 square metres.

At the meeting it was reported that the number of claims by motorists for damage to vehicles caused by potholes was significantly down and that the unclassified road network was better than the national average.

Resolved:-

1.    The Cabinet note the strategic approach to the management and maintenance of Rotherham’s Highways;

2.    That the decision of the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment to approve the indicative Highway Repair Programme for 2022/23 be noted; and

3.    That Cabinet note any additional in year funding to deliver highways repairs and that the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment may utilise that funding in accordance with the strategic approach to the Management and Maintenance of Rotherham’s Highways as laid out in the report.