To receive a verbal update from Andy Wilde, Service Director Infrastructure.

The Service Director Infrastructure introduced the item by providing a detailed overview of the current condition of Shropshire’s highways network, the national funding context and the challenges created by long term underinvestment, increased winter damage and the statutory duty to keep the highway safe and serviceable.  He explained that the Council’s annual Department for Transport (DfT) capital allocation had long been insufficient and fell far short of the £33 million per year required simply to maintain the network in a “steady state” condition.  Years of under investment had resulted in “managed decline”, with the service prioritising statutory safety repairs over preventative maintenance.  A shift toward preventative maintenance such as resurfacing and surface dressing were highlighted as essential to reducing long?term costs.

The Service Director Infrastructure highlighted that the winter period had caused an exceptional spike in potholes, particularly due to a cold period followed by several weeks of persistent rain.  This compressed the usual winter season of defects into a short period, generating a significant backlog and the redeployment of extra repair teams.  He explained that highways teams were currently completing 800–900 pothole repairs per week, making progress on the backlog, but acknowledged the level of public concern and the severe impact of water, drainage issues and rural road construction weaknesses.

The statutory inspection regime was outlined with the Service Director Infrastructure explaining that A roads are inspected monthly, while rural lanes are inspected annually or bi?annually.  All repairs are ordered as permanent unless conditions require temporary works and every defect is photographed before and after repair.  Also explained was the transition from the previous single large contractor model to a “mixed economy” approach, combining in?house teams and external contractors to improve quality, responsiveness and value.

Members raised a wide range of queries.  These included concerns about blocked drains, inadequate ditching, field run-off, the impact of heavy agricultural and forestry vehicles on fragile rural roads, budget forecasting, reporting systems and communication with both residents and Town and Parish Councils.  Members also discussed examples of pothole repairs being undertaken while nearby defects remained unaddressed, leading to public frustration.

In response, the Service Director Infrastructure confirmed that poor drainage is a major contributor to road deterioration and outlined efforts to increase in?house drainage maintenance.  He recognised pressures caused by increased vehicle sizes, particularly agricultural, which had changed traffic patterns in ways rural roads were never engineered to withstand and the issue of road edge deterioration, particularly on the rural network.  The need for stronger engagement with landowners, the NFU, the CLA and Town and Parish Councils on managing water run?off and ditch maintenance was acknowledged.

Questions about the Council’s ability to secure full future funding from the DfT were addressed.  The Service Director Infrastructure confirmed the council must evidence compliance with asset management practice and strategy criteria, publish relevant documents and demonstrate achievement of key performance indicators to unlock the full incentivised funding allocation.  Shropshire had historically met the standards required by the DfT and there was no reason why this would not continue.  A four year funding indication from the DfT would help long term planning and increase preventative works such as surface dressing programmes.  Members asked for clarity on historic funding levels, actual highways budgets and projected highways budgets and in responding, the Service Director Infrastructure commented that he would provide further written information / data on this, to be circulated by officers after the meeting.

Members raised concerns about communication, including the reliability of FixMyStreet, inconsistencies in the outstanding works map and lack of notice for reactive works that cause road closures.  The Service Director Infrastructure acknowledged these issues and advised that system improvements to FixMyStreet were being reviewed and that improved digital scheduling could support earlier communication ahead of reactive works and would be explored further.  He welcomed suggestions to give local members more timely updates on works scheduling and acknowledged the value of regular contact between technicians, Councillors and Town and Parish Councils.  It was confirmed that pothole repairs were photographed before and after, geo?referenced, audit checked and subject to remedial action at contractor cost where necessary.

Members also explored quality assurance processes, including the possibility of independent post work inspections, cross checking between contractors and in house teams and reducing the “you fixed one pothole but not the other” frustration.  The Service Director Infrastructure expressed openness to further scrutiny, external reviews and exploring alternative approaches.  In responding to a question about Blackpool’s Project Amber, he explained that whilst the principles were sound, Shropshire’s rural network differed significantly from Blackpool’s urban environment.

RESOLVED:

That a new Highways Task and Finish Group be established with new terms of reference to consider issues such as the new contract procurement, value for money, quality of highways (particularly potholes) work and communication.  It was confirmed that both new members and members from the previous Task and Finish Group were welcome to join with it anticipated that several sessions would be required.  Following completion of their work, a report would be brought back to the committee for consideration and recommendations made to Cabinet for their consideration.