Issue - meetings

          The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Community and Resources, which sought approval for the Policy, Strategy and Objectives of Chapters 1 to 4 of the Draft Highway Asset Management Plan. Approval of these Chapters would enable further development of the remaining Chapters which would cover the Operational Plan and Procedure.

          Members were advised that a Highway Asset Management Plan (HAMP) was a guidance document used by the Council’s Highways Service which identified current assets, developed a framework for Asset Management to enhance existing good practices and improve the management of the highway network and addressed maintenance challenges moving forward. Some of the potential benefits of adopting Asset Management practices were as follows:

·       Formalised and documented standards and processes;

·       Provided an informed response to budget pressures;

·       Recorded assets and what condition they were in;

·       Allowed an understanding how infrastructure had aged and the risks associated with it;

·       Led to consistency of practices;

·       Provided an audit trail;

·       Assisted with managing public expectations; and

·       Acknowleged that future spending requirements were not always the same as historical ones.

It was also noted that unless each local Highway Authority was actively committed to Asset Management and other Highways Maintenance Efficiency Programme principles, then they could expect a cut in future funding of up to 15.5% by 2020/21, through the Incentive Element Funding Formula. This demonstrated the importance for the Council to develop and sustain its highway asset management capability.

RESOLVED: That

1)    Chapters 1 to 4 inclusive of the Draft Highway Asset Management Plan (attached as Appendix 1) be endorsed;

2)    the Board recommend, for approval, the adoption of Chapters 1 to 4 by the Executive Board; and

3)    the remaining chapters of the HAMP be brought to this Board for its consideration at the appropriate time.