The level of spend on roads and infrastructure investment including reactive and core maintenance is proposed to reduce. Overall spend in this area is focussed on a range of repair works including on carriageways and footways, drainage, lining and signing and safety defects. A 20% reduction in this investment area (circa £1.800m) is proposed and will see the network condition regress and an increase in the level of claims. Investment will require to be prioritised towards safety related defects meaning less proactive / preventative repairs are undertaken and more substantial investment required in the future.
In addition, prioritisation of spend would be required to reduce the likely need for temporary or permanent road or bridge closures, increased risk of flooding, disruption for communities, business and public transport services due to unplanned restrictions and to minimise the impact of reduced wider support to communities (e.g. events) due to employee resources being directed towards managing increasing defects and complaints.
Conclusion
The policy is a necessary response to the current financial position faced by the Council.
