Part 1 / ITEM NO.

REPORT OF THE STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABLE REGENERATION

TO THE LEAD MEMBER FOR PLANNING ON 27 SEPTEMBER 2010

TITLE: HIGHWAY INVESTMENT WORKS 2010 / 11 - FINAL PROGRAMME.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

That the Lead Member for Planning authorises Urban Vision (working on the Councils behalf) to place the appropriate orders in accordance with the value of the works listed in the attached appendices 1 – 3 as per paragraph 2.2 below, providing that the total value of the overall works programme does not exceed the total budget value of £4.072M.

That the Lead Member for Planning instructs officers from Urban Vision to prepare a further report giving full details of the consequent remediation programme, once the above orders have been placed, and prioritising any residual monies against those schemes contained within appendix 4, as per paragraph 2.3 below.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This report seeks to provide detail of the overall Highway Investment Programme for 2010 / 11.

BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS: Highway Investment Funded through Unsupported Borrowing - Report to The Lead Member For Planning and The Lead Member Customer and Support Services on 28th November 2005.

KEY DECISION: YES

1.0.  REPORT:

1.1.  One of the reasons that Urban Vision was originally formed was to reduce tripping claims and improve Salford’s highway BVPI’s. In order to achieve this it has always been recognised that there would need to be a substantial investment in the highway and in November 2005 a report was approved by Lead Member enabling an overall package of investment valued at £22 million.

1.2.  The approximate value of the works approved to date is set out below:

2004/05 / £1.000m
2005/06 / £5.201m
2006/07 / £4.519m
2007/08 / £4.570m
2008/09 / £3.507m
2009/10 / £0.571m
2010/11 / £1.786m
Total / £21.154m

1.3.  To date the majority of these works have been directed towards the footway but it is essential that future monies are directed towards the carriageway in order to arrest the current levels of deterioration. Full details of this requirement are given elsewhere on this agenda.

1.4.  In recognition of this additional funding to the value of £2M has already been approved by The City Treasurer via The Capital Gateway process. That makes the total amount of highway investment monies available this financial year £4.072M as demonstrated in the table below:

Budget / £2.582m
Slippage / £1.200m
Other resources / £0.290m
Net / £4.072m

As noted above, approximately £1.786m of these monies have already been allocated leaving a balance of £2.286m for future works.

1.5.  Attached to this report are four Appendices. These give detail of suitable treatments that may be applied to prevent further deterioration. This programme is based upon the outputs of the United Kingdom Pavement Management System which records survey data and then accords a priority coding to the results. Within this system red roads are those roads where the surface has already failed and therefore is in need of remedial repairs, whereas amber and yellow areas can still be targeted with preventative techniques. The overall value of these works is approximately £2.5M but further engineering assessment will be required to finalise the appropriate intervention.

1.6.  Appendix 1 relates to those roads that were surveyed last year and were recorded as 100% ‘red’ ie the surface had already failed. It is recommended that these sites are assessed against the use of micro asphalt surfacing and where appropriate this remediation is adopted. It is also recommended that those sites which have deteriorated beyond this point (ie which have a more deep rooted failure) are further assessed for inclusion at Appendix 4 - those roads requiring more substantial remediation.

1.7.  As noted above, the pavement management system is reliant upon survey data and such surveys are carried out on a four year cycle. Appendix 2 is a list of those sites that were assessed between 2006 and 2008 and were recorded at that time as being 70% plus ‘red’. It is anticipated that these sites will have now deteriorated to the point where they would record at 100% ‘red’ and as with the above it is recommended that these sites are again assessed against the use of micro asphalt surface treatments and where appropriate this remediation is adopted. It is again recommended that those sites which have deteriorated beyond this point are further assessed for inclusion at Appendix 4.

1.8.  Appendix 3 shows those sites which are still in the ‘amber’ range. Here it is recommended that a preservative sealant in accordance with Clause 950 of the Specification for Highway Works is used. However, it should be noted that this will simply stop the deterioration and will not improve the appearance of the road. The anticipated lifespan of this treatment is approximately five years.

1.9.  Finally, Appendix 4 shows those sites that have deteriorated beyond the application of micro asphalt surfacing. Recommended treatments are shown against each road and ultimately this list will be supplemented with other roads that fall from Appendices 1 and 2.

2.0.  What Happens Next

2.1.  Elsewhere on this agenda detail is given of the Network Recovery Plan. This presents a five year remediation programme giving detail of the investment required to stabilise the network so that it is fit for purpose moving forward. This report forms the first stage of that Plan and although higher levels of investment will be required than that currently available Lead Member should note that the treatments recommended in this report form the first stage of that recovery.

2.2.  In the view of the fact that the micro asphalt surfacing programme is weather dependent it is recommended that in the first instance priority is given to those roads which are found to be suitable for these works and that contracts be let accordingly. It is also recommended that the Clause 950 works suggested at Appendix 3 should be let to a suitable contractor.

2.3.  It is finally recommended that the full list of schemes within Appendix 4 undergoes final prioritisation against any outstanding budget and a suitable report be prepared for Lead Member advising him of these results, and bringing forward the appropriate costs for his approval. It is suggested that the final prioritisation for these works be based on a mixture of sound engineering principles and other factors such as the regeneration of deprived areas.

KEY COUNCIL POLICIES: Highway Safety.

EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND IMPLICATIONS:- Smoother carriageway surfacing makes it easier for the less able bodied to travel around Salford.

ASSESSMENT OF RISK: High – failure to implement the recommendations within this report will leave the Council vulnerable to third party highway claims.

SOURCE OF FUNDING: Existing budgets as detailed in the report.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS Supplied by Tony Hatton : the recommendations in the report will assist greatly in reducing the number of third party tripping claims across the City, and strengthen the Council’s position in defending any such highway/tripping claims as a result of the improved highway safety.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS Supplied by Stephen Bayley Ext 2584

The total budget available for Highways Investment work for 2010/11 is £4.072M, which is contained within the Council’s overall approved capital budget for 2010/11. Out of this £1.786M has been committed, leaving an uncommitted balance of £2.286M. It is important that the final programme does not exceed this budget.

OTHER DIRECTORATES CONSULTED: Not applicable.

CONTACT OFFICER: Richard Goodwin TEL. NO. Ext

WARD(S) TO WHICH REPORT RELATE(S): All.

Paul Walker

Strategic Director for Sustainable Regeneration