Archived decisions

Contact: Kevin Fuller 02380 427000 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report outlines:

(i) progress with the 2005/06 highways maintenance programme;

(ii) details of the 2006/07 highways maintenance budget;

(iii) details of the 2006/07 highways maintenance programme; and

(iv) progress on 2005/06 minor capital works and proposals for 2006/07 programme.

2. Background

2.1 Members may be aware from previous Panel meetings that the highway maintenance programme is funded from both revenue and capital allocations.

2.2 The revenue maintenance programme funds minor works such as pothole repairs, routine drainage work, including gully cleansing, signs and road markings, environmental maintenance of grass verges, trees and shrubs, weed control and highway emergencies. Minor bridge works and winter maintenance are also funded from revenue.

2.3 The capital maintenance programme funds planned maintenance including special maintenance, resurfacing and surface dressing and also provides for essential repairs to the structure of the highway.

2.4 Members of the public can contact the highways offices on 0845 8504422. The Hampshire Highways website http://www.hants.gov.uk/highways/ contains a wide range of information relating to highway works; including highway policies, fact sheets on various highway activities and also online forms for reporting defects and requesting services, such as dropped crossings for driveways.

3. Progress with the 2005/06 Highways Maintenance Programme

Revenue Maintenance Programme

3.1 The total revised allocation for Test Valley for 2005/06 was £843,000. Progress throughout the year has generally been in line with the spend profile. At the end of February 97% of the budget had been committed and the full allocation is expected to be used by the end of the year. A budget statement is included as Appendix 1.

Capital Maintenance Programme

3.2 The total revised allocation for Test Valley for 2005/06 was £1,457,500. Good progress has been made with the programme and it is expected that it will be delivered as planned within time and budget constraints. Whilst it is anticipated that all remaining schemes in the current year's programme will start before the end of the financial year a small number may run over into 2006/07 and be completed in April.

3.3 A budget statement is included in Appendix 1 and a status report detailing progress of all special maintenance, resurfacing and surface dressing schemes is attached as Appendix 2.

4. 2006/07 Highway Maintenance Budget

4.1 This year Hampshire County Council has received a £15 million Central Government grant through the Local Transport Plan (LTP) process. This is comparable to the £14.6 million LTP funding received for 2005/06.

4.2 The overall highway maintenance budget for 2006/07 approved by the Executive Member for Environment is £48.506 million, comprising £24.132 million revenue funding and £24.374 million funding from the capital programme provision. For the fourth year in succession approval has been given to the allocation of an additional £2.989 million of capital funding for highway maintenance works in the areas of greatest need, that is minor rural road carriageways and footways..

5. 2006/07 Highway Maintenance Programme

Revenue Maintenance Programme

5.1 As described above, the revenue maintenance programme funds three main areas of highway maintenance:

(i) reactive minor repair works on the road and footway network;

(ii) minor traffic management improvements of signs and road markings; and

(iii) environmental aspects of highway maintenance including grass cutting, weed treatment and tree and shrub maintenance.

5.2 The total allocation for Test Valley in 2006/07 is £829,000. A detailed breakdown of the budget allocations is set out in Appendix 3.

5.3 Additional revenue budgets are held centrally for the performance elements of the County Council's term maintenance contract. The performance based work contained in the contract includes:

(i) gully emptying;

(ii) visibility splay grass cutting;

(iii) winter maintenance; and

(iv) ordinary bridge maintenance.

Capital Maintenance Programme

5.4 The funding allocation for the capital maintenance programme is based on the HAMP rating system which identifies locations having the greatest maintenance need. This system comprises an independent assessment of the condition of roads identified as potential candidates for substantial maintenance work, such as resurfacing.

5.5 Planned structural maintenance repairs undertaken through the capital maintenance programme includes surface dressing, special maintenance and resurfacing schemes. The total allocation for Test Valley is £1,852,100 and a budget breakdown is given in Appendix 3. A provisional list of schemes for 2006/07 is also attached in Appendix 4.

6. Minor Capital Works

6.1 This section of the report outlines

(i) progress with the 2005/06 capital minor works programme; and

(ii) proposals for the 2006/07 capital minor works programme.

6.2 The capital minor works programme is funded from the capital allocation based on the LTP submission to the Department for Transport. In the 2005/06 programme £200,000 was allocated county-wide, of which £25,000 was allocated to Test Valley.

6.3 The schemes in the 2005/06 programme were:

(i) B3048 Longparish Road, Longparish - provision of new footway

It has not been possible to complete this scheme during the 2005/06 programme. Due to site constraints, it was necessary to seek acquisition of a strip of privately owned land, and unfortunately the landowner was not supportive of this. Compulsory purchase has been considered but there are no plans to pursue this course of action as it is unlikely to be successful.

However, in the intervening period it is noted that a new access has been constructed to the school, including a turning circle. It is anticipated that this will reduce the level of parking near the village hall, and also the number of pedestrians using this route. An area of land has also been identified next to the school which would be ideal for additional parking, subject to planning approval. The Parish Council is aware of this option.

(ii) Test Way Footpath Link - A3090, Romsey

In lieu of the Longparish scheme, the scheme with the next highest priority rating has been selected from the minor capital improvement programme. This is a cross boundary scheme falling within both Romsey Town and Romsey Extra areas. It will provide a new footpath linking two sections of the Test Way and will establish a safe and clearly defined route across the A3090 Romsey by-pass. The scheme is presently under design and will be completed in two stages. It is anticipated that stage one construction will be underway before the end of March 2006, and it is proposed to complete stage two during 2006/07.

Proposals for the 2006/07 Programme

6.4 The capital minor works rolling programme is compiled from suggestions made by elected Members, the Police, Parish Councils, Residents Associations, members of the public and mobility groups, etc. A schedule of schemes under consideration for Test Valley area is given in Appendix 5. In the 2006/07 programme £120,000 has been allocated county-wide, of which £18,500 has been allocated to Test Valley. It is proposed that this allocation will be used to complete stage two of the Test Way footpath link.

7. Impact Assessments

7.1 This report provides a position statement only, therefore an impact assessment in terms of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act has not been undertaken.

Recommendations

1. That the Highway Maintenance sections of this report be noted.

2. That the Panel be invited to comment on the proposed 2006/07 capital minor works programme and the Executive Member for Environment: South Hampshire and Resource Management be advised accordingly.

775/KF

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