Agenda item - Highway Asset Management Policy and Strategy

Report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture (copy attached).

1)           That Members approve the Highway Asset Management Policy at Appendix 1 and the Highway Asset Management Strategy at Appendix 2

2)           That Members authorise officers to further develop proposals with the Highway Asset Management Strategy to facilitate progression through the DfT’s Incentive Fund banding in order to secure additional maintenance funding.

3)           That Members note that the HAMS will be regularly updated to include investment strategies for other highway infrastructure including footways, highway structures, drainage, street lighting and traffic control systems

53.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture that requested approval of the Highway Asset Management Policy and Strategy (HAMS) developed by Brighton & Hove City Council over the previous two years in line with requirements from DfT. The purpose of the HAMS is to enable the Council to manage and maintain the City’s highway network in a way that best meets the needs of the present without passing on unaffordable cost to future generations.

53.2      Councillor Janio thanked officers for providing a detailed, thorough report noting that he found difficulty in correlating the figures listed on page 279 to the financial information detailed at page 281.

53.3      The Head of Asset & Network Management clarified that the two tables reflected various financial positions and options to make Members aware of the current and future condition of the highway and asset network and to inform debate around allocations from the Local Transport Plan (LTP).

53.4      Councillor Janio asked if the Strategy would be sent to the DfT as there was clearly a funding requirement for the authority.

53.5      The Head of Asset & Network Management stated that the report would help the authority in terms of not losing out through the DfT’s annual allocation and the application of financial modelling would assist future grant applications as a clear case with analysis could be provided demonstrating the need for funding and how much that could be delivered for.

53.6      Councillor Miller asked if the council would be permitted to borrow against its assets to invest in infrastructure.

53.7      The Assistant Director- City Transport clarified that that was an option that could be looked at but that would also involve an assessment of the revenue implications alongside.

53.8      RESOLVED-

1)           That Members approve the Highway Asset Management Policy at Appendix 1 and the Highway Asset Management Strategy at Appendix 2

2)           That Members authorise officers to further develop proposals with the Highway Asset Management Strategy to facilitate progression through the DfT’s Incentive Fund banding in order to secure additional maintenance funding.

3)           That Members note that the HAMS will be regularly updated to include investment strategies for other highway infrastructure including footways, highway structures, drainage, street lighting and traffic control systems.