Issue details

Highways and Transport Service Area Review - Highway Maintenance Plan

The County Council, in its capacity as Highway Authority, has a duty to maintain the highway under Section 41(1) of the Highways Act 1980. However, the Act does not specify the levels of service required in order to meet that duty. In previous years, documents have been produced which detailed the highway maintenance service levels customers could expect to receive.

 

A document named “Well-managed Highway Infrastructure” was published in October 2016, replacing “Well-maintained Highways”, “Management of Highway Structures” and “Well-lit Highways”. Like its predecessors, “Well-managed Highway Infrastructure” is a national, non-statutory code of practice which sets out a series of general principles for highway maintenance. It is endorsed and recommended by the Department for Transport and its production has been overseen by the UK Roads Liaison Group (UKRLG) and its Roads, Bridges and Lighting Boards.

In order to demonstrate that the County Council complies with the principles of “Well-managed Highway Infrastructure”, a robust decision-making process must be demonstrated, an understanding of the consequences of those decisions, and how the associated risks are managed to ensure highway safety. As part of that process, a new Highway Maintenance Plan needs to be produced, which clearly sets out the levels of service customers may expect and which integrates with a revised “Safety Plus” inspection manual.

Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Affects more than 1 division;

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Divisions affected: (All Divisions);

Notice of proposed decision first published: 21/03/2019

Decision due: July 2019 by Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure

Lead member: Councillor Roger Elkins roger.elkins@westsussex.gov.uk

Contact: Chris Barrett, Contract Lead Professional Email: chris.barrett@westsussex.gov.uk Tel: 033 022 26707.

Consultation process

Representations concerning this proposed decision can be made to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure, via the officer contact, by the beginning of the month in which the decision is due to be taken.

 

Consultees

Executive Director of Place Services, Director of Finance and Support Services, Director of Law and Assurance

 

Democratic Services Contact: Judith Shore 033 022 26052

Background3: A Prosperus Place

Decisions

Agenda items

Background papers

  • None