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