Issue - meetings

This report seeks approval of the Highways Maintenance Scheme Programme for 2022-23.

Cabinet RESOLVED to approve the proposed Highways Maintenance Scheme Programme 2022-23 as detailed in Appendix B of the report.

Councillor Krupa Sheth (Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action) introduced a report presenting the Highways Maintenance Scheme Programme for 2022-23.

Having introduced the report, Cabinet noted the programme of works delivered as a result of the Highways Maintenance Investment Programme in 2021-22 in relation to Brent’s footways, roads and highway structures, based on the allocation of £3.5m of capital investment supported by £1.67m from the Recovery Fund (as detailed within Appendix A of the report).  Members were advised these works had covered approx. 1.3% of the borough’s road and footway networks.  This investment had also been supplemented, up to the end of 2021-22, with an additional £18.5m as part of the £20m Footway Improvement Programme.  Once the final scheme within that Programme (Kilburn High Road project) had been completed it was noted that approx. 45 miles of footway would have been resurfaced, equating to about 8.5% of the borough footway network.

As a consequence of the ongoing funding pressures being experienced by Transport for London (TfL), members were also advised of the limited funding which had been made available since 2018-19 towards Principal Road (A-road) improvements, with no specific funding from TfL having been allocated to Brent for this purpose in 2021-22 and 2022-23.  Given the relatively poor condition of the Principal Road Network, members welcomed the proposal outlined in the report to invest a further £15m over the next four years in support of a planned maintenance programme.  This would involve the allocation of £2m in 2022-23 with the remaining £13m over the following three years and would include £4m for Principal Road maintenance with the remainder of the allocation to support footway reconstruction, which would be subject to a prioritisation process and consultation with ward councillors.

Members noted the details provided in relation to the prioritised programme for major road resurfacing; preventative maintenance; major footway reconstruction; improvements to highway structures and drainage; improvements to public realm and renewal of road markings identified for 2022-23, along with the detailed Highways Asset Management and scheme prioritisation process.  Whilst expressing concern at the impact of the funding pressures and current financial settlement agreed with TfL, Cabinet RESOLVED to approve the proposed Highways Maintenance Scheme Programme 2022-23 as detailed in Appendix B of the report.