Issue - meetings

This report sets out recommendations for Brent’s 2023 - 26 footway Maintenance programme through prioritised programmes of footway reconstruction and follows additional discussions with ward councillors on priorities within their area.

(Agenda initially republished to include Appendix 1 of the report on 30 January 2024 with a further amendment published on 2 February 2024)

Cabinet RESOLVED to approve the 2023 - 26 Planned Footway Maintenance Programme as set out in Appendix A of this report.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 12 February 24

Councillor Krupa Sheth (Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action) introduced the report setting out recommendations for Brent’s 2023-26 prioritised footway maintenance and reconstruction programme.

In introducing the report Cabinet were reminded that the Highways Infrastructure remained one of the most visible, well used and valuable physical assets within ownership of the Council.  As with any physical asset, however, this type of infrastructure was subject to deterioration over time requiring continual investment to support its maintenance with the Council, as a result, having provided an additional £15m worth of investment to support the programme of works to improve the quality and safety of roads and pavements across the borough.  In recognising the priority expressed by residents, from both a safety and accessibility perspective, in relation to ongoing investment in the borough’s highways and footways, members also recognised the balance needing to be maintained in relation to the Council’s overall financial position given the core reduction in funding provided by central government and cumulative impact of the £210m cut from the Council’s budget over the last decade.

In support of the asset management approach identified towards prioritising this investment, based on the use of condition surveys and other data to produce annual road and footway maintenance programmes, members also noted and welcomed the increased utilisation of asphalt to support delivery of the footway maintenance programme.  This had not only enabled the Council to maximise use of available funding but also to deliver a wider programme whilst also improving health and safety and reducing emissions associated with reconstruction works with the condition of a majority of the footways reconstructed using asphalt since the programme had commenced still rated as good or excellent.

In considering the report Cabinet also welcomed the opportunity provided for input from ward councillors in developing the programme who had been able to nominate footway(s) in their areas for inclusion as part of the prioritisation process, with members commending the associated benefits from both a locality and ward based perspective.

Having thanked ward councillors for their support and officers for their efforts in developing the programme and keeping the borough safe and on the move, members once again felt it important to recognise the challenges in seeking to maintain the condition of infrastructure across the borough as a result of the government’s reduction in core government funding for not only the Council but also Transport for London (TfL).  In welcoming TfLs ongoing commitment to the programme of Local Implementation Plan (LIP) funding along with the additional programme of investment provided by the Council to maintain and improve the highway infrastructure across the borough, Cabinet RESOLVED to approve the 2023 - 26 Planned Footway Maintenance Programme as set out in Appendix A of the report.