Agenda item

This report presents the Highways Maintenance Programme for 2021-22 to Cabinet for approval.

Cabinet NOTED the comments made by a member of the public, Frank Treviss, who had requested to speak on the item.  In addressing Cabinet, Mr Treviss advised that he was speaking in support of a petition previously submitted seeking an upgrade of the pavements in Logan Road.  Highlighting what he felt was the dangerous condition of the pavements, in terms of trip and fall hazards for local residents, members were also advised of the lack of any previous upgrade works and importance of the footway as a well-used route to the local school.  He also reminded members that the road provided the main pedestrian and vehicle access to a bowling and social club, which was well used by a range of community organisations.  He was therefore keen to ensure consideration was given to what he felt was the necessary footway repairs and upgrade required as part of the Council’s ongoing major road and footway resurfacing programme.

In responding to the speech, Councillor Krupa Sheth (as Lead Member for Environment), began by thanking Mr Treviss for his presentation and recognising the impact that the quality of footways had on the local environment for residents.  Whilst highlighting the improvement in the overall conditions of footways across the borough as a result of the £20m Highway and Footway Improvement programme over the last two years, she pointed out that this had still left a third of the borough’s footways in need of significant maintenance.  Whilst the footways in Logan Road had been surveyed (with 49% by length found to be in poor structural condition) this had unfortunately still not represented a high enough priority within the criteria to be considered for inclusion as part of the 2021/22 programme.  Members noted that the footways included for investment as part of the recommended programme had all been assessed with a minimum of 70% in poor condition.  Mr Treviss was reassured, however, that Logan Road’s future inclusion would continue be reviewed on a regular basis, with the next survey due later in 2021 and local; residents encouraged to report any immediate safety concerns of defects.  In the meantime it was also reported that the Lead Member for Environment and Strategic Director Regeneration and Environment had agreed to visit Logan Road in order to further examine the pavements and explore options for future improvement works.

Having noted the response provided, Councillor M Butt (Leader of the Council) ended by welcoming the contribution made at the meeting and reaffirming the Council’s commitment to improving the condition of Brent’s roads and footways within the financial constraints identified, recognising their importance to local communities.

Having noted the comments provided, CabinetRESOLVED:

(1)      To approve the proposed Highways Maintenance Scheme Programme 2021-22 as detailed in Appendix B of the report.

(2)     To note the receipt of a petition on 9^th August 2020 for Logan Road with 52 signatures asking for the renovation and upgrading of the pavements in that road, and comments made in response to the petition, as detailed within Section 3.4.2 d) - h) of the report.

Prior to consideration of this item Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of the Council, welcomed Mr Frank Treviss to the meeting who had requested to speak in support of a petition previously submitted seeking an upgrade of the footways in Logan Road.  Highlighting what he felt were the dangerous condition of the pavements, in terms of trip and fall hazards for local residents, Mr Treviss also outlined the lack of any previous upgrade works and importance of the footway as a well-used route to the local school.  He also reminded members that the road provided the main pedestrian and vehicle access to a bowling and social club, which was well used by a range of community organisations.  He was therefore keen to ensure consideration was given to the necessary footway repairs and upgrade as part of the Council’s ongoing major road and footway resurfacing programme.

In responding, Councillor Krupa Sheth, as Lead Member for Environment, began by thanking Mr Treviss for his presentation and recognising the impact that the quality of footways had on the local environment for residents.  Whilst highlighting the improvement in the overall conditions of footways across the borough as a result of the £20m Highway and Footway Improvement programme over the last two years, she pointed out that this had still left a third of the borough’s footways in need of significant maintenance.  Whilst the footways in Logan Road had been surveyed (with 49% by length found to be in poor structural condition) this had unfortunately still not represented a high enough priority within the criteria to be considered for inclusion as part of the 2021/22 programme.  Members noted that the footways included as part of the recommended programme had all been assessed with a minimum of 70% in poor condition.  Mr Treviss was reassured, however, that Logan Road’s future inclusion would continue be reviewed on a regular basis, with the next survey due later in 2021 and local; residents encouraged to report any immediate safety concerns or defects.  In the meantime it was also reported that the Lead Member for Environment and Strategic Director Regeneration and Environment had agreed to visit Logan Road in order to further examine the pavements and explore options for future improvement works.

Having noted the response provided, Councillor Muhammed Butt thanked Mr Treviss for his contribution at the meeting.

Councillor Krupa Sheth, Lead Member for Environment, then moved on to introduce the report which set out the Council’s Highways Maintenance Scheme Programme for 2021-22.  In presenting the report, members noted the £3.5m base allocation for the programme funded through the Council’s Capital budget along with the additional bid submitted for funding through Transport for London’s (TfL) London wide Principal Road Network scheme, which totalled £1.371m.  Details on the outcome of the TfL bid were still awaited, with Cabinet also noting the additional funding provided through the Council’s own £20m footway improvement programme, that was due to end in 2021-22.  This would require the base capital funding available for the programme to revert to covering maintenance of both footways as well as carriageway and highway structures.

As a result, a prioritised programme of maintenance and improvement works had been developed based on Brent’s Highway Asset Management Planning approach which, as detailed within section 3.3 of the report, sought to utilise improved asset condition surveys as a basis for the scheme prioritisation process.

Whilst recognising the challenging financial constraints under which the programme was operating, Cabinet were keen to recognise the impact of the additional investment made by the Council in terms of the footway improvement programme across the borough along with the improvements delivered to the condition of Brent’s road and highway structures as a result of the maintenance programme delivered to date (as highlighted in Appendix A of the report).  Members also noted that in developing the proposed maintenance programme moving forward, officers would continue to take account of the nominations received from ward councillors for works within their areas in order to consider how best these could be addressed within the overall resources available.

In concluding the discussions, Councillor Muhammed Butt felt it was important to recognise the positive impact achieved as a result of the maintenance programme delivered to date and additional investment provided by the Council, including the benefits provided through the use of injection patching and asphalt.  He also took the opportunity to reaffirm the Council’s commitment to continue improving the condition of Brent’s roads and footways within the financial constraints identified, recognising their importance to local communities.

Having noted the comments made, Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)      To approve the proposed Highways Maintenance Scheme Programme 2021-22 as detailed in Appendix B of the report.

(2)     To note the receipt of a petition on 9^th August 2020 for Logan Road with 52 signatures asking for the renovation and upgrading of the pavements in that road, and comments made in response at both the meeting and as detailed within section 3.4.2 d) - h) of the report.