Decision

Decision
 
For the reasons set out in the report and its
appendices Cabinet RESOLVED to Agree to:

i) 
Approve the proposed list of schemes planned for 2025/26 as set out
in Appendix A, making use of funding approved at Cabinet on 18
February 2025;

ii) 
Accept Department of Transport (DfT) funding of £692,000.00,
making use of it on the renewal of sections of the Principal and
Classified Road Network, as outlined in Appendix A, in line with
the guidance set by the DfT on its use; and

iii) 
Grant delegated authority to the Corporate Director of Environment
& Sustainable Transport, in consultation with the Cabinet
Member for Environment, Highways and Sustainable Transport, to make
alterations to the programme set out in Appendix A to facilitate
other works, as required to maintain the highways to an acceptable
standard.
 
Alternatives
Considered

a) 
An alternative considered, is to do no planned maintenance or very
little, and to only manage the condition of the network by reactive
maintenance. This would mean the reactive maintenance budget, would
over time, need to be increased year on year, to cater for the
ongoing deterioration of the network. As the condition of the
network deteriorates, the work required to reactively maintain it
would become more intrusive and costly. This would lead to longer
reactive maintenance programmes and an overall delay to the users
of the network, as well as the network becoming unsafe. The number
of complaints received about the condition of the network would
also increase, with more time required by officers to handle these
complaints.  Due to the legal requirements to maintain the
highways and footways in a safe condition and the level of
deterioration in the highway network, this alternative was
discounted. Therefore, it is felt that the planned maintenance
programme as proposed is an essential component of the highway
authority’s delivery plan, as it assists the Council in
meeting its statutory obligations to ensure safety for all highway
and footway users.

b) 
Another consideration is not to undertake any resurfacing of the
footway and carriageway network, and only undertake the essential
structures works. However, it is felt that it would be best if the
remaining budget left within the KNM programme is used to serve the
maintenance of the wider network, in line with its original
governance.