Purpose

The report highlights the impacts on highway
drainage systems due to the exceptionally wet weather experienced
over the 2023/24 winter period which has resulted in significant
amounts of soil, grit and debris being washed into highway drainage
systems, resulting in an increase in public complaints relating to
highway drainage, increased risks to road users from surface water
flooding issues and damage to road structures which will create
further and more extensive damage to the network this winter due to
freeze/thaw cycles if left unresolved. The report details the
proposed approach to address the drainage issues in advance of the
winter period which would be funded from the severe weather
reserve.

Content

RESOLVED
that Cabinet approve an intensive programme of ditch
cleaning, channel sweeping and gully cleansing activity using
external contractors over an ~18 week period starting in late
August and running into the winter to address the damage to
highways drainage systems and to mitigate the risk of a further
increase in highway flooding issues and drainage maintenance
requests from occurring over the coming winter period. The cost of
this activity would be ~£59,542 per week, totalling
~£1,070,856 for an 18-week period, to be funded from the
Council’s Severe Weather Reserve