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Salford City Council – Record of Decision
 
I Councillor Jack Youd, Deputy City Mayor and Lead Member for Finance,
Support Services and Regeneration, in exercise of the powers contained within the City
Council Constitution and
following consultation with Cabinet Members at the Property/
Regeneration Briefing, do hereby approve the proposed programmes of
work for the Highways Investment Programme (HIP) for 2025/26.
 
The Reasons are:
·        
Highways play an essential role in making travel more expedient, be
that by car, public transport, cycling or walking.
·        
Highways provide connectivity between conurbations both locally and
strategically. Well maintained highways ensure the network is kept
open, minimises delays and promotes economic growth in the local
areas which they serve along with job opportunities.
·        
By adequately maintaining our highway infrastructure, this will
enhance and preserve the benefits derived from a good, sound
highway infrastructure. It is crucial therefore that highways are
enhanced and maintained. Planned, preventative maintenance is far
more economic than reactive maintenance.
 
Options considered and rejected were: None
 
Assessment of Risk:
Low - The targeted spend of available funding
will ensure that the City Council’s statutory obligations are
met while at the same time facilitating continuous improvement of
the highway infrastructure.
The source of funding is: Highways Capital Investment 2025/26 set at
£3,800,000
 
Legal Advice obtained: Helen Chapman, Principal
Solicitor
 
 
Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 places the
Highway Authority under a duty to maintain a highway, and
maintenance is therefore a statutory requirement.
 
The proposals individual schemes for highway
maintenance, once finalised will strengthen the Council’s
position in defending 3rd party highway/tripping claims.
Whilst it is legally accepted that it is not possible to maintain
the highway completely free of all defects, section 58 of the
Highways Act 1980 provides a possible defence to a claim if it can
adequately show that there was a sufficiently robust regime in
place to inspect and maintain the highway provided it is adequately
carried out and the Council had no prior knowledge of the defect
before an alleged incident.
Once works have been carried out in accordance
with the schemes referred to the Council will be better placed to
either repudiate more third party claims entirely or reduce the
level of damages payable should settlement be deemed
appropriate.
 
Any works to be undertaken as part of the HIP
referred to in the body of the report should be procured in
accordance with the Council’s Contractual Standing Orders and
the Public Contract Regulations 2015, and the Council should use a
framework to appoint contractors where a suitable one is available,
such as its own Technical and Highways Works Framework and each
appointment should have its own approval by way of DDN. Should the
value of any such works exceed £150,000, a separate report
will need to be presented to Procurement Board for decision.
 
Financial Advice obtained: Adam Flaherty,
Senior Accountant, Finance Division
 
 
There is sufficient funding within the 2025/26
Highways Capital Investment programme, to fund the £3,800,000
works identified for the Highway Improvement Programme.
 
All expenditure should be closely monitored to
ensure that these schemes are delivered within the allocated
resources.
 
 Procurement Advice obtained:
Heather Stanton, Category Manager
 
This is a statutory requirement. The Technical
and Highways Works Framework will be used to complete the works
required. This will ensure that all works carried out are compliant
with SCC Standing Orders and PCR’s 2015. Any efficiencies and
savings opportunities need to be considered as part of this
procurement activity.
 
 
HR Advice obtained: N/A
 
Climate Change Advice obtained:
Michael Hemingway, Principal Officer Climate
Change
Will Horsfall, Team Leader Environment
Policy
 
Well maintained footways and cycleways will
encourage and promote walking and cycling which in turn will
encourage healthy lifestyles. Shorter journeys are more likely to
be on foot or by bike which will reduce carbon emissions from motor
vehicle journeys.
 
Improved carriageways will also contribute to
the reduction of congestion and reduce carbon emissions from
standing traffic. The use of recycled and sustainable materials
along with carbon friendly manufacturing processes in road
maintenance products will also contribute to carbon saving
measures.
 
 
The following documents have been used to
assist the decision process:
 
Report to Property/Regeneration Briefing
28th April 2025 including:
Appendix A - List of
provisional carriageway and footway schemes 2025/26.
 
Contact
Officer:  Robert Owen - Head of Highways and Network
Management
Email: robert.owen@salford.gov.uk                    
Telephone number: 779 4848
 
 
·        
This decision is subject to consideration for briefing purposes by
the Lead Member for Planning, Transport and Sustainable
Development. The Lead Member is supportive of the decision.
·        
The appropriate scrutiny to call-in the decision is the Growth and
Prosperity Panel.   
 
 
Signed: Councillor Jack Youd
Deputy City Mayor and Lead Member for
Finance, Support Services and Regeneration
Dated: 28th April 2025    
                                                 
 
 
This decision was published on Monday 28th April 2025                                           
This decision will come in force at 4.00 p.m. on Wednesday
7th May 2025                                
unless it is called-in in
accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.