The Formartine Area Committee met on Tuesday 19 May 2026 to discuss a range of issues, including the progress of roads and infrastructure works and the allocation of budgets for the upcoming year. Key decisions included the approval of revenue funding proposals for roads and bridges and comments on capital funding proposals.

Roads and Infrastructure Programmes of Work 2026-27 and Update on 2025-26 Works

The committee received a comprehensive report detailing the proposed programmes of work for roads and infrastructure for 2026-27, alongside an update on the delivery of works planned for 2025-26. Councillor Iain Taylor, Chair of the committee, opened the discussion by noting a moderate reduction in the overall budget across all service functions, with a significant shift in allocation from bridges to roads maintenance.

Tom, an officer presenting the report, explained that the service had accepted a number of savings during the budget setting process, including reduced road marking maintenance, the removal of street lighting on private roads and footways, and more cost-effective procurement of materials and services. He acknowledged the potential impact of these reductions on communities and individuals, noting that some savings had taken considerable time to develop and were yet to be introduced, such as part-night street lighting switch-offs and revised repair timescale targets for street light outages.

The service is moving away from a fixed programme of works, aiming to be more responsive to member requests, events, funding availability, and asset condition information. A dynamic list of prioritised works has been developed, which currently exceeds available funding. For the second year, a data-driven process is being used for identifying and prioritising road maintenance schemes, with schemes requiring minimal preparatory work being given enhanced priority to maximise the impact of reinstated budget availability.

The report highlighted an additional £1.88 million identified for roads maintenance, which will allow for the resumption of preventative resurfacing and surface dressing work. This funding will enable the awarding of a substantial spray injection patching contract, the acquisition of an additional pothole repair vehicle, and an increase in pothole repairs carried out by in-house resources. Officers expect these measures to be noticeable to road users, but cautioned that expectations must be realistic, as road maintenance funding levels remain below steady state, leading to a continued decline in road conditions. The long-term trend shows an increase in identified defects, with a greater proportion of service efforts spent reacting to defects rather than preventing their formation.

Appendix E details the proposed budget allocations for roads revenue and capital funding activities, with a split across council areas based on relevant data sets such as road length by classification, footway length, road condition survey data, population, number of street lights, and number of gullies. For the first time, a proportion of the patching budget has been allocated based on the number of outstanding potholes.

The committee was informed that the winter service is standards-based and consistent across Aberdeenshire, with resources directed based on weather conditions and their impact on the travelling public. Outturn winter costs can vary considerably. The capital funding split for roads aims to reduce identified risks associated with road surface and drainage infrastructure. Street lighting proposals are based on finite funding parameters, with routine revenue expenditure focusing on lamp repairs. Members were made aware of significant challenges regarding column and cabling age and condition, with the demand for capital-funded replacement far exceeding available budget. Column cut-downs without immediate replacement will continue to be the norm, with decisions on which columns to replace being risk-based, considering factors like pedestrian numbers, vehicle interactions at crossings, and clusters of adjacent outages. The focus on column and cable replacement means the LED switch will be postponed in 2026-27.

Appendices C, I, J, and K show the delivery of the 2025-26 bridges programme and the prioritised list of future bridge works and the planned programme for 2026-27. The report sought approval for revenue-funded works and comments on capital-funded works.

Councillor Paul Johnston raised a question regarding the delay in the LED rollout, asking for figures on carbon emissions that take this into account. Tom, the officer, stated he did not have these figures to hand but could provide them. Councillor Louise McAllister inquired about the interactive map, which will show the exact location of works, and expressed concern about the accuracy of areas listed, particularly regarding the roundabout in the centre of Ellon, which was listed as Eithon Terrace. The officer clarified that Eithon Terrace is the road section, but the interactive map would show the roundabout as the specific location of work. Councillor Andrew Hassan also welcomed the interactive map and asked about its marketing to community councils. Councillor Gillian Owen sought further clarification on the classification of the Ellon Roundabout road as unclassified, stating it was a key access point and not an unclassified road. She also asked about bridge repairs, specifically regarding Ellen Bridge, where £1.2 million is allocated. Gillian Cunningham, a bridge officer, explained that the works on Ellen Bridge would be concrete repairs, noting that previous works were done in the 1980s. She detailed the need for further work due to the bridge's size and difficult access underneath, requiring full scaffolding or an underbridge unit, which constitutes a large proportion of the expense. She also mentioned the potential for additional cathodic protection.

Councillor Gerard Davidson raised a point about accident history data, questioning if local proof could be added to the picture beyond police reports. Stuart, an officer, confirmed that accident statistics are received from the road safety team and included in scheme selection. He also noted that inspectors are on the road and flag any issues not reported to Police Scotland. Gillian Cunningham expanded on historic bridge data, explaining that an element is set aside for historic bridges to allow for immediate intervention if needed, and that repairs are done on an as-needs basis.

Councillor Davidson also asked about the allocation of funds for historic assets for bridge repairs. Gillian Cunningham explained that a proportion of the patching budget has been allocated based on the number of outstanding potholes. Councillor Davidson also inquired about the proportion of other works anticipated to be completed within the current budget. Tom responded that the list is dynamic and budget-based on estimates, and while some schemes may cost more or less, the budget will not be less. He reiterated that the reactive side of works depends on weather conditions. Councillor Derek Ritchie raised concerns about street columns being cut down and not replaced, citing Rosebank in Old Meldrum as a particular issue. Tom stated that the appendix shows where columns will be replaced and that phase three plans are being developed, with a risk-based approach to prioritisation. He confirmed that replacement would not be based on which column was cut down first, but on the greatest risk. Councillor Paul Johnston suggested reviewing data collection methods, referencing the MPI from Ward 8, and also pleaded for incremental releases of online systems to avoid crashes.

The committee noted the updates on 2025-26 works, approved the proposals for allocating revenue funding for roads and bridges, and made comments to the Infrastructure Services Committee on the proposals for capital funding.

Decisions Made

• Roads and Infrastructure Programmes of Work 2026-27 and Update On 2025-26 Works: The committee noted the updates on 2025-26 works, approved the proposals for allocating revenue funding within their area for roads and bridges, and made comments to the Infrastructure Services Committee on the proposals for capital funding within their area for roads and bridges.

Other Discussions

• Tribute to Anne Gammack: The committee noted the passing of Anne Gammack, a local community councillor within the Ellen area, who was recognised for her extensive involvement in various community groups.
• Appointment of Headteachers: The committee noted the appointment of James Packham as the preferred candidate for headteacher at Bill Meady Primary School, Emma Jane Whitehead for Durham Academy, and Emma Gibb for Bud Meady School.
• Resolution on Equalities: The committee agreed to the resolution on equalities, in terms of Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010.
• Minute of Meeting of 28 April 2026: The minute of the previous meeting was approved as a correct record.
• Minor Amendments to Conditions for APP/2025/1886 Land at the International Golf Course Balmady: The committee noted minor amendments to the conditions for this planning application, which did not alter the original intention but ensured accuracy and enforceability. These amendments related to the removal of Condition 1 (lapse of planning permission) and the alteration of Condition 2 (submission of Biodiversity Enhancement Plan).