The Economy, Infrastructure and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday 24 September 2026 to discuss updates on Avanti West Coast rail services in Staffordshire and the post-Private Finance Initiative (PFI) street lighting contract model. The committee also reviewed performance updates on the Staffordshire Roadmap to a Better Network and the committee's work programme.

Avanti West Coast Rail Services Update

Mark Osborne, Regional Growth Manager at Avanti West Coast, presented an update on rail services in Staffordshire. He highlighted significant improvements in service frequency and direct destinations from Stafford, which now offers services to over 20 locations, including London Euston, Manchester, Chester, Birmingham, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. Tamworth and Lichfield Trent Valley stations have also seen an increase in services to London Euston.

Osborne acknowledged that performance had been impacted by various incidents, including major engineering works, extreme weather, line-side fires, bridge strikes, trespass, and livestock on the tracks. He assured the committee that Avanti West Coast, in collaboration with Network Rail, is working to improve reliability through timetable adjustments and targeted actions to reduce delays.

Committee members welcomed the enhanced connectivity and investment in trains and station facilities. They emphasised the importance of continued partnership working to support tourism, economic growth, and investment, particularly in light of ongoing discussions about the future of rail operations. Concerns were raised regarding cancellation rates and the impact of delays, to which Avanti West Coast responded by explaining that the figures reflected a challenging summer period and that a joint performance strategy with Network Rail was in place to address key causes of delay. The committee also discussed capacity constraints on the West Coast Main Line and the potential for future government investment.

The committee noted the update provided by Avanti West Coast regarding rail services and performance in Staffordshire, acknowledged the collaborative work undertaken between Avanti West Coast, Staffordshire County Council, businesses and tourism partners to support rail use within the county, and supported continued collaboration to improve rail connectivity, passenger experience, and economic opportunities across Staffordshire.

Post-PFI Street Lighting Contract Model

The committee reviewed proposals for a successor model to the current 25-year Street Lighting PFI contract, which expires in May 2028. James Bailey, Assistant Director for Highways and the Built County, and Tim Heminsley, Head of Projects and Technical Services, presented the report.

The current contract, which covers approximately 108,000 street lighting and illuminated highway assets, cannot be extended. A replacement service is required by May 19, 2028, necessitating the procurement of a new contract and the strengthening of the council's asset, data, and contract management capabilities.

Preparatory work, including expiry readiness reviews and an independent reversion report, indicated that the council's readiness rating had improved to amber-green, with no major non-conformances identified. An options appraisal had shortlisted three potential delivery models: in-house design with external operations, a single external contractor, and transfer to the highways term maintenance contract. The current preferred direction is a jointly procured single external contractor arrangement with Stoke-on-Trent City Council, initially for four years with an optional four-year extension. This model was chosen for its deliverability, clear accountability, and simpler transition.

Affordability remains a key consideration, and the next phase will involve developing a whole-life financial model. Key risks identified include service continuity, asset handback and condition, affordability, data quality, internal capacity, procurement, market appetite, and workforce implications.

Committee members discussed the approaches taken by other councils, the achievability of savings, and the impact of inflation and future asset replacement needs. They also questioned the rationale for the single external contractor model and explored the potential for developing in-house design capabilities. Assurance was sought on governance, control of specifications, and the financial benefits of joint procurement with Stoke-on-Trent. The committee also received updates on potential income generation opportunities, such as advertising on lighting columns, and assurances regarding outstanding maintenance obligations and asset handback.

The committee noted the fixed expiry of the street lighting PFI contract on 18 May 2028 and the work completed to date to mobilise a safe, legal, and reliable successor service before 19 May 2028. They supported the continued development of a joint outline business case, whole-life financial model, procurement strategy, and integrated transition plan. The committee agreed that its comments would be included in the report to Cabinet for consideration prior to the final procurement decision.

Staffordshire Roadmap to a Better Network - Performance Update

Councillor Peter Mason, Cabinet Member for Strategic Highways, presented an update on the Staffordshire Roadmap to a Better Network. He highlighted that the programme, supported by £72 million of capital investment in 2026/27, was progressing well, with most 2026 milestones completed or on track. More than 26,000 potholes had been repaired since April 2026, and the Work Stack Reduction Project was actively addressing Category 3 defects.

The committee received detailed information on repeat visits, repair quality, and pothole backlog reduction, addressing previous requests for enhanced KPI reporting. Officers reported a very low level of genuine temporary repair failures, though they cautioned that the KPI framework and audit process were still developing and would be tested further during autumn and winter conditions.

Members welcomed the increased transparency and data availability but requested clearer trend information, including year-on-year comparisons, and a better understanding of the balance between reactive and proactive maintenance. Discussions also covered temporary versus permanent repairs, the effectiveness of methods like velocity patching and screeding, and public access to performance data.

The committee noted the progress made through the Staffordshire Roadmap for a Better Network and welcomed the additional KPI evidence provided in response to previous scrutiny requests. They agreed that future reports should include clearer information on backlog reduction targets and measurable progress, further development of KPI dashboards to distinguish between reactive and proactive maintenance, and continued monitoring of 'right first time' quality indicators, repeat visits, and repair performance through autumn and winter conditions. They also agreed that further information on the breakdown of the £72 million capital maintenance programme should be circulated to members.

Work Programme

The committee reviewed its future work programme for 2026-27. Carly Trusler, Scrutiny and Support Officer, provided an update on recent changes, including the rescheduling of several items and the addition of new topics. A site visit to Balfour Beatty VINCI - Cappers Lane had taken place on September 17, 2026, with an update to be provided at the next meeting. The committee noted the work programme update and agreed to its proposed schedule.