The Committee considered the report of the Director of Neighbourhoods which sought approval of indicative highways work programmes which were proposed to take place during the 2020/21 and 2021/22 financial years.

The programmes included the following –

·         2 year local transport plan (LTP) funded capital programme;

·         2 year bridges and structures capital maintenance programme;

The budgets with the exception of bridges and structures have been split into each Township according to population size. Rochdale North will be allocated 19% of the total budget. 

Alternatives considered:

No alternatives were considered. The programme has been developed according to DfT guidance and in line with other GM Authorities. 

Resolved:

That the highways work programmes to be delivered in 2020/21 and 2021/22 as circulated to Members be noted and approved in principle.

Reasons for the recommendation:

The schemes that have been selected have been put together based on the principles of asset management which use network condition data, engineer inspections, life cycle planning and cost efficiency to produce the most efficient highway improvement over the course of the programmes.

Using Asset management techniques for scheme selection ensures that they are in line with recommendations from the Department for Transport (DfT) which enables the full funding allocation from the DfT incentive fund scheme. Authorities that are deemed not to be carrying out efficient highway improvements can have funding reduced and in the case of Rochdale, the maximum reduction would be £410k.