Further to minute 252 (12 January 2012), the Interim Director of Technical Services reported that the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement on 5 December 2012 announced an additional £333 million for a dedicated fund to provide for additional maintenance to renew, repair and extend the life of the highway network in England. Wirral had been allocated £0.522m in 2013/2014 and £0.279m in 2014/2015 for priorities such as road resurfacing, maintenance to bridges or repairing damage to highway infrastructure caused by severe weather events.

The maintenance of highways was a statutory duty for the Council under the Highways Act 1980 (as amended) and the Interim Director’s report presented both the proposed breakdown of that highway maintenance funding between the Bridges £800,000), Street Lighting (£200,000) and Roads and Footways (£1,864,000) elements of the network and the proposed Highway Structural Maintenance Programme 2013/2014, for approval.

The Interim Director also provided the following summary of the proposed allocations, subject to confirmation of the Council funded Capital Maintenance Allocation –

Resolved –

(1)  That the proposed allocation of the Local Transport Plan Capital Programme 2013/2014 Maintenance Block between Street Lighting, Bridges and Roads and Footways, be approved.

(2)  That the Detailed Highway Structural Maintenance Programme for 2013/2014 be approved.

(3)  That the Interim Director of Technical Services, in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Transport Services and Party Spokespersons, be able to make necessary adjustments to the priorities within the programme should the need arise due to financial conditions or other factors.

(4)  That the additional highways maintenance funding be expended on those highway schemes specifically referred to in Appendix 1 to the report of the Interim Director of Technical Services.