This report presents and recommends approval of the Council’s Highway Infrastructure Asset Management (HIAM) Policy and Strategy for 2023-27. The Policy and Strategy are high-level, overarching, documents that form part of a highway asset management framework.

Resolved – That

1.  The Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Policy 2023-27 be approved;

2.  The Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Strategy 2023-27 be approved; and

3.  The Director of Neighbourhoods Services be authorised to make any non-substantive revisions or amendments to the documents as are necessary to align with the council’s corporate objectives or with legislative changes.

The Highway Infrastructure Asset Management (HIAM) Policy and Strategy are designed to optimise the Council’s resources in managing and maintaining the borough’s highway assets. They align with the Council Plan 2023-27 and are linked with the council's broader vision for regeneration, sustainability and net zero. Approving these documents will ensure a systematic, risk-based approach to well managed highway maintenance in Wirral.

Not updating the existing HIAM Policy and Strategy was considered. However, this would fail to adequately address the new Council Plan priorities and is not recommended.

Not producing a HIAM Policy and Strategy was considered but rejected. The previous Policy and Strategy were developed to help the council meet the highest level of the Department for Transport (DfT) self-assessment process, in order to maximise incentive fund grant award. Whilst it is not a current requirement to provide a HIAM Policy and Strategy to benefit from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) grant funding or other devolved grant for highway infrastructure management, a clear Policy and Strategy will provide confidence to funders.