Decision details

CITY REGION SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT SETTLEMENT HIGHWAY STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME 2023-24

Decision Maker: Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

This report requests approval for the disbursement of grant funding from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s (LCRCA) City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) for 2023/24 into Wirral Council’s Capital Programme for Highways Structural Maintenance and Bridge Maintenance. The report also requests approval for the disbursement of the indicative funding for years 2024/25, 2025/26 and 2026/27 in the same programme. The report also recommends acceptance of an indicative highway condition matrix that will be used to inform future programme investment decisions.

 

The effective delivery of the council’s CRSTS structural maintenance programme contributes significantly to the Wirral Plan 2021-26, in particular: working for safe and pleasant communities; working for a sustainable environment; active and healthy lives and inclusive economy.

 

The services carried out under this programme of work will take place across all wards in the borough.

Decision:

 

Resolved – That

 

(1)  the proposed programme of works for Wirral’s Carriageways, Footway Improvements and Bridge Maintenance for 2023/24, using grant funding allocated to Wirral Council by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) in the 2023/24 City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), Combined Authority Transport Plan Programme (Highways Structural Maintenance), as set out in Appendix 2 to this report be approved.

 

(2)  the indicative RAG-rated highway network condition matrix as set out in Appendix 3 to this report, be approved to be used by the Director of Neighbourhood Services as one of the decision tools when developing highway structural maintenance programmes.

 

(3)  the Director of Neighbourhood Services be authorised to:
(a) accept the grant funding and any subsequent additional grant allocated to the council in the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) Combined Authority Transport Plan programme (Highways Structural Maintenance)
(b) in consultation with the Chair and Party Spokespersons of the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee, to revise or amend the delivery or implementation of the work programmes, as deemed necessary, having due regard for the available resources and applicable risk-based prioritisation of locations selected for intervention and treatment.

 

(4)  the Director of Law and Governance be authorised to negotiate and finalise any grant funding agreements on behalf of the council, amongst the relevant subject areas over the next 4 years, as set out in Appendix 1 to this report.

Reasons for the decision:

The recommendations within this report are designed to ensure that the council can comply with its statutory duty, to maintain the public highway in Wirral, as set out in the Highways Act 1980, Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984, Road Traffic Act 1988, Local Government Act 2000, and the Traffic Management Act 2004.

 

An element of this funding will be specifically allocated to Wirral Council for delivery of schemes on the Liverpool City Region’s Key Route Network (KRN), supporting the council’s main strategic routes providing links to economic growth and regeneration sites, and cannot be used for any other purpose. The council will inevitably incur risk reputational damage should it not accept funding specifically allocated to invest in the KRN

Alternative options considered:

The Committee could decide to not accept the grant funding offered. This is not considered to be an appropriate option given that the programme identified within this report enables the council to comply with its statutory duties

Report author: Linda Summers

Publication date: 15/03/2023

Date of decision: 14/03/2023

Decided at meeting: 14/03/2023 - Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee

Effective from: 21/03/2023

Accompanying Documents: