The Director of Technical Services presented a report which outlined the key elements of the Council’s first Network Management Plan and sought endorsement of the principles set out in the document.  The Plan was intended to set out the processes that the Council employed to meet the Council’s duty under the Traffic Management Act 2004.

Whilst there was no statutory requirement to develop a Network Management Plan, it was considered that having such a plan would enable the authority to ensure it was actively working to make the most efficient use of its existing road network to support economic and community development across the borough.  It would also fully demonstrate to the Government Office North West how the Council was complying with its duty through an assessment of current processes and the identification of performance targets and areas for improvement. The plan documented existing procedures and working practices and set out action plans and improvement areas to enable the authority to comply with the requirements of the Traffic Management Act and the associated Network Management Duty.  A copy of the proposed Wirral Network Management Plan was attached as Appendix 1.

Resolved - That

(1)  the report be noted and the authority’s approach to the Network Management Duty including the Draft Wirral Network Management Plan be endorsed; and

(2)  the Director of Technical Services be authorised to finalise the Wirral Network Management Plan in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Transport Services.