The Assistant Director for Highways & Infrastructure introduced the report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services which recommended that Committee approved the Council’s Highway Infrastructure Asset Management (HIAM) Policy and Strategy for 2023-27. It was reported that the HIAM Strategy and Policy, originally approved by Committee in December 2020, had been refreshed to align with the priorities of the new Council Plan 2023-27 and in consideration of devolved grant funding through the Liverpool City Region Transport Settlement. It was noted that the Policy and Strategy were high-level, overarching, documents that would form part of a highway asset management framework, and a HIAM Plan with specific operational policies and implementation plans would be presented to a future meeting of the committee, alongside a refreshed performance management framework.

Members discussed procedures relating to highway inspections, including the process for road inspections and the timescales for resolving issues. The Assistant Director reported that recorded ward inspections were undertaken on a cyclical basis, alongside additional inspections arising from the reporting of issues by members and public and councillors, whereby qualified inspectors would undertaken dynamic risk assessments when inspecting defects to resolve what action was required with a related prioritisation score.

Members also noted issues relating to deterioration of roads in the network, including increased traffic on minor roads and the impact of different approaches to fixing defects, alongside balancing climate challenges with effective highways management. In response to queries, The Assistant Director indicated that the network was in good condition overall considering funding challenges, and the Council adopted a policy of maximising the lifespan of roads with minimum intervention whereby various surface treatments would be utilised rather than full reconstruction where possible.

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 changes revisions or amendments to the documents as are necessary to align with the council’s corporate objectives or with legislative changes.