Highway maintenance funding: Network North

Financial Year 2023/24

Financial Year 2024/25

Financial Year 2023/24

Financial Year 2024/25

Financial Year 2023/24

Financial Year 2024/25

Financial Year 2023/24

Financial Year 2024/25

Financial Year 2023/24

Financial Year 2024/25

Financial Year 2023/24

Financial Year 2024/25

Coventry have undertaken a comprehensive exercise in comparing the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) data collection systems to existing practises.

At present it has been determined that these systems are not suitable for an urban, unitary authority compared to our current survey methodology which Coventry collect both footway and carriageway data simultaneously. However we remain open and are following the ongoing development of AI-style systems.

We are part of the TfWM led Centre of Excellence for Decarbonising Roads (www.decarbonisingroads.co.uk), actively participating in trialling new, innovative materials and equipment for maintenance and sharing results and best practise with other authorities.

Part of this project has identified the JCB PotholePro as new equipment to use, we have purchased a machine and are sharing the results with other authorities.

Dudley MBC is actively involved in the Live Labs 2 project, which includes setting up a Centre of Excellence for Decarbonising Roads. The centre of excellence will bring together local highway teams, project partners and stakeholders for collaboration, knowledge sharing and innovation.

All schemes being prepared are being assessed for any innovations that can be included support active travel such as cycling and footway improvements that will improve uptake.

New innovations in SCANNER output are being considered, such as, crack mapping, pothole mapping, utility reinstatement condition monitoring. Video data collection is being considered for updating asset inventory and increased use of AI for condition monitoring.

Sandwell Council is committed to continuous improvement through innovation in both processes and products. Sandwell are working with Gaist to gain a fuller understanding of the condition of the Boroughs highway network and in developing data driven lifecycle models.

This is helping us make better and more informed decisions about maintenance needs in both the short and long term.

Sandwell are also trialling innovative processes and products within and outside the Live Labs 2 Centre of Excellence for Decarbonising Roads project. Live Labs 2 is a DfT funded project focused on decarbonising highway maintenance. Sandwell are working with TfWM on identifying demonstration sites for innovative process and products within the Borough.

Sandwell are also adopting a carbon calculator to help us baseline carbon inputs and from which future decisions on decarbonising highway maintenance can be made.

Solihull council is, through its partners, investigating innovative materials and processes that support the environmental issue such as reducing carbon but enhance the life of the roads reducing congestion.

We are also working with the Centre of Excellence for Decarbonising Roads to look for new initiatives that can be utilised to deliver maintenance options.

Since 2019 Walsall MBC has operated an asset management “Innovations Efficiency Monitoring” procedure to document and record technical, material and process innovations for highway maintenance.

Focus has to date included: Planning processes; Speed regulation; Asphalt preservation; Flyposting; Lock Chip; Tree repairs/maintenance processes; Velocity repairs; Scouting regimes; Ironwork repairs.

The monitoring mechanism actively encourages engineers to explore alternative practices, monitor effectiveness/durability/cost benefits, and to cascade information using lessons learned principles.

During 2023/24 Walsall MBC has also worked closely with TfWM and the FHRG to develop a carbon baselining framework and to implement trialling of new materials/process innovations for highway operations.

This includes proposed works in collaboration with Tarmac and Velocity Patch to assess reactive repairs across various road classes using controlled conditions to explore material performance & durability.

Wolverhampton Council are working with the Centre of Excellence for Decarbonising Roads to identify lower carbon materials for highway maintenance activities. Trials of innovative pothole materials have already taken place.

As part of the project we're also developing a carbon baseline for our highway maintenance operations, that will allow us to identify appropriate carbon reduction measures.

Coventry Council operates a Highway Permitting system to plan and manage street and road works within the city. Through this process works are co-ordinated and opportunities for collaboration identified and implemented, with the intention of minimising disruption to the network and to safeguard assets.

To support this work the Council uses the Section 58 process under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 to place restriction on street which protects from planned street works following any major surfacing works.

The Council also operates a quarterly co-ordination forum with utility partners and Council teams to flag up coming works with the intention of aligning programmes and minimising disruption on the network.

Carriageway Reconstruction works are issued as PAA Major permits through the street works system, this provides 3 months advanced notice to the utility companies so that they can reschedule works to be undertaken before we resurface the road.

It also enables us to implement a Section 58 restriction under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 on that section of highway, this restriction comes into force once the works are complete and allows us to protect a street from any planned street works following any major surfacing works.

When new permits are issued, the system draws the attention to the S.58 to enable it be assessed. When conflicts so arise, the Council can determine if works will be allowed and apply any additional reinstatement.

It should be noted that the following exceptions apply : (5a) execution of emergency works and (5b) works which gain the consent of the street authority. It must also be noted that (7) The consent of the street authority under subsection (5b) shall not be unreasonably withheld; and any question whether the withholding of consent is unreasonable shall be settled in the prescribed manner.

AND (8) An undertaker shall be taken not to have failed to fulfil any statutory duty to afford a supply or service if, or to the extent that, his failure is attributable to a restriction imposed by a notice under this section.

As part of our discussion with promoters who wish to gain the consent of the street authority to excavate a highway that is subject to a Section 58 restriction, we seek additional reinstatement specification to protect the integrity of the highway.

Sandwell are a permitting authority and have been so since 2019. This has enabled us to deliver improvements in highway network management.

Sandwell will always look to secure section 58 (Highways Act) protection to prevent statutory undertakers from excavating newly resurfaced or reconstructed roads (except in an emergency) and use a roadworks management platform (Symology) to support this by providing enhanced visibility and notification processes.

S58 protection is also made visible on one.network to improve visibility, minimise impact from roadworks and deliver better outcomes for our residents.

We develop and publish the 3-year maintenance plan, present it at the appropriate quarterly co-ordination meetings where the utility companies are made aware, and any potential clashes are discussed / reprogrammed to suite. Through the NRSWA process Section 58 notices are issued ensuring no major works are undertaken on resurfaced roads for up to 5 years.

Walsall’s procedures for co-ordinating, regulating and enforcing street work activities are well-documented and rigidly applied in accordance with the code of practice for the coordination of street works.

Key drivers are designed to meet Section 58 of NRSWA which specifically refers to ‘Restriction’ on works following substantial road works, and section 58A of NRSWA, which covers ‘Restriction on works following substantial street works’ using the following criteria: 3 years in relation to substantial road works involving reconstruction.

2 years in relation to substantial road works involving resurfacing or an alteration in the level of the highway. Relevant notes include requirements for a minimum length of 30m, resurfacing includes removal of running surface and replacement, and surfacing can include HFS.

Exemptions include emergency works and any works with the consent of the Street Authority, which shall not unreasonably be withheld (i.e. new connections). An established process of co-ordination and regulation exists with any failure to give 3 months' advance notice on SM leading to a section 58 restriction having no statutory backing and the potential for conflict caused by works being promoted after the resurfacing / reconstruction has taken place.

If the road works have not started within 6 months of the proposed start date, the notice ceases to be valid. It is therefore important that the correct notification process is followed to ensure a legally compliant restriction comes into force.

Substantial road works (6.2.1) are covered with the following restrictions in place in accordance with the 2007 noticing regulations: For the purposes of section 58(1), substantial road works means works for road purposes which comprise a reconstruction, widening, alteration in the level, resurfacing or specialist non-skid surface dressing of the part of the highway concerned and which if carried out in a footpath, footway, bridleway or cycle track inclusive of:

(a) in a footpath, footway, bridleway or cycle track – (i) extend for more than 30 metres of continuous length; and (ii) in the case of a footpath or cycle track, result in the width available for pedestrians or cyclists, as the case may be, being reduced by more than two-thirds;

or (b) in the carriageway –purpose of permit schemes by regulation 37(9) of the 2007 permit regulations) 44 (i) extend for more than 30 metres of continuous length; and (ii) result in the use by vehicles of the carriageway being prohibited or the width of carriageway available for vehicular traffic being reduced by more than one-third.

The use of section 58 restrictions must fully satisfy the requirements listed in regulations and, where a restriction is used in order to support the coordination duty in section 59, an authority should evidence the qualifying criteria in order to prevent unnecessary challenge. Substantial street works restrictions (6.2.2) are used following substantial street works by an undertaker.

Walsall’s processes are clear as to where and when the powers under section 58A can be used. The 2007 noticing regulations provide that, for the purposes of Schedule 3A to the NRSWA, “substantial street works means major works”. The definition of major works can be found in regulation 3 of the 2007 noticing regulations and in 7.4.1 of the code.

Durations & Restrictions apply (6.4.1) depending upon the type of works carried out and the impact they have on the highway user, residents and local community. The restrictions are prescribed in the 2007 noticing regulations.

In accordance with regulation 11(2) of the 2007 noticing regulations, section 58 restrictions can be in place for: 3 years in relation to substantial road works involving reconstruction. 2 years in relation to substantial road works involving resurfacing or an alteration in the level of the highway.

1 year in relation to any other substantial road works carried out in a traffic-sensitive street or a street in road category 0, 1 or 2 which is not a traffic-sensitive street, and 6 months in relation to any other substantial road works carried out in a street in road category 3 or 4 which is not a traffic-sensitive street.

It should be noted that there is no legislation in force to support any requirement for half-width, full-width, first time permanent or “extended footprint” (for example, a larger patch) reinstatement to be carried out by the promoter. This cannot be a permit condition or basis for withholding consent.

All streets that are, or will be, subject to a Section 58 restriction under NRSWA are recorded and highlighted on Street Manager. Street Manager is the DfT Service for local highway authorities, utility companies or contractors within England to plan, manage and record street and road works.

Streets that will be subject to upcoming restrictions are also highlighted as part of the quarterly City of Wolverhampton Council Network Coordination Meeting. The meetings involve representatives from internal departments and Statutory Undertakers, who have provided advance work programmes for discussion.

This promotes planning, cooperation, and collaborative activities on the highway, which help to manage Section 58 restrictions and reduce the potential for utility incursion into protected streets.

City of Wolverhampton Council holds quarterly Network Coordination Meetings. These meetings are used to discuss high impact works, planned road closures, impactful events, local policies and strategies, the potential for collaborative working, planned works, and proposed disruptive traffic management.

These matters are addressed through the submission of advance work plans that are provided by all stakeholders, and then collated by City of Wolverhampton Council for discussion.

City of Wolverhampton Council has representation and input at the quarterly held West Midlands Joint Authorities Group (WMJAG) meetings and also at West Midlands Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (WMHAUC) meetings.

City of Wolverhampton Council also attends, and shares the chair, at the Black Country Permit Scheme Meeting. This is held on a quarterly basis and is attended by the 4 local authorities that reside within the Black Country area. The aim of the meeting is to raise local street works issues, and to develop a consistent agreement and approach to our street works permit schemes and street works activities in the Black Country.

This is beneficial for coordination and collaboration across the border between each authority, and also helps to provide Statutory Undertakes with a consistent approach to work carried out in the Black Country area. Individual planning meetings are held with Statutory Undertakers that have large disruptive programmes.

City of Wolverhampton Council currently attends a fortnightly meeting with Cadent Gas, and a weekly meeting with City Fibre to discuss the city wide build of a fast fibre telecom network.