Issue - meetings

Purpose of report:

The purpose of this report is to provide the CEH Select Committee with performance information on Environment, Highways, Transport, Planning & Infrastructure services within the Environment, Infrastructure and Growth (EIG) directorate, and respond to questions and feedback of the content therein.

Witnesses:

Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth – in person

Natalie Bramhall, Cabinet Member for Property, Waste and Infrastructure – in person

Marisa Heath, The Cabinet Member for Environment – in person

Katie Stewart, Executive Director for Environment, Infrastructure & Growth – in person

Jo Diggens, Deputy Chief of Staff, Environment, Infrastructure & Growth (report author) – in person

Carolyn McKenzie, Director Environment - in person

Paul Millin, Strategic Transport Group Manager – in person

Lucy Monie, Director, Highways and Transport – in person

Richard Bolton – Assistant Director Highways Operations and Infrastructure – in person

Doug Hill – Flood and Climate Resilience Manager – remote

Richard Parkinson – Resources and Circular Economy Group Manager - remote

Paul Wheadon (also attending remotely) Strategic Contract Group Manager - remote

Key discussions:

1. The Chairman asked witnesses what areas rated as red they were the most concerning. The Executive Director for Environment, Infrastructure & Growth said that for all areas identified in red, plans to resolve them were in place. The RED RAG rating for Road Safety and the increase in numbers of ‘killed or seriously injured’ incidents (KSIs) was concerning.  The work underway to develop a new road safety strategy for Surrey was really importance.  The Executive Director urged communities to engage with the upcoming consultation.  Customer enquiries was assessed as RED.  Improving engagement with customers across all areas of the Council was also a big priority.  Work was underway to improve and professionalise the customer experience for residents. 

Highways Keeping the network safe road defects, KSIs, streetlight repairs)

2. A Member asked what the target repair time was for potholes.  The Director of Highways and Transportsaid that there were three targeted response times based on the severity of potholes. Repairs had a guarantee of 2 years but as repairs were conducted reactively where weather conditions varied, the life expectancy could be shorter. Defects would be picked up in inspections annually.

3. A member queried if contractors would fix potholes at no extra charge if they did not last the 2-year quality guarantee. The Director of Highways and Transport said that it would not be an additional cost if it was proved that the issue was a failure to repair properly on the contractors end. The highways inspection staff were able to identify failure to repair.

4. A Member noted that there was a 49% increase in the number of potholes from 2022 to 2023 and asked if Ringway had provided insight on this and if the data could be used to project long term trends in defect volumes. The Director of Highways and Transportsaid that the increase was largely due to rapid changes in weather conditions and climate change. The Executive Director for Environment, Infrastructure & Growth noted that other authorities in the country also experienced the same rise in numbers and emphasised the need for climate adaptation to better respond to changing weather patterns.

5. A Member asked if it would it be necessary to implement special measures such as ‘find & fix’  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5