Agenda item

(1)       Following a report to the Environment, Highways and Waste Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 22 November 2011, it was agreed that a working group be formed to review the management of roadworks across Kent. Whilst the report was positive about progress in recent years, particularly relating to the Kent Permit Scheme, Members perceived through their experiences and those of their constituents that this did not reflect the reality. The purpose of the group was to explore the disparity and opportunities for further improvement.

(2)       Minimising the disruption caused by works in the highway was essential to delivering growth without transport gridlock, which was a key element to the Bold Steps aim of driving economic prosperity.  The group consisted of 3 Members: Roger Manning, who led the group; Malcolm Robertson and Steve Manion; and 2 Officers, Spencer Palmer – Head of Highway Operations; and David Latham – Roadworks and Enforcement Manager.

(3)   The working group’s agreed terms of reference included the following key elements for the scope of the review:-

·        The legislative framework - legal powers, processes and responsibilities;

·        The Kent Permit Scheme;

·        Incentives for work promoters (carrot Vs stick);

·        Public and Member perceptions;

·        Organisational structure, roles and level of resource;

·        Communication and flow of information;

·        Key challenges;

·        Benchmarking and performance monitoring; and

·        Future initiatives, e.g. Lane Rental.

(4)       The group found that KCC were making good use of the legislative tools available to manage roadworks effectively. Kent was the first County to have a Permit Scheme approved and had been running the scheme since 25 January 2010. Evidence from the Kent Permit Scheme Annual Report showed the Scheme had delivered benefits in its first year..

(5)  As a result of the review the Working Group agreed the following recommendations for further consideration:-

(a)   to ensure better compliance with Permit Conditions, the following management action could be considered to increase the number and frequency of roadwork inspections:-

(i)              Appoint an additional county-wide inspector to be funded from fine income generation;

(ii)             Make better use of existing “eyes” out on the network, particularly through existing KCC resource  (e.g. highways stewards and safety inspectors) but also the general public;

(iii)            Carry out additional inspections on weekends.

(b)   expand the interface with works promoters and their contractors to drive a culture change. This could be achieved by:-

(i)              More regular targeted performance meetings with selected works promoters;

(ii)             Leading by example – demonstrating to other works promoters how we were managing to improve quality and minimise disruption of our own works;

(iii)            Continuing to take an active role in national and regional committees, rewarding and sharing best practice and where necessary naming and shaming poor performers;

(iv)            Considering the development of a Kent Code of Conduct for all works promoters to sign up to when working in Kent, similar to the initiative implemented by the London Mayor.

(c)   to help improve perceptions, more could be done to publicise successes and promote projects that had exceeded or met challenging targets and delivered customer satisfaction.

(d) Continue to develop a Lane Rental scheme for Kent as set out in the Highways and Transportation business plan.

(6)     RESOLVED that the recommendations in paragraph (5) above be supportive.