Appendix 1
Highways Maintenance
The review, in 2001/02, examined the maintenance of all public highways and included street
cleaning, street lighting and the removal of abandoned vehicles. Contractors are used by the
Council to undertake the work activities and individual contracts have been awarded following
competitive tendering processes. The Review found that the Council is successful in securing
competitive works relating to highways maintenance, street cleaning, street lighting (except
scouting) and removal of abandoned vehicles. However, key areas of concern to residents
are pavement maintenance, litter in Southend High Street and removal of abandoned
vehicles.
1. Key improvements
I.
Ensure aims and objectives of the service are clear and communicated to all staff.
Achieved.
II.
Improve communication between departments and between sections in the department.
Ongoing. Review complete.
III.
Better communication between contractors staff and client officers.
Ongoing. Mobile phones for cleansing contractor have been introduced. Electronic
communication with highway maintenance contractor yet to be implemented.
IV.
Develop and monitor existing staff training and development programme.
Ongoing. Performance appraisal introduced.
V.
Review usefulness of Quality Assurance Scheme.
Achieved. Conversion to ISO 9000 has been approved.
VI.
Monitor Performance Indicators.
Ongoing.
VII.
Replaced IT systems on a phased basis for multi-user access and future links to
corporate GIS system.
Ongoing. Implementation plan approved and action commenced.
VIII.
Improve communications with highway users.
Ongoing.
IX.
Undertake consultation using Customer feed back questionnaires.
Ongoing. Questionnaires have been used and are under review.
X.
Shadow the PFI initiative at Portsmouth City Council, including the core management
functions.
Ongoing. Watching the development of the situation.
In terms of highways maintenance the recommendations in the improvement plan are to:
I.
Develop and agree a policy to deal with safety issues related to vegetation, trees and
shrubs.
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Achieved. Monitoring reviewed and policy document presented to Cabinet on 14
October 2003.
II.
Agree the policy for planned maintenance for carriageways, footways and cycle paths
by developing existing criteria.
Achieved. Policy document presented to Cabinet on 16 September 2003.
III.
Maintain and seek to reduce the %age of ad-hoc works in favour of planned works
and reduce surfaces prone to accidents.
Ongoing. Review undertaken each annual budget cycle.
In terms of street cleaning the recommendations in the improvement plan are to:
I.
Improve litter clearance of Southend High Street.
Ongoing. Extended evening litter picking regime is under discussion with the
contractor.
II.
Trial Enforcement of Litter Laws.
Ongoing. Under investigation using Borough Patrol Officers.
III.
Litter Education Plan
Not Achieved. Yet to be developed.
IV.
Voluntary agreement with Fast Food Businesses in High Street.
Achieved. In operation.
In terms of street lighting the recommendations in the improvement plan are to:
I.
Take advantage of new lighting technology.
Achieved and ongoing.
II.
Replace cast iron columns.
Achieved and ongoing.
III.
Crime related targeting of lighting improvement in streets.
Achieved and ongoing with LTP funding.
IV.
Review current scouting method.
Not Achieved. Yet to be developed.
Repairs to Electricity Cables
Not Achieved. Subject to legislation changes which has yet to be undertaken – but
improved agreement reached with electricity utility company on street lighting
repairs/connections.
In terms of abandoned vehicles the recommendations in the improvement plan are to:
I.
Reduce average number of days to remove an abandoned vehicle.
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Ongoing monitoring.
II.
Providing information to the public on responsibilities and restrictions on removing
Abandoned Vehicles.
Achieved including Civic News Article
III.
Expand existing protocol with Essex Police (Southend Division) and Essex Fire.
Achieved. – wheel clamping of untaxed vehicles in cooperation with DVLA and police
– trial successful and now implemented until 31/03/04
2. Inspection Results
The Audit Commission undertook a Best Value inspection in February 2002, reporting in July
2002. The inspectors found a:


Good (two stars) service, with
Uncertain prospects for improvement.
The inspection report made a number of recommendations:
 Clearly identify and understand the specific items of public dissatisfaction and amend the
Best Value improvement plan to incorporate programmed actions with milestones
which will address the dissatisfaction, directly produce noticeable improvements and
deliver challenging but achievable performance targets throughout the next 5 years.
 The Council was recommended to include in the revised improvement plan:
 A programme for improving the overall structural condition of the highway network in
Southend within the funds realistically expected to be available.
 Education and enforcement measures to address the culture of littering and anti social
behaviour prevalent in the High Street.
 Implement and monitor the revised improvement plan.
 Address the issues of communication in line with the findings of the Best Value review of
Communications and Consultation.
 Take action to remove anomalies between adjoining Council cleaning contract
responsibilities to ensure the delivery of a consistent high standard of cleanliness
throughout the Borough. Achieved
The current position on the inspectors’ recommendations is public satisfaction surveys and
litter education plan and policy have yet to be developed and undertaken. Enforcement of
litter laws is under active consideration using Borough Patrol Officers. An additional £250k for
highway maintenance planned works has been made available in the 2003/04 revenue
budget and this sum together with the Local Transport Plan funding for planned structural
maintenance will be targeted towards those areas which will impact on the BVPI highway
condition ratings.
3. Performance Indicator Analysis
Three BVPI’s are appropriate to consider:
–
–
–
BVPI 96 : percentage of principal road with negative residual life
BVPI 97a: percentage of non-principal classified road with negative residual life
BVPI 97b: percentage of non-principal, non-classified road with negative residual life
The figures for 02/03, compared with the review year of 01/ 02, show an improvement for
principal roads and a deterioration for non-principal roads. This relates to carriageways only.
BVPI 96
BVPI 97a
01/02
13.19
20.87
02/03
6.18
22.30
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BVPI 97b
8.33
15.20
The national method for measuring and analysing carriageway condition data is still being
developed and there figures should be treated with some caution – but trends will be
developed. The BV Inspectors’ view was that Southend’s carriageways are in better condition
than the BVPI data was indicating.
4. Impact of Improvement Measures implemented
There has been a recognised improvement in the response to the removal of abandoned
vehicles. The litter situation in the High Street has improved during the day as a result of the
agreement with the fast food businesses. There is improved lighting in some local areas and
targeting of maintenance funding for roads to seek to improve BVPI condition indicators,
notably the condition of principal roads.