Progress Update on Strategic Highway Policies and Asset Management Plans

Recommended · This went to the meeting on Wed 23 Sep 2026. What was decided is in that meeting's minutes.

This report from the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport updates the Place Scrutiny Committee on progress implementing the Strategic Highway Policies and Asset Management Plans, which the Lead Member for Transport and Environment put in place in September 2025. p2p4p8

Officers recommend that the Committee note progress on the Drainage Asset Management Plan, the Council's approach to managing deterioration across the highway network, and the next phase of developing the asset management framework. p6p7

The report states that in January 2026 the Department for Transport rated the Council's highway condition as Amber under its new Local Road Maintenance Ratings, comparable to neighbouring authorities. p9

It also describes the Council's 'Managing Decline' approach, which prioritises maintenance spending on the most strategically important roads while maintaining lower-hierarchy roads through reactive, targeted repairs. p10p11

A further report on the next stage of the asset management framework is planned for the Lead Member for Transport and Environment in February 2027. p12

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• p223 September 2026 By: Director of Communities Economy & Transport
• p4Purpose: To provide the Committee with an update on the implementation of the Strategic Highway Policies and Asset Management Plans approved by the Lead Member for Transport and Environment in September 2025, including progress on the Drainage Asset Management Plan, the Council's approach to monitoring and implementing Manage Decline, and future development of the asset management framework.
• p61) note the progress made in implementing the Strategic Highway Policies and Asset Management Plans approved in September 2025, with reference to the Drainage Asset Management Plan; 2) note the approach being taken to monitor and manage deterioration across the highway network; and
• p73) note the next phase of development of the Council's highway asset management framework.
• p81 Background 1.1 On 8 September 2025 the Lead Member for Transport and Environment approved a revised suite of Strategic Highway Policies and Asset Management Plans, including the Highway Asset Management Policy, Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Strategy, Highway Network Resilience Plan, Highways Drainage Asset Management Policy and Drainage Asset Management Plan, alongside other supporting highway policies. These documents were developed as part of the Council's planned review cycle and support the Council's risk-based approach to highway asset management. The report and approved documents are available via this link: Review of Strategic Highway Policies and Asset Management Plans 1.2 The documents established a clear "Policy to Pavement" framework, linking strategic priorities and statutory duties with operational maintenance activities and investment decisions. As the local highway authority, the Council has statutory responsibilities for the management and maintenance of the highway network, including duties under the Highways Act 1980. The asset management framework supports the Council in discharging these responsibilities through a structured, evidence-led and risk-based approach. The framework also supports compliance with Department for Transport (DfT) asset management requirements and recognised industry best practice. 1.3 At its September 2025 meeting, Place Scrutiny Committee requested a future update on progress in implementing the framework, including how the Council is monitoring and managing deterioration across the highway network and progress with the Drainage Asset Management Plan. 2 Supporting information Progress since Adoption 2.1 The strategic highway policies and asset management plans have now been embedded into business-as-usual highway management activities and continue to provide the framework through which highway investment, maintenance and resilience decisions are made.
• p9The framework has strengthened consistency across asset groups, improved alignment between asset management planning and operational delivery and provided greater transparency in how maintenance priorities are established. It has also helped support the Council's continuing asset management maturity journey through the increased use of asset data, lifecycle planning and risk-based decision making. Asset Management Maturity 2.2 A key objective of the 2025 review was to ensure the Council's asset management framework remained aligned with DfT expectations and recognised national good practice. In January 2026, the DfT introduced its first Local Road Maintenance Ratings (Red, Amber and Green), assessing each highway authority across three areas: road condition, the level of investment in highway maintenance and the adoption of wider maintenance best practice. The Council's first assessment was Amber, which is comparable with neighbouring authorities and many local highway authorities across England. This provides some assurance that the Council's asset management framework continues to demonstrate the core characteristics expected of a mature asset management approach, including evidence-led decision making, risk-based prioritisation, lifecycle planning and integration between policy, strategy and delivery. Compliance with the DfT's transparency and best-practice requirements is also linked to the Highway Maintenance Incentive Fund, which the Council has successfully secured. Further information on the Council's highway condition, maintenance investment and asset management approach is published through its highway maintenance transparency information. Drainage Asset Management Plan 2.3 The Drainage Asset Management Plan has established a clearer framework for managing highway drainage assets and has strengthened links between highway maintenance, resilience planning and flood risk management activities.
• p10The Plan has improved consistency in the identification and prioritisation of drainage investment and supports a more risk-based approach to managing drainage assets. The Plan directly supports the objectives of the Council's Local Flood Risk Management Strategy by helping improve understanding of drainage assets, focusing investment towards areas of greatest need and supporting climate adaptation and resilience objectives. 2.4 Challenges remain, including increasing pressure on drainage infrastructure from more frequent extreme weather events, an ageing asset base and the continued need to improve asset information and network understanding. These challenges are reflected within ongoing asset management and resilience planning activities. Managing Decline 2.5 The Council's highway asset management approach recognises that highway assets cannot all receive the same level of investment. Available resources are therefore prioritised towards those parts of the network that are most critical to the county's economic activity, connectivity, resilience and access to essential services. This includes the resilient network, principal routes, roads providing access to hospitals, schools and business centres, and key public transport corridors. These routes carry the greatest strategic importance and therefore receive priority consideration for maintenance investment. The Council's designated Resilient Network is published within the Highway Network Resilience Plan, including an interactive map and a road-by-road list of the routes included. A copy can be viewed via this link: Highway Network Resilience Plan, 2025-2030 2.6 Lower hierarchy roads, particularly parts of the Unclassified (U) road network, are maintained through reactive maintenance and targeted local repairs, including patching and edge or haunch repairs, rather than larger scale renewal treatments.
• p11This reflects the Council's risk-based approach to asset management and enables available resources to be targeted where they deliver the greatest overall benefit. 2.7 The Council monitors the effectiveness of this approach through annual condition surveys and asset management data. Road condition indicators measure the proportion of the network requiring maintenance intervention and provide an objective assessment of condition across different road classifications. The annual condition results show that condition on the county's principal road network has remained broadly stable, while deterioration is more evident within parts of the lower hierarchy and Unclassified road network. This demonstrates that investment is being successfully targeted towards protecting the routes that carry the greatest strategic importance whilst ensuring deterioration elsewhere is understood, monitored and managed. Strategic Alignment 2.8 The asset management framework supports wider Place priorities and complements several key Council strategies. The Highway Asset Management Policy and Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Strategy provide an important delivery mechanism for Local Transport Plan 4 by helping maintain the resilience and functionality of the transport network and supporting access to employment, education and essential services. 2.9 The Drainage Asset Management Plan supports the objectives of the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy through improved management of drainage infrastructure and greater focus on flood risk and climate resilience. The Highway Network Resilience Plan also supports wider corporate resilience objectives by helping maintain access to critical services and transport links during periods of disruption. What Next? 2.10 The strategic documents approved in September 2025 established the framework for the Council's wider suite of highway asset management documentation.
• p12The next stage of development is a review of the supporting asset management plans and service delivery documents. A further report is planned for consideration by the Lead Member for Transport and Environment in February 2027 ahead of implementation during Service Year 5 of the highways contract. 2.11 The review will provide an opportunity to assess progress made since adoption, reflect changes in national guidance, align with the Well-Managed Highway Infrastructure Code of Practice which is currently being updated and consider any further requirements or guidance issued by the Department for Transport in relation to asset management and incentive funding arrangements.