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Appendix 1, item 9a

Committee report · Cabinet · Tue 29 Sep 2026 · East Sussex County Council

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The Board concluded that the Council has a robust, well-supported set of processes for managing street works within the current legislative framework, while identifying opportunities for better working, including more collaboration with utility companies. p62

The review found that many of the challenges around managing street works stem from legislation that has changed little since a previous review in 2013, and that street works and road closures remain a common source of disruption for residents. p19p62

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  • p1923 Introduction 1. The former Economy, Transport and Environment Scrutiny Committee conducted a scrutiny review of street works in 2013. This review produced 13 recommendations which, together with the Cabinet’s responses to them, were adopted by the Council in July 2013. Since that review, the Place Scrutiny Committee undertook a review of Pothole Management in 2023. This review highlighted the significant impact that utility company excavations and street works have on the overall condition of the public road network and resulted in two recommendations specifically relating to managing the impact of these activities. 2. The management and condition of the road network continues to be one of the most important issues for residents and has a significant impact on the overall reputation of the Council. Every resident relies on the public highway in some way, and street works that result in delays to journeys and road closures are a common frustration, especially where there appears to be a lack of coordination between them. Although most of these works are not undertaken by the Council, as the Highways Authority it is responsible for the management of the road network. Therefore, in September 2025 the Place Scrutiny Committee agreed to establish a scoping board to examine the subject in more detail. 3. The Scoping Board met on 20 October 2025 and heard that since the 2013 review by the predecessor committee, there have been no substantial changes to the legislative and regulatory frameworks for street works that the Highways Authority or utility companies operate within. However, the overall volume of street works that take place on East Sussex roads has increased significantly in that time, and practices in the management of street works have since evolved, including with the commencement of the new highways maintenance contract in May 2023, and most recently with the adoption of the East Sussex Lane Rental Scheme on 1 April 2025.
  • p62Conclusions 67. The needs of residents and businesses in the county, for both an efficient highway network and connectivity to key utility services, are often difficult, if not impossible to reconcile. The Board recognised this challenge and the work of East Sussex Highways to manage a road network receiving almost 30,000 permit applications for street works a year. The likely increase in the number of street works in the coming years will only add to this challenge. It was clear to the Board that many of the challenges relating to the management of street works are a result of legislation which is largely unchanged since the last time scrutiny reviewed this topic in 2013. In this context, the Board believes that the Council has a robust and well supported set of processes for managing and coordinating street works within the current framework. 68. Nonetheless, having heard evidence from both Council officers and utility company representatives, the Board found that there are opportunities for better working within the current legislative and financial constraints. All those the Board met with emphasised the existing strong working relationships between the Council and those undertaking street works in the county, and a willingness to collaborate and work collectively to reduce the level of disruption street works bring. The Board concluded that the Council should seek to capitalise on the willingness of utility companies shown during this review to identify improvements to its ways of working with utility colleagues that lead to better joined-up planning of works and more effective collaborative practices. As the highways authority, the Council should lead by example and assist in planning and facilitating collaboration at every level.

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