Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of prohibited party whips.

The following declaration of interest was made:

The Chair advised that no public questions had been received.

[Councillor Higgins, having earlier declared an interest in this item, remained in the meeting, took part of the consideration of the report and voted.]

The Committee received the Highway Asset Management Plan (HAMP) Annual Statement Report 2020presented by the Executive Board Member for Environment.

The Annual Statement Report 2020 included an overview of the highway network and provided detail on the following three key highway asset areas:

• Highways (carriageways, footways and cycleways)
• Bridges and Structures

·      Highway Lighting and Traffic Signals

For each of the abovementioned asset categories, the report detailed the condition, how the condition had changed since the last report and explained the future changes based on funding scenarios set out within the report.

The Committee received a presentation which supported the content of the report.

The following questions/issues were raised on the report:-

·       It was asked if the Welsh Government grant funding of £5.2M was a one-off payment or would there be further funding made available?  The Highways and Transportation Manager explained that the WG grant funding was a three-year funding package which started in 2018/19 and that dialogue with the WG was currently taking place regarding any future funding.

·       Specific queries were raised in relation relating to ongoing concerns about the road surface of Penygarn Road, Tycroes, Ammanford.  Queries included: when would the matter be resolved and if any Officers/Contractors had viewed the condition of the road?  The Chair interjected to advise that local issues where to be raised outside of the Committee.  However, the Head of Transportation and Highways explained that the road in question was subject to a process called hydro jetting which was carried out by a surface contractor in 2019 and regular inspections had been carried out.  The road had been assessed as safe.  The Head of Head of Transportation and Highways offered to provide a further update on this particular matter to the local members.

·       In response to a query raised in relation to the completion of the LED conversion programme, the Executive Board Member for Environment and the Highways and Transportation Manager confirmed that the programme was substantially completed in 2020, however, whilst the pandemic had delayed the programmed completion date, the Public Lighting Team had worked to complete the conversion project of all sodium lights to LED’s before the end of the summer 2020.

·       In relation to impact of extreme weather on road surfaces, it was asked what role climate change had in the future scenario of how long conditions will remain acceptable and was this factored into condition reports?  The Highway Asset Manager clarified that whilst 20 years was the recommended time to retain a road surface there were may factors that could affect and vary the recommended lifespan.  Therefore, the highways department utilised corrective and preventative treatments in order to extend the lifespan, unfortunately the application of such treatments were reducing as the budget reduced.

In response to a further query, the Highway Asset Manager explained that guarantees were obtained when investments in treatments were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

In relation to the Joint Transport Plan for South West Wales which was referred to the Committee by the Policy and Resources Committee, the Head of Highways and Transportation explained that due to the emergence of CJC’s the expiry date of the Plan had been extended by the Minister for Transport and would be presented to the Committee following a lead time of an 18month period required to develop the Plan.

RESOLVED that the list of forthcoming items for the Committee meeting to be held on the 1^st February 2020 be agreed.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Environment and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee held on the 24^th November, 2020 be signed as a correct record.