Issue - meetings

This report gives the Panel an update on this issue.

The Panel considered a report regarding the costs of delivering highway safety infrastructure.  Gary Peacock, Deputy Group Manager, gave a presentation which covered the following issues:

·  Details of the traffic and highways service

·  Service dimensions

·  The process followed once a highway safety issues is identified

·  The transport improvement programme project delivery process

·  Project delivery safety schemes

·  Example of a scheme that has been implemented, including costings

A copy of the presentation slides is attached as Appendix 2 to these minutes.

Panel members raised the following points and asked the following questions:

(Officer responses shown in italics)

Cllr Warrington asked how the staff costs were calculated for each project. The officer explained that the cost of a scheme incorporates staffing costs based on hourly rates and that any work on a capital project is charged to that specific project.  There is also an uplift charge to include overheads such as management and office costs.

Cllr Hughes asked questions regarding the typical percentage of staffing costs, condition of pavements and the rights of utility companies to dig up roads and footways and their requirement to reinstate.   The officer confirmed that staffing costs on a scheme such as the Radstock scheme used as an example was likely to be about 16-17%.  This percentage would be reduced for larger capital schemes where staffing costs could reduce to around 8%.  Footways are the responsibility of the Highways Team, however, as safety critical schemes are given priority footways have not always received the attention they deserve.  Utilities Companies have the right to install apparatus and dig up roads and footways as necessary.  The Council can then ask them to reinstate the road/pavement to the national standard but cannot ask them to resurface the whole footway.

Cllr MacFie asked about the competitive bid process.  The officer explained that the competitive part of the bid is at the time of tender when tenders are compared commercially against each other.

Cllr Macfie also asked about contract lengths and about the metrics used when looking at contracts.  The officer explained that both the Volker and Dinneq contacts are for 5 years with an opportunity to extend.  The contract process operates on a regional basis throughout the West of England and this gives the ability to check rates against other authorities.

Cllr Hodge asked what percentage is charged on the staffing cost uplift and the process for making decisions on whether to install a zebra crossing or signal controlled crossing.  The officer stated that the uplift is 30+%.  This includes all overhead costs.  He stated that officers could look at the cost of providing pedestrian crossings in other local authority areas.  Several different metrics are used when making decisions on schemes including the police accident statistics and location (e.g. whether there is a school nearby), traffic speed and number of vehicles.  Decisions are based on safety and need rather than wholly on cost.  There is also a revenue cost implication when new pedestrian crossings are installed due to maintenance.  Signal controlled  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29