Focusing roads鈥 maintenance expenditure on improving roads classified as 鈥榓mber鈥 as well as 鈥榬ed鈥 is good practice and more cost-effective by avoiding greater expenditure by leaving the road condition to deteriorate further.
This was one of the conclusions made by a review panel for the Audit and Scrutiny Committee, which considered how the Operations Team prioritised roads maintenance work, how surfacing methods used were determined and what other technologies had been considered.
Other findings included:
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The way the council allocated the revenue and capital budgets across the four areas is reasonable, although thought could be given to providing additional weighting for island and remote rural areas where maintenance work is much more expensive;
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Developing the programme of works carries the right balance of data examination and professional judgement by engineers on the ground;
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The reasons for using surface dressing as a leading treatment option are supported by other industry experts;
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The council is actively exploring opportunities to work jointly with other local authorities; and
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Having the chance to budget for more than one year at a time would help ensure better value when planning with suppliers.
The Scrutiny Panel, comprising independent chair Martin Caldwell and Councillors George Freeman and Richard Trail, gathered evidence from other local authorities, contractors, BEAR Scotland, Transport Scotland and the Improvement Service, and council officers.
Their findings were based on the information provided during the review.
Chair of the review panel, Martin Caldwell, said: 鈥淢y thanks to everyone who took part in the review and helped us come to our conclusions. We were satisfied the council is making decisions based on the options available and in discussion with relevant stakeholders.
鈥淎s the department continues to explore the use of new technology we were confident that there will be further improvement on how the service is delivered.鈥
Councillor Robin Currie, Policy Lead for Housing, Roads and Infrastructure Services, said: 鈥淢aintaining roads in 九秀直播 and Bute is a challenge. We are responsible for 2311km of road, with 80% of them rural areas. Few local authorities have to face the logistics of carrying out work on islands, not to mention bearing the additional costs.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I鈥檓 so pleased that, after a robust review, it has been recognised that we are making the best choices for efficiency and effectiveness. This has been weighed up against evidence from our peers and other professional bodies.
鈥淎s a member of the Northern Roads Collaboration (NRC) I鈥檓 very clear that we must do as much as we can to pool our knowledge and expertise. I will take on board the panel鈥檚 suggestion that the NRC looks at how we can work even closer together to reduce costs through shared procurement.鈥
Note to journalist: The Northern Roads Collaboration is a Joint Committee established by Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Angus Council, 九秀直播, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Moray Council, and The Highland Council (the 鈥淐onstituent Authorities鈥) under sections 56 and 57 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.It represents the joint commitment of the Constituent Authorities to work collaboratively for the joint discharge of road and road-related functions, including ports and harbours (the 鈥淩oads Collaboration鈥).