Agenda and minutes

None received.

Select Committee Public Open Forum ~ Guidance

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None present.

To provide an overview on the funding for highways, the responsibilities of the Council, the South Wales Trunk Road Agency and others. Discussion on issues raised by Members in relation to the M48, A466 and the two Severn Bridge Crossings.

Carl Touhig delivered a presentation and answered the members’ questions with Deb Hill-Howells:

Key Questions raised by Members: 

·         How is SWTRA's responsibility for roads determined, and why are some A roads not their responsibility?

The allocation of trunk roads is complex and seems to be linked to the motorway system. For example, the A48 from I beach down through Chepstow is a SWTRA road, but the A4810 is not. The exact criteria for this allocation are not fully clear.

·         When SWTRA does safety cuts, should they also be picking up litter? It often looks worse after the cuts.

SWTRA should ideally pick up litter before mowing, but this does not always happen. The Environmental Protection Act 1990 states that local authorities are responsible for litter clearance on trunk roads, which complicates the issue.

·         What is our direct labour workforce in highways?

The maintenance side has about 30 operatives, with 24 operatives split equally between the north and south. The back office has about 10-12 people, and there are around 40 others doing various jobs within highways.

·         What is the annual spend on contractors in highways?

The spend on external contractors for maintenance is relatively low, but larger projects like the White Bridge resurfacing, which costs around half a million, are outsourced. The total spend is around £3-4 million, with SWTRA's budget being slightly more than £5 million. 

·         Is the planned highways workshop open to all members?

Yes, the member seminar on highways will be open to all members. It will cover the BRAG system and the matrix for prioritising road works.

·         Can we raise the issue of legislation for littering with SWTRA and Welsh Government?

Yes, it is possible to raise this issue. Currently, Wales does not have legislation to prosecute drivers for throwing litter. This is an ongoing concern, and efforts are being made to push for such legislation.

·         What would be the effect of downgrading the M4 to alleviate traffic through Magor and Chepstow when the M48 bridge is shut?

Deb explained that the potential for a new link road on the M48 was part of the recommendations from the Southeast Wales Transport Commission. The declassification of the M48 and the construction of a new junction would substantially reduce costs and improve traffic flow. However, Welsh Government officials initially resisted the idea of declassification due to diversion implications. Monmouthshire County Council continues to promote the scheme and has included it in the regional transport plan consultation. Public support for the consultation is encouraged to help advance the project.

·         Why does SWTRA close the Thornwell Junction and then direct traffic back onto the bridge into a single lane, causing issues for local residents?

SWTRA closes the Thornwell Junction and directs traffic back onto the bridge into a single  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Carl provided an update, which included the following points:

• The allocation of money for pothole repairs is still pending, so it’s not possible to provide specific details on which roads will be fixed until the funding is confirmed.
• This year, more money will be allocated to pothole repairs, with an emphasis on using hot mix for more permanent fixes.
• Cold mix will still be used for emergency fixes to ensure road safety, but the goal is to follow up with more permanent repairs using hot mix. 3
• There is an acknowledgement that there is a need for more staff to keep up with the repairs and hopes that the additional funding will help catch up with the backlog.
• The plans for the pothole repair process will be covered in detail during the upcoming workshop, including the use of cold mix and hot mix, and the prioritisation matrix.
• The workshop will be scheduled once the funding is confirmed, likely by the end of April or beginning of May.

Key Questions from Members:

• Is there still a schedule of works for highways, and can it be used to manage residents' expectations regarding road repairs?

Once the funding situation is confirmed, members will be provided with a list of works scheduled for this year, including bigger projects and smaller patching works. Carl emphasised that while a schedule of works will be available, emergency repairs and changes in priorities due to unforeseen events (e.g., storms) may affect the schedule. He advised the goal is to improve communication with residents and manage expectations more effectively.

The chair thanked Carl and Deb for attending and answering questions comprehensively. He reminded the committee that the forthcoming workshop being hosted by Pace Scrutiny Committee would be open to all elected Members and encouraged attendance. 

The minutes were proposed by Councillor Dale Rooke and seconded by Councillor Malcolm Lane.

The committee discussed broadening the scope of mental health services to include concerns about suicide prevention and occurrence, but agreed to that adult mental health and children’s mental health should be considered separately due to the breadth of the topics.

A member suggested the changes in domiciliary care and improvements to the combined approach to care by Aneurin Bevan University Health Board should be included in the work programme.

Noted.

Noted.