Issue - meetings

To consider a report on the review of the Highway Service Contract (HSC) and recommended actions.

The Committee considered the report on the review of the Highways Service Contract (HSC).

On 3 October 2018 the Council had commenced a 15-year contract to deliver highways services with Ringway Jacobs Ltd (the Highways Service Contract). 

The HSC contained a mid-term break clause which allowed the Council to shorten the service period to 8 years in specific circumstances.  If exercised the Council was required to notify Ringway Jacobs by 2 October 2024.

The Council had appointed the Future Highways Research Group to undertake a peer review of the HSC.  The Peer Review report, at Appendix 1 to the report, made 20 recommendations for improvement.  An improvement plan would be developed in response to these recommendations. 

From the findings of the peer review, it was recommended that the Council should not exercise the break clause.

A Member Advisory Panel had been created to advise the Director of Highways and Infrastructure, from an elected member perspective, on matters concerning the peer review.  The report of the Member Advisory Panel was set out in Appendix 3 to the report.

The Committee referred to the funding for the highways works and how the contract operated.  It was explained that an open book approach was used, and the Council has regular discussions with the contractor on costs.   Reference was made to the quality of repairs done and resources available to carry out the work and the expansion of the client team to include a quality control officer.   The Committee noted the disconnection between the public perception of the state of road in Cheshire East and the industry professional view reported in the peer review report.