Bizarre turn: DfT keeps 'transparency' plans private

23/02/2024 | DOMINIC BROWNE

UPDATE: The Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed that councils have until 15 March to publish resurfacing plans on their websites, following the Network North plan, which pledged £8.3bn over the next decade for local roads.

Councils now have until the end of March to publish details of completed and scheduled works, how money is being spent and 'how innovation is being used to deliver highway maintenance'.

Originally, the DfT said the new reporting requirements that came with the extra cash injection 'will see local highway authorities publishing their road resurfacing plans on their websites by March 2024 and reporting on progress thereafter on a quarterly basis'.

However, bizarrely, the Department for Transport (DfT) has refused to make public the full criteria that councils are expected to publish.

At the time of the Network North announcement, the DfT said: 'To increase transparency and ensure the £8.3bn leads to an increase in the number of roads being resurfaced, local authorities will be required to publish information on their websites on a regular basis explaining how they are spending the funding in their area.'

The DfT has since refused to release the exact information on what must be published, claiming it is part of a 'private' correspondence.

Details have been sent out in grant agreement letters to local authorities.

A spokesperson has now told Highways: 'Local Authorities have been informed on what they need to publish on their websites by the end of March including completed and scheduled works, how the money is being spent and how innovation is being used to deliver highway maintenance.'

Across England, local highway authorities will receive £150m this financial year, followed by a further £150m for 2024/2025 from the monies apparently saved by cuts to the HS2 line.

From 2025/26 onwards, the amounts that will be announced are based on 85% of the £8.3bn, with the remainder in reserve to allow a degree of flexibility over how best to support highway maintenance initiatives across the country.

However, the Government have not outlined a baseline funding figure for post-2025. Therefore the claim that the £8.3bn is extra funding rests largely on the idea that cash investment will remain flat, and so decrease in real terms, over the next decade.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Highways Technical Assistant

£29,064 - £31,537
Are you looking for a varied role in a dynamic and innovative team environment that can make a real difference to North Yorkshire’s highways? Leeming Bar, Northallerton
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Street Lighting Electrical Inspector

£34,434 - £38,220 per annum
Do you hold an ONC in electrical engineering or City & Guilds Electrician? Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Senior bridge Engineer - WMF2212e

£47,181 - £48,226
You will be the key responsible engineer for this area and will also provide technical advice and guidance to our team Cumbria / Various
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Civil Enforcement Officer - WMF2221e

£28,598 - £29,540
Are you seeking an active and challenging role, part of a friendly and welcoming team? Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Bridge Engineer - WMF2219e

£42,839 - £44,075
We are currently seeking to recruit an experienced and enthusiastic Bridge Engineer Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Senior Public Transport Officer

£42,839 - £46,142
We are looking for an experienced public transport professional to become our Senior Public Transport Officer. Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Principal Transport Planner (Strategy) (Fixed-Term)

£48,226-£51,356
We are looking for an experienced professional to join as a Principal Transport Planner (Strategy) Northampton, Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Mobile Street Scene Operative

£24,796 to £25,989 per annum
The Waste and Street Scene department requires enthusiastic and committed mobile street cleansing operative. Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Senior Technician - Highways Design (2 Posts)

Grade 10 £35,422 - 38,730 per annum
An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Professional Services Section Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Project Engineer External Contracts

Grade 11 £39,865 - 43,270 per annum
You will lead a team of Clerks of Works Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Senior Technician - Clerk of Works

Grade 9 £32,347 - 34,317 per annum
You will supervise works on site and liaise with developers, contractors and internal teams Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Hire Desk Operative

Grade 8 £29,719 - £31,691 per annum
Well-developed IT skills and an excellent working knowledge of the Microsoft Suite are required. Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Roadworker Trainee LGV Driver (2 Posts)

Grade 6 £25,989 - £26,458 per annum
We’re looking for Roadworker/trainee LGV drivers Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Roadworker/Driver (3 Posts)

Grade 7 £27,088 - £29,062 per annum
We’re looking for roadworker/drivers to be part of our team undertaking major highway, bridge Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Senior Engineer - Public Realm

£28,624 - £36,124
We are looking for a Senior Engineer to support the development Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Engineer - Hosting and Security

£35,412 to £39,152 p.a. (Grade 9)
A vacancy has arisen within our Hosting and Security Team for an experienced, enthusiastic, and flexible Engineer, with the aim of helping to ensure t Durham
Recruiter: Durham County Council

Senior Engineer - Highways Safety

£28,624 - £36,124
Senior Engineer - Highways Safety Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Head of Parking

£86,274 - £89,667
Our borough is beginning a huge transformation. Redbridge, London (Greater)
Recruiter: Redbridge London Borough Council

Assistant Director Transport and Infrastructure

£115,958 - £120,407
Dumfries and Galloway Council is ambitious for our region. Dumfries and Galloway
Recruiter: Dumfries & Galloway Council

Professional Services Partnering Manager

Grade 13 £49,178 - £52,937 per annum
Shape the Future of Highways
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW