HTMA launches Comprehensive Spending Review engagement initiative

19/07/2018 | DOMINIC BROWNE

The Highways Term Maintenance Association (HTMA) has launched a major engagement initiative in advance of the Government's next Comprehensive Spending Review, which is expected to start in November.

The spending review is likely to be fiercely contested with public finances still under pressure, adult social care costs mounting up and Brexit adding an extra dimension of uncertainty.

Highways understands that Department for Transport civil servants have started work to build up an evidence base for the business case for additional highways maintenance funding as part of spending review.

The HTMA project, Britain’s Roads – Britain’s Future, is designed to draw on expertise and knowledge across the industry to build ‘the strongest possible case for sustained and coherent funding of the entire UK roads network, through the provision of reliable and robust evidence on the role played by well-maintained highways in supporting the economic, social and environmental well-being of the country’.

The HTMA - which represents service providers that currently look after over 80% of the UK highways network - has issued a call for evidence from across the highways sector and beyond. The engagement project will run to the end of the year.

Launching the initiative at the HTMA Annual General Meeting, incoming HTMA chair Peter McDermott, said: 'The forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review will have the most significant influence on the investment in highways infrastructure over the next 10 years and with Government facing the challenges of health and social care expenditure demands, it is vital that the role played by well-maintained roads in the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the country is not overlooked.

'The intention is to engage with, and ask for evidence from, organisations who understand and value our highways network. This will include organisations that understand the positive impact of well-maintained roads on economic development, productivity, employment access, health, air quality, accident reduction and the future development of connected and autonomous vehicles.'

Mr McDermott said that many of the groups the HTMA hope to hear from may not be directly connected with the roads industry 'but will have valuable input into building the case for sustained and coherent funding'.

George Lee, chief executive of the HTMA, added: 'We are issuing a call for evidence and input from all organisations with an interest in highlighting, to the Treasury, the crucial role our highways play in our country and the importance that needs to be attached to improving the investment in and management of our country’s single greatest asset.

'We will be engaging with a range of fellow industry bodies, drawing on and collating their expertise and knowledge, to provide a strong ‘singular voice’ on investment to complement their individual submissions. However, we will also be looking beyond the sector for evidence on the collateral benefits well maintained roads bring and this will engage bodies in the manufacturing sector, the health sector and those with interests in the environment, technology and road safety.'

Any organisation that believes it has evidence to support the case for investment in the roads network is welcome to contact HTMA directly at spendingreview@htma.info.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Street Lighting Project Engineer

PO2 - £41,442 to £44,331
Help us keep our streets safe, efficient and ready for the future Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recruiter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Principal Engineer - Highways Development Management

£47,181.00 - £50,269.00, Grade 11, 37 hours, Permanent
We are seeking a dedicated Principal Highways Development Management Engineer to join our team. Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Highways Development Management Engineer

£32,061.00 - £46,142.00, Career Grade 7-10, 37 hours, Permanent
Do you want to join a team helping to shape the future of Wakefield through HIghways Development Management? Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Highways Project Engineer

£31,537 - £42,839 per annum
Would you like to be part of our friendly, welcoming Highways team, proud to manage all aspects of the highway network? Boroughbridge, York
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Highways Project Engineer

£31,537 - £42,839 per annum
Would you like to be part of our friendly, welcoming Highways team, proud to manage all aspects of the highway network? Skipton, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Technician - Highway Inspector

Grade 8 £29,719 - £31,691 per annum
Within the Highways Maintenance Team we are looking for an enthusiastic, customer focused and experienced person Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Highway Design and Construction Manager

Grade N, scp50 £62,443 to scp53 £65,663 per annum, plus essential car user allowance
We embrace AI to enhance our operations and to innovate our services. Bolton, Greater Manchester
Recruiter: Bolton Council

Technician - Highway Inspector

Grade 8 £29,719 - £31,691 per annum
At Derbyshire, we have been on a journey to transform the way we deliver highway services. Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Team Leader (Maintenance Operations)

Grade 10 - £48,226 - £51,356
Cardiff is growing faster than any other capital city in Europe. Cardiff (Caerdydd)
Recruiter: Cardiff Council

Highways Supervisor

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a permanent Highways Supervisor Forfar, Angus
Recruiter: Amey

Tree Surveyor

£Competitive
We are excited to offer fantastic opportunities for Permanent Tree Surveyors Scotland
Recruiter: Amey

Chief Operating Officer – South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee

£Competitive
We’re looking for a bold, visionary leader to take on the role of Chief Operating Officer Carmarthenshire (Sir Gaerfyrddin)
Recruiter: Carmarthenshire County Council

Clerk of Works - Highways

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Clerk of Works to join our dynamic NMC SW Account team at Polmadie. Glasgow, Glasgow City
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Supervisor

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a permanent Highways Supervisor to join our NMC NE account in Kinross. Perth and Kinross
Recruiter: Amey

Planner - Highways

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for Permanent Planner – Highways to join our NMC SW Account. Glasgow City
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Maintenance Manager

£51,356 - £55,539 per annum
We are looking for an experienced Engineer to join the team as a Highways Maintenance Manager Selby, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Highways Maintenance Manager

£51,356- £55,539 per annum
We are looking for an experienced Engineer to join the team as a Highways Maintenance Manager Brompton on Swale, Richmond
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Permit Officer - Internal works promoter - WMF2244e

£34,434 - £35,412
The streetworks Permit Officer role within the highways service Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Highways Development Management Engineer

£41,816 - £45,175
You will be based in the Highways Development Team and work closely with colleagues across the wider transport service. Northamptonshire
Recruiter: West Northamptonshire Council

Transport Project Officer

£34,203 - £37,067
We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated project officer to work in our Highways and Transport Service. Northamptonshire
Recruiter: West Northamptonshire 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