RSTA Insights: Making the investment case to (and with) government

02/09/2021 | PAUL BOSS

Paul Boss, chief executive of the Road Surface Treatments Association, outlines the hard work being done behind the scenes to secure proper investment in local highway maintenance.

At the meeting of the UKRLG / ADEPT Asset Management Board in early February this year, the main item on the agenda was the work our now late friend Steve Berry had begun - to try and secure a deal for the highway maintenance sector.

Steve had made great gains in securing additional funding over recent years through pothole, inclement weather and challenge funds. His ultimate goal in this area was to secure guaranteed funding that would enable local highway authorities and the supply chain to properly plan and manage our highway assets with known investment numbers for the next few years.

He also desired the investment would be based on needs rather than historical budgets to ensure improvements in the condition of the network, structures and other assets that form part of our most valuable public asset.

The business case was initiated by Steve who at the time planned to see it through, such was his commitment to the cause.

It was agreed the Board would work with the Department for Transport (DfT) to develop a comprehensive business case for investing in highway maintenance, for submission to HM Treasury and Government, prior to the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR).

The results of the CSR are due to be announced this autumn following a postponement last year, which saw one-year indicative allocations announced that were reduced significantly shortly before the current financial year begun, leading to many last minute cuts to planned works, adding further to the already long local backlog.

Work began, initially using the Public Value Framework template, with four pillars/themes agreed, pursuing goals, managing inputs, user and citizen engagement, and developing system capacity.

Pillar teams, each with a lead, were then agreed and a number of questions were posed beneath each theme. Each question was given an evidence base, that could be developed to demonstrate the requirement for needs-based and preferably medium to long-term funding.

Narratives for each pillar were then also developed and 65 individual case studies agreed for development to demonstrate success to various audiences as required.

The next stage was to agree who would develop each of the case studies to be submitted within the overall business case and get to work on these, ensuring they were completed within the short timescales available to us.

The final draft business case and the required case studies were submitted to the DfT in mid-August, with the finalised submission at the end of August.

The finalised business case will hopefully be approved shortly and submitted to HM Treasury. It will be pivotal in securing the needs-based medium term funding that has for so long eluded the sector, to the detriment of our local highway asset.

What the business case for investing in highway maintenance demonstrates is not only the funding required but also how properly funded and planned programmes of maintenance will ensure massive efficiency savings.

This is particularly true where preventative maintenance programmes of whole-lifecycle costed maintenance can be fully implemented, whilst also reducing our carbon generation substantially as a result of our highway operations and ensuring a more sustainable future for our country and the planet.

Added to this, is the demonstration within the business case of the contribution the local highways asset makes to the local and national economy and the health and wellbeing of our communities.

Contributing to our need to build back better, the required funding, if forthcoming, will repay itself several times over in relation to the state of the nation and the effects on the economy, health and wellbeing.

My hope, and I know the hope of my colleagues who sit on the UKRLG / ADEPT Asset Management Board, is that the case for investing in highway maintenance is successful for all the benefits it would bring to the nation, and how fitting a final legacy it could prove for Steve.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Engineer HDM (Career Grade)

£31,067.00 to £44,711.00
We are looking to appoint an Highways Development Management Engineer Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Section 38 Engineer (Career Grade G7/G8/G10)

£31,067.00 to £44,711.00
This is an exciting opportunity to join our Section 38 and 278 Team as an Engineer at a time of great investment and regeneration for the district. Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Principal Engineer

£45,718.00 to £48,710.00, Grade 11
This is an exciting opportunity to join our Section 38 and 278 Team as a Principal Engineer Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Senior Engineer Structures

£41,511 - £45,718
Are you an experienced Engineer looking for a new challenge? Lincolnshire
Recruiter: Lincolnshire County Council

DigiGo Driver

Up to £23344.0000 per annum
DigiGo DriverPermanent, Full Time and Part Time£23,344 per annum (full time equivalent)Location
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Workshop LV Technician MOT Tester

£31,067 - £33,366
Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included. Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Passenger Driver x 2 Posts

£25,584 - £27,269 pro rata
We have an exciting opportunity to become a Passenger Services Driver for Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council. Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

Principal Engineer| Structures and Drainage

£49,764 - £53,887 Per annum
Here at Lancashire County Council, we are helping to make Lancashire the best place to live, work, visit and prosper. Lancashire
Recruiter: Lancashire County Council

Project Lead - Bridges and Structure WMF1520e

£44,428 - £45,441
We are currently seeking to recruit a Project Lead to join our Bridges and Structures team Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Asset Engineer

£34,314.00 - £37,035.00, Grade 8, 37 hours, Permanent
Responsible for the management of the highway network in accordance with the Highways Act 1980 Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Highway Network Officer - WMF1525e

£37,035 - £37,938
We are excited to offer this excellent opportunity for candidates with experience in highways. Barrow in Furness, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Contract Administrator

Competitive
Reporting into the Administration Manager you will provide Administrative Support to the Contracts, controlling documentation and day to day administration in support of the Admin Manager, Contract Manager and Service Delivery Manager. England, Kent, Chatham
Recruiter: Telent

Traffic Installation Technician

Company Van + Overtime Options
Telent are looking for a Traffic Installation Technician to join the Traffic Signal Engineering team - this is a FIELD BASED role that will predominantly cover the Salisbury / Wiltshire and Hampshire regions. England, Wiltshire, Salisbury
Recruiter: Telent

Highway Asset Maintenance & Street Works Inspector x2

GRADE 06 (£29,093 - £32,654) - GRADE 08 (£36,648 - £40,221)
The role is open to both experienced candidates and those who are willing to undertake training. Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Technical Clerk

Band C SCP 5-8 (£24,790 - £25,992 per annum)
We have an exciting opportunity available within the Highways Service at Sandwell Council based at our Oldbury sites. Sandwell, West Midlands
Recruiter: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Healthy Streets Principal Traffic Engineer

£38,296 to £ £43,421 (Career Grade BG12)
Bristol is a vibrant, exciting, diverse European City to live and work in. Come and help shape its future. Bristol
Recruiter: Bristol City Council

Healthy Streets Senior Traffic Engineer

£37,336 to £39,186 (Career Grade BG11) - pay award pending.
Bristol is a vibrant, exciting, diverse European City to live and work in. Come and help shape its future. Bristol
Recruiter: Bristol City Council

Highways Contract and Capital Delivery Team Manager

£57,663 - £63,159
Joining us, you get to work for not just one high performing London Borough, but two. Kingston Upon Thames (City/Town), London (Greater)
Recruiter: Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames Council

Healthy Streets Traffic Engineer Technical Lead x2

BG13 £45,718 - £48,710
Bristol is a vibrant, exciting, diverse European City to live and work in. Bristol
Recruiter: Bristol City Council

Principal Arboricultural Consultant

£46165 - £54312 per annum + Hybrid Working, Local Gov Pension
Place Services is a multi-disciplinary consultancy within Essex County Council providing environmental and planning services to the Council, local a England, Essex, Chelmsford
Recruiter: Essex 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