The proper maintenance of the road network is vital to Scotland’s economic prosperity and for road users to travel safely. Roads authorities, locally and nationally, urgently need to demonstrate a much greater commitment to innovation, comparing relative efficiency and being clearer with the public about the impact on road condition of agreed spending levels. It is clear that the status quo is no longer an option if there is to be any improvement in road condition. A longer-term view is required, one that takes into account both the need for new roads and the maintenance of the existing road network. Independent survey results indicate that the condition of council-maintained roads has remained stable at around 63 per cent in acceptable condition over the period 2011/12 to 2014/15. There is significant variation in road condition among councils. There is also concern that the survey approach does not always pick up the full extent of failures in the structural integrity of lower road layers. Fifty-seven per cent of users report that road condition is a major concern. While 13 authorities increased their spending, overall council expenditure on roads maintenance continues to decrease, from £302 million in 2011/12 to £259 million in 2014/15 (14 per cent). Overall, councils spent £33 million (13 per cent) less on planned and routine maintenance in 2014/15 than the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation Scotland considers was necessary to maintain the current condition of local roads. The condition of trunk roads declined from 90 per cent in acceptable condition in 2011/12 to 87 per cent in 2014/15. Most of this decline is associated with the condition of motorways. Transport Scotland attributes this to more resurfacing work, instead of more expensive reconstruction which would also improve the condition of the lower road layers. Transport Scotland’s expenditure on trunk roads maintenance fell from £168 million in 2011/12 to £162 million in 2014/15 (four per cent). It spent £24 million (38 per cent) less on structural maintenance in 2014/15 than it considers was necessary to maintain trunk road condition at its current levels. In the current context of reduced public spending, the competing priorities of some services, such as education, health and social care mean that roads maintenance budgets may be put under further pressure. There is evidence that roads authorities are better prioritising and targeting roads maintenance, and using cheaper treatment options. This has helped available budgets go further but carries risks. Increasing the use of surface dressing might help to maintain the condition of the surface of the road network in the short term, but this may not deliver value for money in the longer term. It is important that proper scrutiny and challenge includes taking account of all options and users’ views when considering spending on roads. Progress with introducing a shared services approach to roads maintenance, a central theme of the 2012 National Roads Maintenance Review, has been disappointingly slow. Councils are in the process of establishing regional governance bodies for local roads maintenance but there is still no clear plan and timetable for determining the extent of shared services at an operational level. Scottish ministers want to see councils make more progress, and be able to demonstrate the efficiency savings and other benefits arising, before trunk roads could be considered for inclusion in such regional arrangements. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting