Agenda item

[Electoral Divisions: All Eden]

To consider a report by the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure (copy enclosed).

This report presents the Highways Revenue, Devolved Capital and Non?Devolved Capital budget finance reports, combined with the Highways Programme progress information.

Members considered a report by the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure which detailed the Devolved Highways Revenue, Devolved Highways Capital and Non-Devolved Capital budget reports combined with programme progress information.

The Committee was informed that the Devolved Highway Revenue budget was forecast to be overspent by £14,867 (1.6%) for the financial year (income of £47,000 attributed to the Eden Revenue budget from developers commuted sum payments reduced the overspend from the January 2023 Progress Report forecast) and the Devolved Highway Capital budget was forecast to be overspent by £66,516 (2.3%) for the financial year.

Members were advised that the increased inflationary costs and the rise in fuel and materials had resulted in the forecasted overspends and that several identified capital schemes were deferred to future programmes of work accordingly.

A number of members expressed their personal thanks to individual officers and wished them well for the future.

The Local Member for Eden Lakes commented on the A592 scheme and hoped that an apology would be made to the residents for the inconvenience made and he noted that there had been a lack of signage and a poor quality of signage.  He queried if all schemes at Clifton had been completed and commented on the upcoming scheme at Eamont Bridge and stressed that communication with local residents was vital.

The Network Manager Eden outlined the schedule of works for the Eamont Bridge scheme and that the work was not to be undertaken on the Bank Holidays in May and that communications will go out including social media channels.  He noted that the A592 work had been undertaken by the Safer Roads team and would pass on the Local Member’s thanks and concerns and noted that the team had been constrained by legal requirements in regards to the diversion and confirmed that the schemes at Clifton had been completed.

A round table discussion took place about the budget situation for Highways in Westmorland & Furness Council.  It was remarked that dialogue with new Chairs in Westmorland & Furness would be important.

The Chair thanked the officers for their report and their hard work.

RESOLVED,   that the report be noted.