
Public report
Cabinet Member
23rd April 2015
Name of Cabinet Member:
Cabinet Member for Public Services – Councillor Lancaster
Director Approving Submission of the report:
Executive Director of Place
Ward(s) affected:
Earlsdon
Title:
Petition – Resurfacing and maintenance of the road and pavements at Poplar Road, Earlsdon
Is this a key decision?
No
Executive Summary:
This report responds to a petition containing 37 signatures which was submitted to Coventry City
Council. The petition requests that the Council resurfaces and maintains the road and pavements
at Poplar Road.
Recommendations:
The Cabinet Member for Public Services is recommended to:
Approve that the road and pavements continue to be held as sites on Coventry City’s forward
programme list and their condition be subject to on-going monitoring and be prioritised and
scored against all other similar sites Citywide, and when a priority score is reached that they be
included in any future maintenance treatment programmes, budget permitting.
List of Appendices included:
Site plan showing adopted highway.
Other useful background papers:
None
Has it been or will it be considered by Scrutiny?
No
Has it been or will it be considered by any other Council Committee, Advisory Panel or
other body?
No
Will this report go to Council?
No
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Report title: Petition – Resurfacing and maintenance of the road and pavements at Poplar Road.
Context (or background)
1.1
A petition was received to request that the road and pavements at Poplar Road be
resurfaced and maintained. The petition reported that these assets were not safe and
urged the Council to do something about them immediately.
1.2
Records show that the last programmed safety inspection took place on 20th August 2014
at which time no intervention level defects were identified. Since then a number of small
localised defects have been reported and repaired.
1.3 An officer of the City Council has made a separate visit (April 2015) to make an assessment
of the construction and overall condition of the carriageway. It is noted that it is a
predominately tarmac surface affected in places by utility trench scarring. Overall the road
is in average condition and is showing signs of ageing with localised areas of deterioration.
1. Options considered and recommended proposal
1.1
Following this assessment, and given the current condition, age and taking into
consideration any on-going maintenance and cost of continuing to carry out localised
repairs, suitable treatment options were considered.
2.2
The recommended and preferred option would be to recycle the existing carriageway
construction and then apply a new tarmac surface course to the whole road; this will
restore the road to a point where it is in good condition, is far more durable and should not
require further maintenance intervention for an estimated 15 year period.
2.
Results of consultation undertaken
3.1
There has been no consultation on this matter
4.
Timetable for implementing this decision
4.1
Future capital highway maintenance programmes and proposed treatments to
carriageways and pavements are established on a ‘worst first’ basis across all road
categories. The decision for inclusion in any year’s programme will be taken by Cabinet at
their meeting in March of any given financial year. It will also be dependent on the level of
funding that is made available for Capital Highway maintenance in that year and will further
depend on the condition of this carriageway when compared to other similar roads citywide.
Therefore the actual scheduling of the works will be based on priority of the scheme and
the funds available.
5.
Comments from Executive Director, Resources
5.1
Financial implications
Undertaking the repair and resurfacing of the carriageway would be funded from any
allocated Highways Capital Carriageway repair budget and is currently valued at
approximately £53,000.
5.2
Legal implications
Under section 41 of the Highways Act 1980, the Council has a duty to maintain those
adopted highways that it is responsible for to a standard where they are reasonably
passable for ordinary traffic. Any major contracts will be approved by the Procurement
board and let under the usual contract rules.
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6.
Other implications
Any other specific implications
6.1
How will this contribute to achievement of the Council's key objectives / corporate
priorities (corporate plan/scorecard) / organisational blueprint / Local Area
Agreement (or Coventry Sustainable Community Strategy)?
Highway maintenance is part of Coventry’s vision for better pavements and roads which is
a key objective. Completing this work would contribute to this objective.
6.2
How is risk being managed?
Financial risks are managed through monthly monitoring meetings of the capital
programme board team. Risk assessments are carried out as part of the design process to
ensure that risks are designed out and that construction takes place by an approved
contractor in a safe way.
6.3
What is the impact on the organisation?
The work would be delivered using existing resources.
6.4
Equalities / EIA
No equality impact assessments have been undertaken.
6.5
Implications for (or impact on) the environment
Positive impacts on the environment in the locality would be achieved if the works go
ahead. This would be in the form of:
6.6
Improved carriageway surface condition for driving on and walking on when road
crossing is required.
Implications for partner organisations?

None specifically but all Highway users of Poplar Road would benefit from the
improvement to the carriageway surface.
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Report author(s):
Name and job title: Tracy Cowley, Highways Technical Services Manager
Directorate: Place
Tel and email contact: 02476 83 4800 [email protected]
Enquiries should be directed to the above person.
Contributor/approver
name
Contributors:
Liz Knight
Neil Cowper
Karen Seager
Finance: Graham Clark
Legal: Name: Mark Smith
Assistant Director:
Colin Knight
Members: Councillor
Rachel Lancaster
Title
Directorate or
organisation
Date doc
sent out
Governance
Services Officer
Acting Head of
Highways
Head of
Highways
Lead
Accountant
Senior Solicitor
Resources
Directorate
Place Directorate
14/04/15
14/04/15
14/04/15
14/04/15
Place Directorate
14/04/15
14/04/15
Resources
Directorate
Resources
Directorate
Place Directorate
14/04/15
15/04/15
14/04/15
14/04/15
14/04/15
15/04/15
14/04/15
15/04/15
Assistant
Director
(Planning
Transport and
Highways)
Cabinet Member
This report is published on the council's website:
www.coventry.gov.uk/councilmeetings
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Date response
received or
approved
Appendices – Plan showing adopted highway at Poplar Road.
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