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Date:

Northamptonshire County

Council and Kier

Getting it ‘right first time’

County Councils Network Annual

Conference

Annual Conference

19th November, 201319/11/2013

David Farquhar - NCC Greg Michael - Kier

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Northamptonshire Highways Maintenance Initiative

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Discussion today

• Setting the scene - the contract Greg

Michael

• The catalysts- Why we did what we did David

Farquhar

• The new approach

• Year 1 results

• Now

• Future ideas

• So what next?Discussion

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Setting the scene

• Contract started in March 2008

• Challenged the past

• Credibility from real transparency

• Engagement equal from both sides and with market

• Our approach to risk

• Did what we said

• Deliver the best possible solution

• Trust and true partnership leads to innovation

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Kier in Northamptonshire

• Community and stakeholder engagement

• Economic growth

• Jobs

• Apprenticeships

A snapshot of us in the county now• Building- The Innovation Cube building in Northampton.

New student accommodation in Northampton Remodelling of Criminal Justice Centre• Recycling in East Northamptonshire • Housing - The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA)

 

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The new approach

• Less reactive and more planned repairs

• All permanent repairs except for emergencies

• Focus on prevention

• Understanding and communication

The Northamptonshire Highways Maintenance

Initiative (NMHI)

Launched April 2010

Getting it ‘right first time’

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The catalysts

• Reductions in budgets

• Deteriorating condition of the

network

• Public dissatisfaction

with roads and footpaths

And ultimately

The winters….

In fact,

the weather!

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Year 1 results• Substantial increases in permanent/semi-permanent repairs - 90% of all repairs

carried out (10% previously)• Efficiency savings of £457k from effective patching minimising temporary

repairs.• 55% increase in preventative surface treatments.• Longer term savings of £2.5 million are anticipated from the preventative

approach.• Reduction in public reported defects of 23% for carriageway potholes. • Reduction in incident claims against the Council caused by poor road surfaces of

48%.• Nearly halved our CO2 emissions over a 2 year period through more effective

planning of work. • Less miles travelled resulted in a £22,000 reduction in fuel usage (current

figures).• Around approx. 3km of road repair patching completed. • Safer and better working practices.• Doing more whilst on site – achieved a 9% increase in defects repaired over and

above what was initially identified.• Positive feedback from the public increased.• Recognition and Reputation;

• National Highways and Transport (NHT) Public Opinion Survey • Northamptonshire County Council – You Choose Survey

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Future ideas

• Delay winter repairs until the weather improves to allow ‘right first time.’

• Re-think the intervention levels and reclassifying some roads.

• Offer an area package of repairs in partnership with the local community

• (maintenance makeover).

• Reclassify some roads/ introduce additional hierarchies to give more flexibility.

• Reduce some rural carriageway widths and introducing passing places.

• Reduce the asset with sign decluttering and sign rationalisation, including

limiting the use of information signs and other street furniture.

• Explore options for self financed and maintained street furniture.

• Explore the options to enable more self help in terms of carrying out

maintenance to the asset.

• Make assets redundant e.g. close bridges, stop up roads and footways when it

makes sense to do so and suitable alternative exists.

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Managing the expectation

• Signs informing the public of intention

• Speed limits on roads awaiting repair

• Robust communication to our customers about our challenges

and solutions

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So what next?

Discussion