URL: https://democracy.warwickshire.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1162

Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: This Council notes with concern that:   1.     Warwickshire’s road conditions have been rated as Amber, or in the middle tier across all four bands in the local road maintenance ratings published by the UK Government on 11 January 2026. 2.     Although Warwickshire County Council performed relatively well against its peer authorities in The National Highways and Transport 2025 Survey Results, coming 2nd out of 31 peer authorities in dealing with potholes and road damage, it received a public satisfaction rating of 30% against a group average of 23%. 3.     Many Councillors are receiving increasingly high levels of public contact about potholes.   This Council recognises:   1.     That under the previous administration, Warwickshire County Council doubled the rate of pothole repairs through innovative initiatives such as dedicated ‘Find and Fix’ teams. 2.     That road conditions are now significantly deteriorating nationally and locally through a combination of poor weather, increasing volume of traffic, heavier vehicles, and increased freight, but the current administration are yet to meet the scale of the challenge or fulfil their promises set out in their ‘Recalibrating Warwickshire’ strategy set out in August 2025 to tackle potholes. 3.     That in the midst of a national pothole pandemic, Warwickshire County Council should lead the way and aim for a much higher public satisfaction level than 30%. 4.     That potholes risk life and limb through increased accident risk, and cause unnecessary stress, disruption, and cost to Warwickshire residents in the midst of a cost of living crisis.   This Council therefore resolves to:   1.     Review the process of pothole repairs and report to Full Council on a plan to materially improve road conditions and avoid a repeat in winter 2026/27 of the current pothole pandemic in Warwickshire. 2.     Conduct an urgent audit of all junctions between local authority roads and motorways, including roundabouts, to identify any necessary repairs required to be made to road surfaces by Warwickshire County Council or National Highways as appropriate. 3.     Call on the Leader to write to the Chief Executive of National Highways to give notice of, and subsequent updates on, the audit and any work which may be required of National Highways under their responsibilities for road surface repairs.

Date of Decision: March 17, 2026