New councillor guide on maximising the value of investment.
For many councillors, one issue consistently tops the inbox: potholes.
It’s a visible, tangible concern for residents, and a persistent challenge for councils.
The size of the problem is daunting. Recent estimates suggest the backlog is approaching £17 billion – and rising.
It’s a figure that underlines the scale of the issue and the pressure local authorities face in trying to address it with limited resources.
That’s why the LGA, along with industry partners, is calling on the Government to increase highways maintenance funding in the upcoming Spending Review.
As the Department for Transport negotiates with the Treasury, a key question is whether councils will finally receive the long-term funding certainty that bodies such as National Highways and Network Rail already enjoy.
But while funding remains a critical constraint, councils must also focus on getting the maximum value from each pound they currently spend by exploring every opportunity to boost productivity.
To support this, we recently worked with the LGA to produce a guide for councillors, highlighting best practice and innovative approaches, backed up by case studies from across the country.
One of the strongest messages from the guide is that prevention is key.
Keeping water out of road surfaces is critical to prolonging their life. It is more cost-effective than repeatedly reacting to potholes after they’ve formed.
Planned, proactive maintenance delivers far better value than emergency reactive repairs.
Every council is different, with its own priorities and challenges. So, our guide breaks down the different repair methods, their features, and factors to consider when deciding what’s right for your area.
The real challenge lies in delivering the right treatment, in the right place, at the right time – a complex and shifting puzzle. But new technologies are increasingly helping to solve it.
Last year, the Prime Minister highlighted how artificial intelligence (AI) can support highways maintenance. Vehicle-mounted cameras scan roads while AI analyses the footage.
This can detect early warning signs like cracks; track the growth of defects; diagnose the depth of potholes; recommend repair methods; and help officers plan a schedule of repairs.
While some might say, ‘we don’t need AI to tell us where the potholes are’, this technology provides high-quality data to officers. This allows councils to prioritise limited funding more effectively and deliver better-targeted repairs.
This helps save money by identifying issues before they become more serious and costly. In some cases, the AI-estimated depth of a pothole enables officers to act without sending someone to inspect it, streamlining the process from complaint to repair.
Technology also supports safety and efficiency.
Traditional inspections – especially on high-speed or high-traffic roads – can be dangerous and disruptive. AI-supported road scans can minimise the need for manual inspections.
These issues are just one part of the puzzle. Other issues such as a mature asset management system and good procurement are key to delivering good outcomes for residents.
Our new guide is available on the LGA’s website, and we’d be happy to, and we’d be happy to discuss its findings and how they could apply to your council (email oliver.niddrie@rebelgroup.com).