Councillors criticise roadworks commissioning scheme

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Friday, 12 July 2019 14:25

By Carmelo Garcia - Local Democracy Reporter

Councillors say a scheme which would get highways work done sooner by paying for it upfront is akin to bribery.

Ross Town Council debated the pros and cons of the community commissioning model operated by highways contractor Balfour Beatty Living Places on behalf of Herefordshire Council at their meeting on Monday evening.

Deputy mayor Daniel Lister said he was concerned that they were asking for payment for work they should be doing anyway.

“It would allow more local schemes to be progressed,” he said.

“Of course, those are the local schemes our residents feel are important that they’ve forgotten about.

“It says payment should be made in advance to Herefordshire Council.

“Who pays in advance for project work?

“Is that not going to sit in their bank account for three or four months earning interest?

“It’s just a rip off scheme for our residents.”

He said it was like paying for a third-party finders scheme.

Councillor Phil Cutter said he was sceptical of the service after 12 years of experience working with highways contractors.

While coun Bev Pope said she would want guarantees that the paid work would be done, should the council did consider using it.

“Paying the money first may be the wrong way round and if we were in India this would be called a bribe.”

A Herefordshire Council spokesman said the community commissioning process provides parish councils with the chance to purchase a range of materials or services to deliver locally.

“These works are additional to the priorities agreed for delivery by Herefordshire Council each year from its budget,” he said.

“We are currently assisting parishes and other groups with 41 schemes across Herefordshire, including additional tourism signage, memorial benches, street name plates, minor highway improvements and speed reduction measures.

“A total of nine schemes have already been completed this year. We also assist parishes with Speed Indicator Devices through a similar process.

“Parish councils and community groups can do the work themselves, or employ other contractors, but as Herefordshire Council remains responsible for checking that any work on a road or in a public space is delivered safely by competent and qualified people, with the correct consents and permissions, we still need to approve the works through the commissioning process.

“Any work must be compliant with all safety, street work, construction and design legislation.

“Parish councils and community groups decide which local priorities to deliver and how the work is done, within this necessary inspection and approval.”

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