2013

Frequency of maintaining highway verges – G0139/171213
As part of the budget setting process this member authority is currently reviewing how frequently it maintains Council highway verges (grass cutting and litter clearance) and as part of this process they are looking to understand how frequently other councils maintain their verges. Any information that APSE members could feedback would be greatly appreciated.

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Cost of pothole repairs - RH0197/291113
As part of a safety defect audit this authority would like to know what other authorities costs are for repairing a 24 hour response safety defect.

The equivalent cost for this authority is £15 per pothole for which they include: labour costs = site staff - 2 person repair teams; vehicle; plant; material; operational overheads; supervision fees; profit; depot costs.

They do not include: identification by highway inspector; client overheads

They are interested to know:

• the equivalent costs from other APSE members
• whether they include the same elements noted above
• if not which costs are included

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Street Lighting commuted sum payment - RH0196/281113
This authority introduced a new Street Lighting Policy on the 19th March 2013.

Using the provisions contained within  Section 38 of the Highways Act 1980 they have introduced a commuted sum payment covering ten years of street lighting infrastructure maintenance inclusive of energy charges for new housing developments.

They have now received a challenge from the Home Builders Federation in relation to the commuted sum payment.

They would be grateful to hear from others who have considered or have introduced a Street Lighting commuted sum payment for street lighting infrastructure including energy on new developments and what the outcomes where.

Any information/assistance would be greatly received.

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Insurance claims for column knock downs - RH0195/201113
This authority is seeking information from others about whether they are experiencing problems with insurance claims against third parties on column (or other street furniture) knock downs.

They would like to hear if others have experienced delaying tactics; requests for excessive amounts of information and photographic evidence; or attempts to reduce their payments citing "betterment" as a reason for reduction.

They are most interested in learning how others deal with such requests?

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Spreading salt by hand - RH0194/RSC0580/141113
This authority would like to know if any other member has made, or is aware of, a video on how to spread salt by hand efficiently.

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Plastic gulley grates - RH0193/011113
This authority has been using an anti-theft resin/plastic grate for a number of years as a temporary repair following the theft of cast metal gulley grate. As stated they are a temporary repair until the gulley in its entirety can be replaced in a planned maintenance programme.

They would be interested to hear form others regarding the following:

• Does your authority use a similar approved product for temporary repair as a result of gulley grate thefts?
• Which product/provider do you use?
• How many years have they used the supplier?
• How many do you use /order in an average year?
• On average, how long do they stay in place before permanent replacement?
• Do you consider them a fit for purpose temporary repair?
• Have they had any problems with them?

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Network query: Winter Maintenance treatments – RH0191
What are your current winter maintenance treatment times as set out within your winter maintenance policy?

Are these treatment times based on?

a. Depot to depot

b. Depot to end of route

c. Start of route to end of route

d. Other (please specify)

Have you increased or considered increasing treatment times to improve efficiency or as a consequence of budgetary pressures?

Approximately how many of your treatment actions are reactive (*) and how many are planned.

(*Reactive treatments = Treatments that have been carried out with an immediate response rather than planned in advance of temperature drop.)

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Income generation from advertisements on bins, street lights and street furniture – RH0190/RSC0569/140813
This APSE member authority would be interested to learn if other authorities have or are considering using either litter bins or lamp column banner advertisements ( or other street furniture) as a source of revenue.

They are not querying instances of individual local shops or businesses contributing to provision of litter bins in exchange for a plaque or similar on the bin but more specifically at the selling of this kind of space as an advertising opportunity.

They would also be interested in details of the potential revenue per bin / per lamp column and would appreciate details if you are able to share this.

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Current building maintenance pay rates HBM0253/130613
This organisation is looking to compare current operative pay rates with others.

They would like to hear from other APSE members in response to the following:

• What is the basic salary for plumbers, bricklayers and joiners?
• What are the hours of work to achieve the salary?
• Are there any added bonuses on top of the basic salary? 
• Is more paid for multi skilled operatives?
• If so how is this calculated?

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Apprentice schemes for Street Lighting and Quarry Operative (Coating Plant) apprentices RH0187/060613
This local authority is interested in establishing an apprentice scheme for street lighting apprentices and for quarry operative apprentices. They would like to hear from others who have done this recently either for both street lighting and quarry operatives or individually. They want to discuss all elements of the training, learning and development of the apprentice.

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APSE network query: Impact of Residual Salt on the Highway Network RH0186/060613
This APSE member authority is exploring ways of reducing the environmental impact of residual salt on the highway network. They would like to hear from other authorities that have:

• Developed a methodology for accurately measuring residual salt levels on their highway network after a number of consecutive nights salting without rainfall and
• If you do have a methodology in place what that methodology is and
• Does your decision matrix then reduce the spread rate for the following night treatment

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Part night switch-off of street lights RH0185/020513
This authority is looking to switch off over 500 street lights on a dual carriageway. It is a lesser used road with no residential properties.

They would like to hear from others who have done similar and are especially interested in seeing:

• Risk assessments
• Method statements and
• Consultation procedures used.

They are also interested in the general experiences of others who have been through part night switch off so avoiding any mistakes or problems which have arisen.

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Quality of pothole repairs- RH0184/210313
This authority is concerned with the life of the pothole repairs they undertake and would like to benefit from the experience of others.

In particular they would like to know the following:

• Which are the most effective hot materials you use and how long on average do repairs using this material last?
• Which are the most effective cold materials you use and how long on average do repairs using this material last?
• Are defects cut square before patching?
• What compaction equipment is used e.g. wackers, rollers, others?
• Please provide brief information about novel techniques you are using e.g. jet patching, durapatch, Nu-phalt, ASI Rhinopatch, others?

Please provide the average or an estimated cost for a pothole repair (including all material, labour, overhead and other costs)