Management of road adoption of active and historic road schemes Steve Johnson Head of Network Management

Session will cover Background information Overview of implementation phase Legal agreement – Section 38 How the process should work Delays to the process Updates following 2010 Review Summary of Current S38 Agreements Highway Adoption - Implementation

Background information – Highways Maintainable at Public Expense HCC do not maintain all roads within the county –Motorways and trunk roads – Highways Agency –Private Roads/Streets – developers, residents, managing companies Gazetteer –Statutory Duty - list all publicly maintainable roads –Best practise – record private roads/streets HCC as Highway Authority maintain approx 4,920km Further 1,091km recorded as private road

DistrictPublicly maintainable [km] Private [km] Broxbourne27936 Dacorum East Herts Hertsmere37466 North Herts St. Albans Stevenage26028 Three Rivers33577 Watford21220 Welwyn and Hatfield TOTAL4,918[km]1,091[km]

Overview of Implementation Phase Section 38 of the Highways Act 1980 –Power of highway authorities to adopt by agreement –Sets out basis for adoption –HCC recover their costs –Requirements for bond –Requirement for commuted sum – future maintenance

Overview of Implementation Phase Herts Highways responsible for S38 in –Dacorum, East Herts, Hertsmere, North Herts, St. Albans, Three Rivers, Watford, Welwyn & Hatfield Agency agreements cover –Broxbourne and Stevenage

Overview of Implementation Phase How the process should work 1.Extent of Adoption identified at planning stage 2.Post planning – developer approaches implementation team for application pack 3.Fee estimate provided 4.County Secretaries instructed 5.Detailed Design prepared by developer 6.Designs checked – independent safety audit

Overview of Implementation Phase How the process should work 7.Designs approved (technical approval) 8.Legal agreement signed – bond in place 9.Construction – HCC (Agent) supervise 10.Works completed 11.Completion certificate issued – bond reduced month maintenance starts 13.Stage 3 safety audit carried out – outlined in agreement

Overview of Implementation Phase How the process should work 14.Sewers adopted 15.Final inspection and remedials carried out 16.Maintenance certificate issued 17.Commuted sums paid by develop 18.Bond released 19.Road becomes maintainable at public expense

Delays to the process Developer doesn’t enter into agreement at start of project Designs change, structures added, additional phases - Highway Authority withhold maintenance certificate No direct access onto public highway Sewers not adopted Land issues to be resolved Developers change Staff changes – over period of time – schemes inherited Design doesn’t comply with HCC standards Protracted negotiations on agreement Remedial not completed

Lilbourne Drive – Easements not secured

Updates following 2010 Review one named contact in the Environment Department for districts and developers to contact when dealing with large developments - Implementation stage County split in 3 continuity of officers dealing with large applications –Close working between County Council planning and implementation teams

Updates following 2010 Review clarity on the fees to be charged from the outset of agreements –Fixed fee process for some sites - based on size and quality of submission –Opportunity for developer/HCC to take joint overview of project Remedial works –One list issues but requires developer to complete quickly –Quick turn-round on street lighting inspections

Updates following 2010 Review Working with utility companies (Sewer adoptions) –Delays due to: No agreement Outstanding remedials No bond

Updates following 2010 Review Review of remaining adoptions –Discussions with developers/housing associations on adoption Meeting with developers –Croudace – 2 nd September –Taylor Wimpey – 17 th October

Summary of HH Section Agreements DistrictSigned Agreement Agreement in Prep stage TotalNo. of roads affected Broxbournen/a Dacorum East Herts Hertsmere3259 North Herts St. Albans Stevenagen/a Three Rivers33611 Watford1678 Welwyn and Hatfield TOTAL

Improvements Information on WEBSITE Identification of adoption at planning stage Guidance on construction standards Developers taking more action Standard report to HJMP’s

Summary Key issues 1.Follow legislation 2.Need to work with developers to progress 3.Early involvement of Highway Authority 4.Land ownership and easements agreed 5.Designed and constructed to relevant standards – departures agreed with Highway Authority 6.S 38 agreement in place. 7.Utility apparatus adopted by relevant authority (sewers) 8.Number of roads/streets are private

Highway Adoption - Implementation Questions?