Final Report National Roads Maintenance Review June 2012

3 Conclusions and next steps

The work of the Review has been aimed at improving how those responsible for, and working in, Scotland's roads maintenance sector deliver maintenance requirements more efficiently. The Review has involved all Stakeholders who use the road network. This has ensured the Review has been shaped and informed by those directly impacted by Scotland's road network.

As a basis for future development and enhancement of the Scottish road maintenance sector, the Review has identified a Strategic Framework for Change. Within the framework, a number of different themes and recommendations have been identified against which 30 options have been mapped and actions identified (see Section 2).

Although the Review comes to a formal end with the publication of this report, it is clear that work to deliver its outcomes will continue through all 30 options. Furthermore, the findings of the Option 30 study conclude that sharing of services are likely to provide benefits and should be explored further in the short term. It also concludes that structural reform is worthy of further exploration but this should be undertaken only in the medium term, and if benefits are not realised. The study recommends the creation of a central resource, overseen by COSLA and Scottish Ministers to drive and support changes to road service delivery across Scotland. This group would lead the programme and provide support to develop baselines and benchmarks as well as an appraisal framework for assessing any shared services of structural reform options. The groups should also ensure that experience gained and best practice developed is shared across Scotland.

The Strategic Framework provides a focus to deliver future improvements in the sector. The Review has thus far concentrated on robust asset management and continuous improvement across the sector. Looking ahead, there is scope to consider further those other aspects of the framework that could assist in achieving an holistic approach to improvement with the possibility of unlocking additional funding.

It is considered that a road maintenance stakeholder group is required to ensure continued progress. Its remit should include delivery of all 30 options and the specific recommendations of the Option 30 study, including the creation of a central resource to support change. The group would also be responsible for exploring further those aspects of the Strategic Framework which point to further work.

The stakeholder group should comprise a balance between road users, the maintenance supply chain, and those responsible for road maintenance in Scotland, ie the Review partners. It is suggested that the group should meet bi-annually and be co-chaired by the appropriate COSLA Spokesperson and the Minister for Housing & Transport. It is further suggested that Audit Scotland is invited to attend to provide a regular opportunity for direct engagement with the road maintenance sector.

Evidence provided at Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Review suggested that adoption of options emerging from the Strategic Framework, where applicable, could generate efficiencies of around 10% on road maintenance spend. To assess whether anticipated benefits are being realised at both local and national level, evaluation plans are to be developed for use by roads authorities.