An update on the National Highways Grant Funding Allocation of £250k per annum for Reading Borough Council to invest on Highway Assets on the M4 Motorway designated diversion route through Reading for 2023/2024 and 2024/2025.

The Committee received a report that updated the Committee on the National Highways Grant Funding Allocation of £250k per annum for Reading Borough Council to invest on Highway Assets on the M4 Motorway designated diversion route through Reading for 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 financial year periods.

The report explained that Reading had an opportunity to secure funding from National Highways, who manage the Strategic National Roads including the M4 for a project in relation to the upgrade of Highway Assets on the tactical diversion route between J11/M4 and J12/M4.  This diversion route was from Junction 11 of the M4, north along the A33, left onto Rose Kiln Lane, left onto A4 Berkeley Avenue, left onto A4 Bath Road and back to Junction 12 of the M4 Motorway.

The report stated that the Council would undertake works to maintain Highway Assets along this strategic diversion route within the Borough and National Highways were funding works in respect of the Project on the terms and conditions set out in the Funding Agreement which were intended to ensure that the Funding was used by the Recipient for the purpose for which it was awarded.

The report also explained that works would include carriageway resurfacing, road marking refreshing using longer life cold applied Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) paints, preservation materials to extend the life of bitumen carriageway surfaces and the upgrade of strategic directional gantry signage.  Works up to the maximum value of £250kpa would be delivered by the Council in a combination of either highway maintenance contracts that the Council would be tendering for the 2023/24 & 2024/25 financial year periods or by the Council’s own in-house Highways & Drainage Operations Team.

The Committee noted that the Highways team had won the Best Council Services Team at the Municipal Journal MJ Awards in June in recognition of the quality and breadth of services provided to residents.   The Committee thanked Sam and the team for all their hard work and congratulated them on their success.

Resolved:

(1)        That the National Highways Grant Funding Allocation of £250k per annum for Reading Borough Council to invest on Highway Assets on the M4 Motorway designated diversion route through Reading for 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 financial years be noted;

(2)        That the formal funding agreement between the Council and National Highways be noted, and that officers proceed with delivery of the approved schemes;

(3)        That the Highways team be thanked for all their hard work and success in winning the Best Council Services Team at the Municipal Journal MJ Awards.