The final agreement to outsource highways services to Balfour Beatty in a £200m contract lasting five years was made at cabinet. The company was to be responsible for the design and implementation of highways maintenance and improvement works, winter gritting, street lighting, traffic signals and bridge work throughout the county. However they have pulled out at the last minute for reasons that are far from clear but which I believe relate to additional risk associated with the transfer of staff.
We had been assured that some £2 million would be saved per year and that the level of service would be maintained. This must now be at risk although the County view is that they are essentially returning to an earlier stage in the negotiations and the overall projectr is not compromised.
It is important that whatever changes occur you continue to enjoy high standards of routine maintenance, a rapid response to problems and winter gritting that keeps the county moving. When councilors need to intervene we will still hope to get rapid action.
