The Highways Cabinet Panel met on Thursday 12 March 2026 to discuss the Highways Infrastructure Asset Management Plan (HIAMP) performance report for 2024/25, the Department for Transport's (DfT) road maintenance ratings, and an update on the pothole trial. The panel noted the HIAMP report and recommended its agreement to the Cabinet. They also discussed the DfT's RAG ratings, which placed Hertfordshire in the 'Amber' category, and received a verbal update on the ongoing pothole trial.

Highways Infrastructure Asset Management Plan: Asset Performance Report 2024/25

The panel received and noted the Highways Infrastructure Asset Management Plan (HIAMP) Asset Performance Report for 2024/25. This report provides a retrospective look at the council's performance in managing its highway assets, benchmarking performance, and analysing expenditure. Chris Allen-Smith, Head of Profession for Asset Management and Maintenance, presented the report, highlighting that it is a factual document and does not introduce new policies. The report details the condition and management of various asset groups, including carriageways, footways, cycleways, drainage, structures, street lighting, intelligent transport systems, green infrastructure, and safety barriers.

A key discussion point was the condition of unclassified roads (U roads), which showed a decline in 2024/25, attributed to weather impacts and the inherent vulnerability of older road constructions. While Hertfordshire's overall road condition remains strong compared to national averages, the U road performance is a concern. The report also detailed the council's commitment to asset management principles, aiming for optimisation not prioritisation and the right treatment, in the right place, at the right time. The panel was informed about the transition to new, AI-driven condition survey technologies, which will provide more consistent and comparable data from April 2026. The report was recommended to Cabinet for agreement.

Department for Transport Road Maintenance Ratings

The panel received an information note on the Department for Transport's (DfT) new traffic-light rating system for local highway authorities. Hertfordshire County Council was placed in the 'Amber' category, indicating a mixed performance in road condition, investment, and best practice. While Hertfordshire ranked 19th overall out of 154 authorities, narrowly missing the 'Green' category, concerns were raised about the methodology. It was noted that the ratings were based on 2024/25 data and were released without prior consultation with local authorities, leading to sector-wide concerns about data inconsistencies.

Key areas for potential improvement identified for Hertfordshire include the condition of unclassified roads and the reporting of preventative maintenance. The council's sophisticated deterioration model for preventative maintenance was highlighted as a strength that may not have been fully reflected in the DfT's scoring. The report indicated that the DfT is open to feedback and will be refining the system. The panel was invited to note the report, acknowledging that while the rating provides a snapshot, it does not fully encompass the complexity of highway asset management, including strategic assets like bridges and lighting.

Trial of the 'One Visit, More Impact' Approach to Fixing Adjacent Potholes

Chris Allen-Smith provided a verbal progress report on the trial of the 'One Visit, More Impact' approach to fixing potholes, which utilises the 'Roadmender' process. This method involves using hot liquid asphalt to cover larger areas and bind frayed edges, proving to be durable and effective, particularly at road junctions. The trial is currently in its third phase, employing three Roadmender crews across the county, with works planned to continue until the end of March 2026.

The trial has included testing the process on concrete roads with delaminating asphalt surfaces, with a potential programme for such works planned for the following year, subject to budget confirmation. To date, the crews have undertaken works on 28 roads, filling 437 potholes and applying 6,600 square meters of Roadmender treatment. The approach is being used as a complement to the existing Category 1 pothole repair service, aiming to prevent more potholes from forming by addressing wider areas. Discussions also touched upon the efficiency of using a full boiler's worth of material at a time and the potential for this method to reduce the overall number of potholes requiring attention in the long term. A full report with detailed findings will be presented to a future panel meeting.