Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Deferred
Revise local road funding allocation considering usage, environment, and explore Community Infrastructure Levy use.
Conclusion
The Department does not allocate funding to local authorities for the maintenance of local roads according to where it is most needed. The Department provides most of its funding to local authorities based on road length, number of bridges, and number of lighting columns in a local authority. It does not, however, take into account traffic volumes or underlying road condition. Nor does it include other factors such as local 5 environmental conditions, for example whether a road is prone to flooding, and the additional wear and tear that would arise. The Department has also not explored with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government whether local authorities that charge a Community Infrastructure Levy money on new developments, may be permitted to spend this money on local road maintenance. recommendation a. As part of the next phase of the Spending Review the Department should revise the way it allocates funding to local authorities ensuring that funding also reflects the expected wear and tear of local roads due to the level of usage and local environmental conditions. b. The Department should also work with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government to explore the scope for local authorities to use surplus Community Infrastructure Levy funding on local road maintenance.
Government Response Summary
The government agrees but only addresses the second part of the recommendation, stating that Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) receipts can already be spent on infrastructure. It commits to exploring better communication about existing CIL funding and its potential uses, rather than exploring new scope for surplus CIL specifically on local road maintenance. The first part of the recommendation (revising funding allocation based on wear and tear) is not addressed.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Communities and Local Government already emphasises that Community Infrastructure Levy receipts can be spent on failing existing infrastructure, as well as on its more widely recognised use for funding the provision and maintenance of infrastructure, including transport infrastructure. The department will explore with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government whether the availability of Infrastructure Funding Statements, which are produced annually by local authorities detailing annual Community Infrastructure Levy income and expenditure, and the levels of unspent Community Infrastructure Levy held, might be better communicated at community level to enable greater awareness of the existence of the Community Infrastructure Levy and how it might be spent, including allocations of neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy held by local authorities and parish councils.