Merthyr Tydfil Council in Wales had a successful year in terms of highway insurance claims, as they did not have to pay out on any claims during the 2023-24 period. Despite receiving 13 highway insurance claims, all were rejected, resulting in no cost to the council. Throughout the year, a total of 2,788 highways inspections were conducted on the adopted highway, which was an increase of 153 inspections compared to the previous year. This increase was attributed to the rise in the number of roads adopted in 2023-24.
The council’s figures for 2023-24 also indicated that all inspections were completed within the service standard timescales, similar to the previous year. The timely completion of inspections is crucial as any delays could potentially lead to the council having to pay out on third-party claims. Additionally, there was a decrease of 35 customer complaints compared to the previous year, although the number of completed complaints slightly dropped due to an increase in complaints related to vegetation obstruction.
In terms of street works, 1,781 site inspections were carried out in 2023-24, generating a total income of £170,866. This income was significantly higher than the previous year by £63,951.50, and it is reinvested back into the service. The council also completed 4.49km of resurfacing works, including 1.21 km of micro-asphalt surfacing and 3.84km of footways renewed during the same period.
Despite the successful handling of insurance claims and improvements in various areas, the report highlighted that the highways network was displaying signs of managed decline. Comparatively, 10 years ago, the council was conducting approximately 12km of highway treatments, which has decreased to 6km in 2023-24. The report also included figures from the previous year (2022-23), where 12 highway insurance claims were similarly rejected, indicating a positive trend for the council.
Overall, the report presented a comprehensive overview of the council’s performance in managing highways and insurance claims over the past two years. It showcased the diligent efforts made by Merthyr Tydfil Council in ensuring the safety and quality of the adopted highway while effectively handling insurance claims to protect public funds.