An extra £2million is being invested in highways projects this year, following an underspend in the county council’s budget.
The 2023/24 budget had an underspend of £10million, which has meant an extra £2million funding can be allocated to highways.
The underspend was partly made up of £4.41million of additional electricity income generated by the Energy from Waste facility. The majority of the remaining £8million underspend will be put into general reserves, however £2.41million will be used to address some financial risks arising within the current year’s budget, including the cost of children’s placements, additional expenditure required to support the forthcoming CQC inspection and the introduction of the Procurement Act.
The highways projects where the funds will be invested are:
- £500k to maintain 8 Find and Fix gangs throughout the year. These teams focus on finding smaller potholes and fixing them before they become a problem
- £500k for refreshing lining across the network
- £300k towards the Cheltenham Spa station cycle access ramp project
- £200k for further vegetation (grass and tree) cutting gangs to improve safety on the network
- £200k towards maintaining footways in our town centres
- £100k increase to the schools safety programme
- £100k to refresh zebra and other crossings across the network
- £100k to deliver the Merrywalks bus station resurfacing
Cllr Dom Morris, cabinet member for highways, said: “I’m delighted that our prudent financial management has allowed us to invest an extra £2million in highways. This will help us to make a wide range of improvements, including maintaining eight Find and Fix gangs and refreshing lining across the network to improve journeys for everyone.
“We’re continuing to deliver on our four-year commitment to invest £100 million on the county’s roads and are determined to create better journeys for everyone in Gloucestershire.”