Decision details

Consideration was given to a report advising the Committee on the National Roads Strategic Action Group’s published response to the Audit Scotland Report – Maintaining Scotland’s Roads: A follow Up Report of 2016.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee -

1.    Noted the significant capital investment in Argyll and Bute roads of £40m over the past six years, in the context of reducing local authority funding. 

2.    Acknowledged that this level of investment means that the roads network in Argyll and Bute is among the fastest improving in Scotland.

3.    Welcomed the additional capital investment of almost £15m in Argyll and Bute’s roads network agreed unanimously at the council budget in February 2018.

4.    Noted that the Leader, as outlined in her budget speech, plans to write to the Scottish Government calling for additional investment in Argyll and Bute’s trunk roads network and would ask this to include:

·         Recognition of the importance of roads to the economy of Argyll and Bute, and Scotland, with regards to the whisky, renewables, timber, marine and tourism industries.

·         The urgent requirement for funding to address the additional burden on roads budgets caused by severe weather.

(Reference:  Report by Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure Services dated February 2018, submitted)