Potholes: stats, procedure and compensation

The request was successful.

Dear Surrey County Council,

How many claims did the council receive for compensation for pothole damage in the last three years that figures are available?
How many of these claims did you pay?
What was the cost to you for claims in the last three years that figures are available?
What is the average pay out for a claim?
What was the cost to the council administratively for managing these claims in the last three years that figures are available?
What was the budget for fixing potholes in the last three years that figures are available?
What is the budget for fixing potholes this current year?
How much did you spend on fixing potholes in the last three years that figures are available?
How many potholes were fixed in the last three years that figures are available?
How many repairs were prompted by complaints?
How many repairs were because of the council's own survey work?
Did the council develop its own process for managing pothole claims, e.g. the development of a form to report claims, standards in terms of timely responses etc.

Yours faithfully,
Oliver Lewis

Maggie McCormack, Surrey County Council

Dear Mr Lewis

YOUR REQUEST REF NO. FOI002911 UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

Thank you for your request for information received on the 30 January 2020. Your request reference is as above.

We will respond to your request promptly and in any event within 20 working days from the date of receipt of your request. If you wish to contact me to discuss the progress of your request, please use the contact details given below and quote the reference number given above.

Kind regards
Maggie Mc Cormack

Corporate Information Governance Team (Room 138) | Surrey County Council | County Hall | Penrhyn Road | Kingston upon Thames | Surrey | KT1 2DN
Tel: 020 8541 9130 | Email: [email address] |

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FOI/COR/SCC, Surrey County Council

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Dear Mr Lewis

YOUR REQUEST REF NO. FOI002911 UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

We have considered your request which was for

 

How many claims did the council receive for compensation for pothole
damage in the last three years that figures are available?

How many of these claims did you pay?

What was the cost to you for claims in the last three years that figures
are available?

What is the average pay out for a claim?

 

To date in 2019/2020 the Council has received 1,333 pothole claims of
which 33 have been paid at a cost of £12,929 with an average pay out of
£391

 

In 2018/2019 the Council received 2,243 pothole claims of which 514 have
been paid at a cost of £232,326 with an average pay out of £451

 

In 2017/2018 the Council received 1,399 pothole claims of which 294 have
been paid at a cost of £171,507 with an average pay out of £583

 

In 2016/2017 the Council received 884 pothole claims of which 163 have
been paid at a cost of £152,845 with an average pay out of £937

 

What was the cost to the council administratively for managing these
claims in the last three years that figures are available?

 

This is not recorded

 

What was the budget for fixing potholes in the last three years that
figures are available?

What is the budget for fixing potholes this current year?

How much did you spend on fixing potholes in the last three years that
figures are available?

How many potholes were fixed in the last three years that figures are
available?

 

 

How many potholes were fixed in the last three years that figures are
available?

 

How many repairs were prompted by complaints?

How many repairs were because of the council's own survey work?

 

Not able to provide but we are able to supply the following breakdown
between those reported by inspectors and those through our portal

 

Year Inspector PORTAL Grand
Total
2017 17326 15420 32746
2018 22692 27143 49835
2019 25967 17966 43933
2020 2177 3666 5843
Grand 68162 64195 132357
Total

 

Please note that reports of potholes are often duplicated

 

Did the council develop its own process for managing pothole claims, e.g.
the development of a form to report claims, standards in terms of timely
responses etc.

 

We have an online report it form and we use current practice standards for
inspections
[1]https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-tr...

 

We supply this information based on your original request. Please do not
hesitate to contact me at the above address if you have any queries
regarding the information supplied.  Remember to quote the reference
number above in any future communications.

 

If you are unhappy with the handling of your request for information and
wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, in the first
instance you should contact the County Council, quoting your request
number given above, at:

 

Freedom of Information Officer

Surrey County Council

Legal & Democratic Services

County Hall

Penrhyn Road

Kingston upon Thames

Surrey

KT1 2DN

[2][Surrey County Council request email]

 

If you are not satisfied by the County Council’s response to your
complaint, you have the right to apply to the Information Commissioner for
a decision.  The Information Commissioner will normally expect you to have
exhausted our complaints procedure.  The Information Commissioner can be
contacted at:

 

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Mrs Mary J Elliott

Freedom of Information Officer

Legal & Democratic Services

(Mondays to Thursdays)

 

Corporate Information Governance Team (Room 138) |  Democratic Services |
Surrey County Council | County Hall | Penrhyn Road | Kingston upon Thames
| Surrey | KT1 2DN

Tel: 020 8541 7969 or 020 8541 9130 (if unavailable) | Email:
[3][Surrey County Council request email]

 

[4]cid:image001.jpg@01D4DB4C.8DCBAD00

 

 

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References

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1. https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-tr...
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