Potholes: stats, procedure and compensation

The request was partially successful.

Dear Highland 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

Highland Council

Case Ref: HC0226-6776  
Dear Mr Lewis, 
We acknowledge receipt of your request for information under the
FOI legislation received on 31/01/2020.
Subject: 
Potholes: stats, procedure and compensation
Request Detail:
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.
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The Highland Council
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Mura h-eil na beachdan a tha air an cur an cèill sa phost-d seo a'
buntainn ri gnothachas Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd, 's ann leis an neach
fhèin a chuir air falbh e a tha iad, is chan eil iad an-còmhnaidh a'
riochdachadh beachdan na Comhairle, no buidhnean buntainneach, agus chan
eil am post-d seo na phàirt de chunnradh sam bith mura h-eil sin air
innse.

Listening * Open * Valuing * Improving * Supporting * Partnering * Delivering
Èisteachd * Fosgailte * Luach * Leasachadh * Taic * Com-pàirteachas *
Lìbhrigeadh

References

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Community Services - Headquarters, Highland Council

Dear Mr Lewis

Request for information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002

With regard to your request for information - Potholes: stats, procedure, compensation

In 2017 Highland Council received 261 claims for compensation and paid out £24,087 in compensation. I am unable to provide a figure for the administrative cost for managing these claims as staff do this as part of their tasks.

Each claim for compensation is investigated on its own merit and no budget is set aside specifically for compensation.
The completion of an insurance claim form only enables sufficient information to be given to the relevant council service to investigate the claim but does not guarantee re-imbursement of any costs claimed therein. Safety inspections of all roads take place by qualified staff on a regular basis as defined in Highland Council Procedures and Guidelines with any defects found being repaired accordingly.
The Council as Roads Authority has a duty under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 to ensure that the roads are maintained in a reasonably safe condition. However, that duty is a reasonable one and to aid compliance with it, all highways and footways are prioritised dependent on their location and usage and a system of inspections to identify and repair any potential safety defects is in place. We do not have to ensure, nor could we, that the roads are in a perfect condition at all times. We encourage members of the public to report any defects and will reactively carry out repairs on receipt of reports.
Please see attached policies showing the inspection schedules for roads, Cycle Routes and footways.

Highland Council manage and maintain the following roads assets:
*6,754km of road network (Length of adopted roads in Highland) *1,700km of footways
*2,180 bridges and culverts (a structure that allows water to flow under a road or railroad)
*1,000 retaining walls
*48,800 lighting columns
*100 car parks

Please see the link to our Factsheet about Potholes which will further answer your questions:
https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlo...

Please note Trunk Roads come under the remit of BEAR Scotland.
We are unable to search our CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system complaints by topic.

Under Section 20 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 you have the right to request that the Highland Council reviews any aspect of how it has dealt with your request. This requirement for review should be put in writing to the Freedom of Information Officer, Chief Executive's Office, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness IV3 5NX, within 40 working days of receipt of this letter. The request should include details of the information requested and the aspects of the Highland Council's response which you are not satisfied with.

If you are subsequently dissatisfied with the outcome of the Council's review, you have the right to appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner under Section 47 of the Act, within six months of receiving the Council's review response.

Further guidance on information request reviews and right to appeal can be found on the Scottish Information Commissioner website at https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlo....

Yours sincerely

Marianne Grech on behalf of Support Officer
Unless related to the business of The Highland Council, the views or opinions expressed within this e-mail are those of the sender and do not necessarily reflect those of The Highland Council, or associated bodies, nor does this e-mail form part of any contract unless so stated.
Mura h-eil na beachdan a tha air an cur an cèill sa phost-d seo a' buntainn ri gnothachas Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd, 's ann leis an neach fhèin a chuir air falbh e a tha iad, is chan eil iad an-còmhnaidh a' riochdachadh beachdan na Comhairle, no buidhnean buntainneach, agus chan eil am post-d seo na phàirt de chunnradh sam bith mura h-eil sin air innse.

Listening * Open * Valuing * Improving * Supporting * Partnering * Delivering
Èisteachd * Fosgailte * Luach * Leasachadh * Taic * Com-pàirteachas * Lìbhrigeadh