Annual Status and Options Report 2025-26
Argyll and Bute Council · 18 December 2025
Back to Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee — 18 December 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE ROAD AND INFRASTRUCTURE 18 DECEMBER 2025 ANNUAL STATUS AND OPTIONS REPORT 2025-26 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 The Annual Status and Options Report (ASOR) provides an overview of road infrastructure assets within Argyll and Bute Council based on 2024-25 data for asset condition, previous investment, asset valuation and other relevant information. The report provides information, based upon current available data, on the condition of the asset and future options which can be considered in terms of investment. The ASOR provides details on each of the following assets: • Roads • Footways • Structures such as Bridges • Street Lighting and Traffic Signals • Street Furniture • EV Chargers 1.2 The annual scanner survey programme measures several properties of the carriageway surface. The Road Condition Index (RCI) measures • Surface Texture • Cracking • Rutting (Transverse profile) • 3m Longitudinal profile (potholes) • 10m Longitudinal profile (ride quality) The RCI score is the cumulative value of these main parameters and consequently the higher the RCI score, the poorer the overall condition of that section of the network. It should be noted that in the past few years, the external Road Condition Index (RCI) report did not survey our full area with most of our Islands missed. A full survey was carried out in the 2nd part of 2024 and details were received in December 2024 which officers have reviewed and analysed.
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1.3 The data for the condition survey carried out this year (2025) will generate the 2024-26 RCI figure. The data is being analysed by the service provider towards issue to SCOTS local authorities in December 2025. The survey results will be used to inform the following years capital works programme 2027-28. This will be formulated during Summer 2026 in consultation with local Operations Teams and Elected Members. 1.4 The ASOR appendix lists have used 2024 figures as the most up to date RCI score. The report sets out the 2025-26 road and associated infrastructure condition and forecasts future condition based on different proposed levels of investment. 1.5 The ASOR demonstrates that previous investment in the Roads Reconstruction Programmes has resulted in only a slight deterioration of the road condition. This has only been possible with the support from members allowing an average budget of nearly £8M. Whilst the condition has slightly deteriorated, without the increased investment from Council, the road condition would have continued to deteriorate at a faster extent, resulting in our road network being in an extremely poor condition. The condition surveys carried out nationally have a lag of 2 – 4 years (due to not all of the network being surveyed in one year). Argyll and Bute’s carriageway condition survey is anticipated to worsen should there be a reduction in available investment below £10m. Currently Argyll and Bute Council is listed as having the highest RCI ( roads in need of repair) within our family group consisting of roads authorities with similar roads networks. This means that our roads index is the poorest of the 8 family group members for rural authorities in Scotland. 1.6 Within the ASOR report, the respective asset groups are identified with four investment options presented to allow members to consider appropriate future funding. This will allow a more informed budget setting process for the maintenance and improvement of Roads and Infrastructure assets. 1.7 The ASOR is a useful tool in assisting Members to make informed strategic decisions regarding investment of our limited Capital resources.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE ROAD AND INFRASTRUCTURE 18 DECEMBER 2025 ANNUAL STATUS AND OPTIONS REPORT 2025-26 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 This report introduces the Annual Status and Options Report which makes an analytical assessment of the condition of the Council’s Road Network and associated infrastructure as well as setting out projected conditions based on varying levels of investment. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 It is recommended that the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee:- • Endorses the Annual Status and Options Report and the positive analytical feedback it provides and agrees to use the information for future budget setting; and • Notes the significant investment by Council over the last few years which has allowed officers to reduce the deterioration to our road network and consider that the current block allocation for all Roads and Infrastructure services reduces to £3.823m in 2026-27 and 2027-28 which if not increased in line with the reports funding requirements will mean a deterioration in our road condition (see Paragraph 1.8) and subsequently affect our communities. • Recommends to Council that they consider increasing the resource for roads reconstruction in 2026/27. 4.0 DETAIL 4.1 The ASOR is a report which forms part of a suite of documents that are recommended by SCOTS for local authorities use. The documents have been developed in collaboration with all Scottish and Welsh authorities and aim to improve processes and continue the development and implementation of the wider use of recognised asset management techniques. When authorities have fully developed the use of these documents, they will enable better value for
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money to be delivered and prudent stewardship of the road asset to be demonstrated. 4.2 SCOTS have focused on carriageway condition including backlog value and steady state figures due to carriageways being the single most valuable Council asset. 4.3 The ASOR is also a tool which elected members can use to help set priorities for investing the limited resources available to the Council. 4.4 At the Argyll and Bute Council Budget Meeting in February 2025, a £10M investment programme for roads reconstruction was approved. This was split into £8M for road capital work and £2M for reactive extreme weather works which are being used to repair the Storm Eowyn damage to our Network. This continued investment coupled with the level of revenue investment over the last few years has helped to halt the decline in our roads network condition. RCI for 2018-20 = 54.2% of roads needing improvement RCI for 2020-22 = 49.8% of roads needing improvement RCI for 2021-23 = 48.8% of roads needing improvement RCI for 2022-24 = 49.8% of roads needing improvement RCI for 2023-25 = 50.7% of roads needing improvement Previous levels of investment have limited the deterioration of the surfacing and acted as a contributory factor in reducing the number of CAT 1 & 2 road defects. 4.5 The RCI survey data is utilised along with other relevant available data such as SCRIM (sideway-force coefficient routine investigation machine), Accident Statistics, Road Hierarchy, Inspection data and local engineering judgement to develop an initial list of suitable schemes for inclusion in the road reconstruction programme. The WDM pavement management system interrogates all the available data to identify and rank potential schemes. Once a draft list is compiled further analysis is carried out by local staff to establish scheme costs, treatment options etc. this is then matched to available funding. The selection process is under regular review and has been steadily improved over time. 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 This ASOR report has been developed in line with the SCOTS Asset Management Project and provides a useful resource aimed at providing relevant decision makers with information which will allow a more informed choice to be made in respect of future investment options. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy – The ASOR contributes towards policy for infrastructure and roads.
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6.2 Financial – Current investment levels require to be increased to provide a steady state for the roads network. 6.3 Legal – Potential legal action should the road network deteriorate with road users claiming for damage to vehicles. 6.4 HR – None known. 6.5 Customer Service – Reduction in public service should roads be closed due to a lack of investment. 6.6 Risk – A failure to manage the road network appropriately would severely affect the Road Condition and also lead to increased insurance actions and a reduction in public opinion of the council. 6.7 Climate Change –the impact of climate change on key infrastructure is expected to increase in the coming years. 6.8 Fairer Scotland Duty: None known. 6.9 Equalities - protected characteristics – None known. 6.10 Consumer Duty – Reduction in public service should roads be closed due to a lack of investment. 6.11 Island Communities – the reduction in the Ferry Prices (RET) has increased numbers of vehicles on island roads which has caused more damage to the island road network. 6.12 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing – None arising from this report. Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Infrastructure: Kirsty Flanagan Policy Lead for Roads and Transport: Councillor John Armour December 2025 For further information contact: Andrew Summers Head of Road and Infrastructure Services andrew.summers@argyll-bute.gov.uk Hugh O’Neill, Network and Standards Manager hugh.oneill@argyll-bute.gov.uk APPENDICES Appendix 1 – ASOR Report Appendix 2 – Photographs of work carried out to our network assets in 2023-25