Review of Roads and Infrastructure Services - Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 18 December 2025
Back to Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee — 18 December 2025 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE 18th DECEMBER 2025 REVIEW OF ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES - UPDATE 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 The purpose of this report is to provide Members of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee with an update on progress and next steps in relation to the Roads and Infrastructure Service Review (RIS Review). 1.2 In providing this update reference is made to information contained in the previous report to this Committee in relation to the RIS Review in September 2025 and to the actions taken in the intervening period. 1.3 It is recommended that Members of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee:- a) Consider the progress made in relation to the priority improvement actions, including the financial impacts of these, and; b) Agree to receive a further report on progress of the RIS Review in March 2026. c) Endorse the extension of the external consultancy to support the RIS review project at a cost of up to £90,000 noting that where possible this would be funded from within existing resources but recommend to Council that should there be insufficient existing resources within RIS that this is funded from the Strathclyde Pension Fund Gain earmarking set aside for transformation/spend to save initiatives. d) Agree to recommend to Council that i. the increase in saving target of £500k due to be applied in 2026/27 to the RIS Review be removed and ii. instead, the RIS Review work towards achievement of the cumulative £500k saving from 2024/25 & 2025/26 recurring.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE 18th DECEMBER 2025 REVIEW OF ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES - UPDATE 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 This report provides an update to Members of this Committee on progress of the Roads and Infrastructure Service Review (RIS Review), since the last update in September 2025. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 It is recommended that Members of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee:- a) Consider the progress made in relation to the priority improvement actions, including the financial impacts of these, and; b) Agree to receive a further report on progress of the RIS Review in March 2026. c) Endorse the extension of the external consultancy to support the RIS review project at a cost of up to £90,000 noting that where possible this would be funded from within existing resources but recommend to Council that should there be insufficient existing resources within RIS that this is funded from the Strathclyde Pension Fund Gain earmarking set aside for transformation/spend to save initiatives. d) Agree to recommend to Council that i. the increase in saving target of £500k due to be applied in 2026/27 to the RIS Review be removed and ii. instead, the RIS Review work towards achievement of the cumulative £500k saving from 2024/25 & 2025/26 recurring.
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4.0 DETAIL 4.1 The RIS Review has been structured around 4 stages of activity as illustrated below: 4.2 As set out in previous reports to this Committee the opportunity is being taken to deliver the planned improvement activities from stages 3 and 4 concurrently. This results in a number of priority improvement actions being progressed at the same time as the development and implementation of the revised target operating model and organisation structure for the service. 4.3 Appendix 1 provides a comprehensive update on progress with each of the current 12 priority improvement actions. As set out in the previous update to this Committee, a staged approach is being taken to the implementation of the approved priority improvement actions in order to ensure that the service improvement activity does not place an unsustainable burden on an already busy service. 4.4 In June 2023 the EDI committee recommended to Council that £150,000 be set aside from the Strathclyde Pension Fund gain earmarking for transformation/spend to save initiatives in order to progress the actions from the RIS Review. This was agreed by Council in June 2024. The funding has been used to buy in consultancy support from SOLACE (Stephen Hall) and also to provide administrative support to the project. The funding will be fully spent by February 2026 and it is recommended that further funding of up to £90,000 is made available in order to continue the good work that has commenced for a further 6 months beyond February 2026. Officers recommend that this is funded from within existing resources in RIS or if insufficient, then fund from the Strathclyde Pension Fund gain earmarking for transformation/spend to save initiatives. This approach has been endorsed by the Executive Leadership Team.
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The work that will be taken forward during the additional 6 months is summarised below: • Finalise the reshaping of Roads and Infrastructure Services • Further progress the Roads and Information Asset Management Systems (RIAMS) improvement project to deliver improvements to customer service and the data required to improve service efficiency. • Household Residual Waste Collection Reduction • Review of Commercial Waste income 4.5 Savings targets exist in relation to the RIS Review process as follows: 2024/25 £200k, rising to £300k in 2025/26, and then rising by a further £500k in 2026/27 to give a £1m p.a. recurring saving in 2026/27 and beyond. An additional income target in relation to increased income in commercial waste contracts of £700k for 2025/26 also exists. 4.6 To date additional income through commercial waste contracts of over £450k has been achieved, with activity continuing to further increase this additional income. In addition, the RIS Review has also enabled £3m of capital to be released to other priorities within the service following a review of the business case for the Helensburgh waste transfer station, thereby reducing pressure on capital financing in relation to preparation for the ban on municipal waste top landfill. 4.7 It has not yet been possible to achieve either the 2024/25 or 2025/26 revenue savings (cumulative value £500k) attached to the RIS review as it has been more challenging than originally anticipated to drive out financial efficiencies. A number of service areas have required intervention to respond to immediate term operational challenges. In addition, the service has put forward over £900k of savings as part of Council wide options to close the budget gap for 2026/27. With such significant savings already identified and proposed by Roads and Infrastructure Services, there is low confidence that the savings target of £1m for the RIS Review in 2026/27 will be achieved. It is therefore proposed that the increase in saving target of £500k due to be applied in 2026/27 be removed and that instead the RIS Review work towards achievement of the cumulative £500k saving from 2024/25 & 2025/26 (recurring) continues. 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 This report provides an update on the implementation of the 12 Priority Improvement Actions as developed under Stage 4 of the RIS Review process.
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6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy – No direct policy implications within this report. A number of the priority improvement actions result in changes to existing policies. Where this is the case further reports have been considered or will be considered in the future by Committee in relation to these. 6.2 Financial – A number of the priority improvement actions aim to increase efficiency and deliver financial benefits to the Council. Others may require further financial input. Such cases will be brought forward for Members’ consideration at the appropriate time. This report asks Members to agree and recommend to Council that should access to Strathclyde Pension Fund earmarking be required that this is approved. 6.3 Legal – Legal aspects are being reviewed as part of each of the priority improvement actions. 6.4 HR – The proposals to reshape the organisation structure of the Roads and Infrastructure Service have implications for staff. All relevant Council policies and procedures are being followed in this regard. 6.5 Customer Service – A number of the priority improvement actions aim to improve customer experience. Within the priority improvement actions currently being progressed, improvements in customer experience in relation to household waste collection, commercial waste services and road maintenance are being developed. 6.6 Risk – Risks are being managed in relation to each of the priority improvement actions. 6.7 Climate Change – Reduction in carbon emissions will be achieved as a result of implementation of waste disposal arrangements that respond to the ban on municipal waste to landfill. 6.8 Fairer Scotland Duty - None identified at this time. 6.9 Equalities - protected characteristics: Will be considered as part of each of the priority improvement actions as these progress. 6.10 Consumer Duty – None identified at this time. 6.11 Island Communities - None identified at this time. 6.12 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing - None arising directly from this report.
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Kirsty Flanagan, Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Councillor John Armour, Policy Lead for Roads, Transport and Amenity Services December 2025 For further information contact: Andy Summers, Head of Roads and Infrastructure Andrew.summers@argyll-bute.gov.uk Stephen Hall, Consultant, Roads and Infrastructure Service Review Stephen.hall@argyll-bute.gov.uk APPENDICES Appendix 1 – Summary of Priority Improvement Actions