Review of Roads and Infrastructure Services - Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 19 June 2025
Back to Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee — 19 June 2025 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE 19 JUNE 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 previous reports to this Committee in relation to the RIS Review dated 20 March 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) note the content of this report; b) consider the progress made in relation to the Priority Improvement Actions as set out within Appendix 1 to this report; and c) note that officers will bring a progress report to the September 2025 meeting of this Committee, which will identify, where possible, how savings will be delivered in 2025/26 and 2026/27.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE 19 JUNE 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 of 20 March 2025. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 It is recommended that Members of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee:- a) note the content of this report; b) consider the progress made in relation to the priority improvement actions as set out within Appendix 1 to this report; and c) note that officers will bring a progress report to the September 2025 meeting of this Committee, which will identify, where possible, how savings will be delivered in 2025/26 and 2026/27. 4.0 DETAIL 4.1 The RIS Review has been structured around 4 stages of activity as illustrated below:
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4.2 At the March 2025 meeting of this Committee, Members received a report entitled “Review of Roads and Infrastructure Services – Update”. That report provided detail on the completion of Stage 2 of the RIS Review and outlined the “twin track” approach being adopted in respect of Stages 3 and 4. 4.3 Stage 3 of the RIS Review, as outlined above, is a revised target operating model for the service, which has been designed in the form of a new organisational structure for the service. Since the last update, formal engagement with Trade Unions and the affected staff has taken place in relation to stage 1 of the reshape, and as a result of detailed and considered feedback from Third Tier Managers, we are now taking the opportunity to review the proposals in light of this feedback. 4.4 Stage 4 of the RIS Review process was the development and implementation of 12 Priority Improvement Actions, one of which was the organisational reshape. A summary of the 12 Priority Improvement Actions together with progress to date can be found in Appendix 1 to this report. In order to ensure the change process is well managed and does not place an unsustainable burden upon an already busy service the Priority Improvement Actions are being staggered and there are a number of these where work has not yet been commenced, where this is the case, an indicative timeframe has been included to give assurance that work will progress in a planned manor. 4.5 In respect of savings, Members will be aware that those outlined as part of the 2024/25 financial (£200k) year have not been realized due to the ongoing work that was required in relation to development and implementation of stages 3 and 4 of the review. The level of savings required for the 2025/26 (£300k) and 2026/27 (£500k) financial years adds up to a total saving of £1m over 3 years. This is in addition to saving reference RIS 002 agreed in February 2025 in relation to commercial waste for self catering units. We intend to provide an estimate of how these savings will be delivered in the next RIS Review update report.
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4.6 The Consultant who was hired to lead the RIS Review has also had to take on the operational leadership of the service following the departure of the former Head of Road and Infrastructure Services. He has been overseeing both the progression of the review and the operational demands of the Road and Infrastructure Service concurrently. Elected Members will appreciate that handling both of these significant areas of responsibility over the same period of time will inevitably impact on the overall advancement of the RIS Review. Progress has however been made on the Review, as set out in this report. The new Head of Road and Infrastructure takes up post in August and will assume responsibility for the operational aspect of the service, allowing the Interim Head/consultant to focus entirely on the RIS Review. 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 and the position and future reporting intentions in respect of anticipated savings as a direct result of the RIS Review process. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy – No direct policy implications within this report. A number of the priority improvement actions may result in changes to existing policies, where this is the case further reports seeking approval for new or changed policies will come to Committee. 6.2 Financial – A number of the priority improvement actions aim to increase efficiency and deliver financial benefits to the Council, these efficiencies and financial benefits will be reported on in more detail to the next meeting of this Committee. 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. 6.6 Risk – Risks are being managed in relation to each of the priority improvement actions. 6.7 Climate Change – None identified at this time. 6.8 Fairer Scotland Duty – None identified at this time.
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6.9 Equalities – protected characteristics - Will be considered as part of each of the priority improvement actions as these progress. 6.10 Consumer Duty – Will be considered as part of each of the priority improvement actions as these progress. 6.11 Island Communities – None identified at this time. 6.12 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing – None arising directly from this report. Kirsty Flanagan, Executive Director with responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure Councillor John Armour, Policy Lead for Roads, Transport and Amenity Services June 2025 For further information contact: Stephen Hall, Interim Head of Roads and Infrastructure Service Stephen.hall@argyll-bute.gov.uk APPENDICES Appendix 1 – Summary of Priority Improvement Actions