Councillors Call for Review of Highways Maintenance Model in East Sussex

East Sussex County Council has agreed to review how its highways maintenance services are delivered, following a debate over whether the work should be brought back in-house.

During a meeting on March 24, councillors discussed a motion proposing that the authority should take direct control of highways services by 2030. Currently, maintenance is carried out by contractor Balfour Beatty Living Places.

The motion, introduced by Green Party councillor Georgia Taylor, highlighted concerns over the condition of the county’s roads and suggested that alternative delivery models—such as fully in-house or hybrid approaches—could offer improvements.

However, opposing views were raised during the debate. Conservative councillor Gerard Fox argued that the key issue facing highways maintenance is long-term national underfunding, rather than who delivers the service. He emphasised the importance of effective procurement, strong contract management and holding contractors accountable for performance.

A further amendment, put forward by Liberal Democrat councillor Sarah Osborne, called for a detailed review of the options. She noted that while bringing services back in-house could be a potential solution, the issue is complex and requires thorough analysis before any decisions are made.

The amendment was supported, with councillors agreeing that the authority’s Place Scrutiny Committee should carry out a comprehensive assessment of the current model and possible alternatives.

Debate during the meeting also touched on wider issues, including costs and risks. Conservative cabinet member Claire Dowling warned that moving services in-house could lead to increased financial pressures, including staffing costs, pension liabilities and operational risks. She also challenged the assumption that removing contractor profit would automatically free up additional funding for frontline services.

Supporters of the original motion argued that retaining services within the council could allow resources to be reinvested directly into improving outcomes for residents.

The agreed review is expected to provide a clearer evidence base to inform future decisions on how highways maintenance services are delivered across East Sussex.