Committee
Public Petitions Committee, 22 Jun 2005
22 Jun 2005 · S2 · Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
New Petitions
Roads, Pavements and Footpaths (Maintenance) (PE855)
Without going into too much detail, I note that that is exactly what the road works commissioner is intended to do. One problem has been that although utility companies must provide a record of their work on roads, local authorities do not need to. The bill was amended to ensure that local authorities, too, must give a record of work that has been done and show that it was to a proper standard, so that road maintenance is as uniform as possible. It will be for the road works commissioner to ensure such uniformity. A standard that is set in one local authority area must be pursued in all 32 local authority areas. I hope that the bill will address the issues that the petition raises.We need to obtain the Scottish Executive's overall view of the current condition. I know that the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland has produced reports and it might be useful to ask the society for a perspective on the issues that the petition raises.
In the same item of business
The Convener:
Lab
Our next petition is PE855, which has been lodged by Leslie Morrison on behalf of Kirkside area residents. It calls on the Scottish Parliament"to urge the Sc...
Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
Thank you. I have just rushed in from the Environment and Rural Development Committee meeting.I speak in support of PE855. I have been to the Kirkside area t...
Mike Watson:
Ind
I suggest that we give Maureen Macmillan the chance to read the response that all members of the committee have received from Highland Council this morning, ...
The Convener:
Lab
The Local Government and Transport Committee, of which I am a member, has given extensive consideration to the matter. The Transport (Scotland) Bill will set...
John Scott:
Con
It is not specifically a rural problem. From the potholes that I drive over, I think that it is as big a problem in urban areas as it is in rural areas. The ...
The Convener:
Lab
The information that I have been able to glean from the petition has been useful to my consideration of the Transport (Scotland) Bill. It might be helpful if...
Maureen Macmillan:
Lab
I knew that money had been earmarked for work to remove the cobblestones, but the last time that I spoke to the residents there was no word about any resurfa...
The Convener:
Lab
It might be useful to get an overview of the situation from the Executive.
John Scott:
Con
We must be moving towards stage 3 of the Transport (Scotland) Bill. Uniformity of provision should be a consideration because the quality of roads can vary d...
The Convener:
Lab
Without going into too much detail, I note that that is exactly what the road works commissioner is intended to do. One problem has been that although utilit...
John Scott:
Con
Will the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities share its views with us?
The Convener:
Lab
Why not? We will obtain COSLA's perspective. Is that okay?Members indicated agreement.
Maureen Macmillan:
Lab
Thank you, convener.