5.0 Asset management
This section focuses on asset management practices that underpin how the authority plans, prioritises and delivers highways maintenance. It is intended to provide confidence that decisions are evidence led, risk based and aligned to whole life value, in line with the Code of Practice for Well Managed Highways Infrastructure.
5.1 Asset management strategy and policy
The questions in this section (B5.1) relate to the asset management condition set out in the 2026–27 local highways maintenance incentive funding requirements. Completion of this section forms part of the evidence required to meet this incentive funding condition.
5.1.1 Please confirm that you understand the answers provided in this section (B5.1) relate to your compliance under the 2026-27 local highways maintenance incentive funding requirements, as set out to your authority via letter to your chief executive in April and as published online.
Yes
5.1.2 Please provide a link to your authority’s published highways asset management policy and strategy.
5.1.3 Please provide the date it was last reviewed or updated
Date: May 2026
5.1.4 Please provide proof of the review or update
Email included at the end of this report from the Chair of the HBC’s Neighbourhood Services Committee who is also responsible for Highways.
5.1.5 If your asset management policy or strategy has not been reviewed or updated since 1 August 2024, please confirm that it will be reviewed or updated by 30 September 2027 and provide a brief timetable for doing so.
5.1.6 Further context (optional)
Minor review and updates carried out during May 2026 mainly to include explanation of PAS 2161 surveys and Life Cycle Planning but expecting to carry out a full review following release of ‘Well managed Highways Code of Practice’ sometime during Autumn 2026.
Key aspects of highways asset management approach
To get a sense of how each local highway authority is implementing best practice for asset management, we ask that you provide the following information across a sample of key areas.
5.2 - Asset data
This section seeks to establish whether asset management decisions are supported by appropriate and up‑to‑date condition data.
Please complete the table below for your key highway assets.
|
Asset type |
Asset inventory held? (None / partial / full) |
Condition data held? (None / Partial / Full) |
|---|---|---|
|
Carriageways |
FULL |
FULL |
|
Footways and cycleways |
FULL |
PARTIAL |
|
Structures |
PARTIAL |
PARTIAL |
|
Drainage assets |
FULL |
PARTIAL |
|
Street lighting |
FULL |
PARTIAL |
|
Traffic signals |
FULL |
FULL |
5.2.1 Further context (optional)
Hartlepool Borough Councils Transport Asset Management Plan contains an Inventory section (Section 5) which outlines the importance of accurate data collection. It explains where data is stored, how it is collected and contains summary information for each asset type. This document is updated on an annual basis. Transport asset management plan
5.3 Asset data integration and management
This section seeks to understand the maturity of how asset data is managed and integrated to support planning and investment decisions.
B5.3.1 – Asset data integration
How is asset inventory and condition data for your key highway assets primarily managed? (please indicate one option with an X)
|
Discrete spreadsheets or documents held by individual teams |
|
|
Multiple digital platforms with limited integration |
|
|
A single digital platform or a set of connected platforms used across the highways service |
X |
|
Other (please set out in further context) |
|
B5.3.2 - Further context (optional)
Hartlepool has been a user of CONFIRM Asset management for over 25 years and contains various levels of inventory and condition data spread across all highway assets. The software is also used on site by inspectors for logging defects and by the highway repair gangs when completing jobs to ensure a full history of works are digitally recorded. The same software also helps manage the street gazetteer and streetworks permits.
5.4 Lifecycle planning and investment decision-making
This section focuses on whether the authority uses lifecycle planning to inform maintenance investment decisions, rather than relying solely on reactive demand or short‑term pressures.
| ID | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 5.4.1 | Do you use lifecycle plans for carriageways to support maintenance investment decisions? | Yes |
| 5.4.2 | Do you use lifecycle plans for footways to support maintenance investment decisions? | No |
| 5.4.3 | Do you use lifecycle plans for structures to support investment decisions? | No |
5.4.4 Evidence summary
Hartlepool has begun making use of the HMEP Lifecycle planning toolkit in an effort to log different scenarios of budget and maintenance type for the carriageway network, it is planned that the toolkit will be completed and fully up and running by early Autumn. HBC also uses its lengthy history of carriageway surveys to determine which roads are suffering from year on year deterioration in an effort to target the available budget towards these locations. The latter assists the Highways Engineer when making adjustments to the five year maintenance programme.
5.5 Performance monitoring and continuous improvement
This section focuses on whether the authority monitors the effectiveness of its asset management approach and uses performance information to inform ongoing investment and prioritisation decisions.
| ID | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 5.4.1 | Do you have a defined set of key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor the outcomes of your highways asset management approach? | Yes |
| 5.4.2 | Are these KPIs reviewed on a regular basis (at least annually)? | Yes |
| 5.4.3 | Are KPI trends used to inform maintenance planning, prioritisation or changes to forward programmes or investment decisions? | No |
| 5.4.4 | Have you conducted a value for money review or peer review of your service in the last 3 years | No |
5.5.5 Evidence summary
The performance monitoring occurs on an annual basis by HBC taking an active role in data submissions to NHT / Measure2Improve and ALARM benchmarking which allows year on year data to be compared and trends acted upon. HBC also regularly monitors the performance of the internal works gangs with respect to reactive work and these statistics (e.g. number of urgent jobs repaired within allocated timeframe) are both compared and shared with Highways Supervision staff.