Bexley Council is set to receive a highway funding incentive from the Department for Transport (DfT) in 2025-2026, contingent on demonstrating best practices in sustainable highways asset management. However, failure to meet the DfT's criteria could result in the council not unlocking the full 25% of the highway funding incentive.
At the Transport Users' Sub-Committee meeting on Thursday, July 17, 2025, councillors discussed the DfT's announcement of Block Funding allocations for 2025/26, which includes a new incentive element to ensure local authorities follow best practices in sustainable highways asset management. According to the Road Issues report, 25% of the funding uplift will be held back until Bexley Council proves it meets certain criteria.
This incentive aims to promote sustainable approaches to highway maintenance and improvement schemes within the borough. The council must demonstrate adherence to specific standards to unlock the full funding allocation. Appendix A of the Road Issues report provides a list of roads on the current years resurfacing programme and a list of Highway Improvement Schemes currently under consideration. The programming of surfacing and patching schemes requires advance notice, and delays are common due to utility works. These schemes would likely be impacted by the funding incentive.