Brent Council is considering bringing pothole repairs in-house, a move that could lead to cost savings and improved efficiency in maintaining the borough's roads. The discussion took place during a Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee meeting on Wednesday, July 29, 2026.
Councillors questioned the effectiveness and cost of the current contract with Velocity for pothole repairs, expressing concerns that the spray injection method used may not be as durable as other methods. While officers acknowledged that alternative methods, including the JCB Pothole Pro and Rhino patching, had been explored, the current contract was chosen for its cost-effectiveness and speed. They explained that injection patching is used on lighter trafficked, unclassified roads, and that some repairs using this method have lasted up to six years. However, one councillor noted that everything I read suggests that spray injection patching does not last as long as other methods, one to three years from what I read.
Concerns were also raised about Brent's roads. While data indicates a significant long-term improvement in Brent's unclassified road network
and an overall positive trend in highway conditions, the A road network has shown greater year-to-year variation. A backlog of unrepaired potholes exists due to budget constraints, with only approximately 35% of medium-priority defects can be funded.
For footways, almost half remain in poor condition, with a maintenance backlog of approximately £180 million, and a full replanting programme estimated at closer to £250 million.
The council's high annual payout of £120,000 in compensation claims for pothole damage, significantly higher than neighbouring boroughs like Lewisham (£4,000) and Harrow (£40,000), further fuelled the discussion. Councillors suggested that bringing repairs in-house could be more cost-effective, citing the £200,000 cost of a machine with a 10-year lifespan compared to the £235,000 spent annually on repairs.
However, officers noted that the lifespan of such a machine is closer to three to four years and that the costs associated with maintenance, materials, and staffing would need to be considered. A past report from 2023 exploring the feasibility of bringing services in-house indicated that it was not considered financially beneficial compared to the current approach. Nevertheless, given the increased costs incurred more recently, the committee requested that this report be refreshed and circulated. Public reports pack Wednesday 29 July 2026
