Holding the strategic highways company to account

Annex A: High level overview of holding to account

Figure A.1 below illustrates how we undertake our statutory role holding National Highways to account.

Figure A.1  Holding to account pyramid

As our level of concern increases the way we hold account moves from Routine monitoring and assessment to enhanced monitoring and finally, at the highest level of concern, to enforcement. Most areas will be covered by routine monitoring with enhanced monitoring being less common and enforcement the rarest.

Enforcement

If we are satisfied that National Highways is or has been non-compliant with the road investment strategy (RIS) and/or statutory directions and guidance (SD&G) we may take statutory enforcement action. this can be in the form of an enforcement notice and/or a fine.

Enhanced monitoring

Enhanced monitoring is designed to allow us to gather all the information we need to decide on and take the most appropriate course of action to achieve a positive outcome for road users, taxpayers, communities and the wider public. It is intended to allow us, working with National Highways, to resolve issues early and agree action without having to rely on statutory enforcement.

Our enhanced monitoring activities represent what we refer to as to a 'toolbox' approach. This means that we may choose to use some of the tools available to us and not others. What we choose to use, when and how depends on the individual circumstances.  

Routine monitoring and assessment

On a routine, day-to-day basis, the work we undertake in furtherance of our statutory duties includes but is not limited to:

  • analysing the regular reporting provided by National Highways about its progress;
  • when necessary, requiring National Highways to respond to additional data and information requests;
  • scheduled meetings with National Highways to probe its performance and delivery, including site visits; and
  • gaining intelligence about National Highways' performance and delivery from stakeholders.

These activities alert us to whether any aspects of what National Highways has committed to deliver in the RIS or SD&G are at risk and whether it and/or we may need to take action to bring it back on track.