Policy Owner: Highway Asset Management Team
Approved By: Lead Member Transport and Environment
Date of Approval: July 2025
Review Date: July 2028
To create long-term value by maintaining a safe, sustainable, and resilient highway network that supports the needs of our communities and economy. East Sussex County Council recognises that an asset management approach is essential to achieving this, aligning with our Council Priorities and Local Transport Plan.
This policy reflects East Sussex’s commitment to maintaining highway infrastructure in a financially responsible manner. It follows national best practices while addressing local challenges such as aging assets and climate risks, ensuring that decisions are data-driven, risk-based and focused on continuous improvement.
East Sussex County Council is committed to managing the highway network through co-ordinated, efficient, and sustainable service delivery. Our asset management approach focuses on resilience, ensuring the network can withstand and recover from disruption while delivering long-term performance within available investment.
We operate a risk-based approach to proactively identify and manage risks such as climate impacts, natural hazards and asset deterioration. In line with our Climate Emergency Plan, we also support the Council’s ambition to reduce carbon emissions an embed sustainability in highway operations.
We will prioritise our work based on the Council’s four overarching outcomes:
• Driving sustainable economic growth.
• Keeping vulnerable people safe.
• Helping people help themselves.
• Making best use of resources now and for the future.
“Making best use of resources” underpins all our decisions, ensuring efficiency and value for money. To deliver this we will:
• Comply with all legal, environmental, and safety obligations
• Collaborate with partners and neighbours to align priorities and optimise outcomes
• Maximise opportunities and funding locally and nationally
• Prioritise the Resilient Network to ensure access and continuity during adverse events
• Engage with stakeholders to support transparency, build trust, and respond to community needs
This policy shall be delivered through a co-ordinated end-to-end asset management system that:
· Aligns with our Asset Management Strategy and Council Vision
· Manages the full lifecycle of our assets to enable sustainable, risk-based investment
· Builds a case for funding and improves stakeholder communication
· Highlights the value of highways to economic and social wellbeing
· Tracks and reviews performance against defined objectives, including through published indicators
· Integrates with our wider risk, health and safety, and environmental requirements
· Supports innovation and the adoption of new technologies to enhance asset management effectiveness
All officers and partners are expected to comply with this policy and support continuous improvement by ensuring the necessary skills, information, and resources are in place.
The delivery of this policy will be overseen by designated officers with clear roles and responsibilities. It will be regularly reviewed to ensure alignment with evolving best practice and Council priorities.
• Council Plan & Local Transport Plan (LTP4)
• Highway Asset Management Strategy 2025-2030
• East Sussex Climate Emergency Plan
• Highway Network Resilience Plan
• Well-managed Highway Infrastructure: A Code of Practice UK Roads Liaison Group 2016
Version_1_Asset_Management_Policy_2018 Lead Member T&E Nov 2018
Version_2_Asset_Management_Policy_2022 Lead Member T&E Dec 2022