Highways maintenance transparency report 2026

In this section

  1. What we spent to maintain the highway network and where the funding is coming from
  2. How we maintain local roads, pavements, and the wider highway network in Stoke-on-Trent
  3. Our maintenance plans for this year
  4. Transparency report – Technical Annex template
  5. Maintaining footways and cycleways
  6. Drainage
  7. Skills and training
  8. Adapting roads to withstand climate pressures
  9. Innovation
  10. Working with utility companies to reduce disruption to road users
  11. Managing highways maintenance contracts effectively

Innovation

  1.  

Question

Yes / No
  1.  

Do your procurement and contracting approaches encourage and reward innovative practice?

Yes

  1.  

Can you demonstrate that innovative materials and practices are regularly reviewed and, where appropriate, integrated into business as usual operations?

Yes

  1.  

If you have conducted innovation trials, have you shared the findings of these publicly or with professional networks?

Yes

 

Evidence Summary

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has a strong track record of embracing innovation and working collaboratively with industry partners to develop and implement new approaches to highway maintenance. The service has trialled and adopted a range of innovative materials, techniques and plant aimed at improving durability, reducing carbon emissions and delivering better value for money. Examples include working with JCB during the development of the Pothole Pro, becoming one of the first authorities to deploy the technology operationally, and the successful introduction of Foammix recycling techniques which enable tar-bound materials to be recycled within the carriageway structure, reducing waste and material consumption.

Further context on your innovation activities

Innovation is embedded within our service culture and operational delivery. In addition to evaluating new materials and repair techniques, we continually seek opportunities to reduce network disruption and improve productivity. A recent example was our "3-in-1 Pass" initiative, which combined pothole repairs, gully cleansing and road marking maintenance within a single road closure. This collaborative approach significantly reduced network occupancy, minimised disruption to road users and improved operational efficiency. The project was recognised nationally, reaching the finals of the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) Innovation of the Year Awards, demonstrating our commitment to delivering practical innovations that provide measurable benefits to residents and the highway network.

 
Highways work

 

We also use Social media to keep all stakeholders informed of our activities and successes with daily or weekly posts outlining our planned activities and completed photos

Stoke Highways Facebook

Examples of innovations that have been adopted

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has a proven track record of taking innovative highway maintenance solutions beyond trial stage and embedding them into day-to-day operations where measurable benefits have been demonstrated.

A notable example is our early adoption of the JCB Pothole Pro. Following collaboration during its development, Stoke-on-Trent became one of the first authorities to purchase a production model and fully integrate it into operational delivery. The machine has improved productivity, reduced repair times and enhanced the quality and consistency of permanent pothole repairs.

The Council has also successfully adopted Foammix recycling technology, which enables tar-bound road materials to be recycled and reused within the carriageway structure. This has reduced waste disposal requirements, lowered material consumption and delivered both environmental and financial benefits. The technique is now routinely considered as part of resurfacing and reconstruction schemes.