Nottinghamshire County Council is expected to approve a five-year extension of its highway services contract with Via East Midlands Limited, for road maintenance, transport services, and infrastructure support until 2031.
The contract, initially set to expire in 2026, provides an essential in-house service model while allowing flexibility in response to emergencies and unforeseen events, say papers released ahead of the Cabinet meeting next week.
Via East Midlands, a Teckal company wholly owned by Nottinghamshire County Council, has been managing the county’s highways since 2016 under a 10-year contract. The extension aligns with the Council’s long-term plans and reflects the substantial operational and financial progress made by Via. According to the report, the extension provides a “sustainable way of meeting financial challenges while maintaining a good level of service.”
Key Achievements and Statistics
The extension follows a thorough review of highway services conducted by the Council in 2021. Among the key recommendations of the review was a shift towards a “right first time” approach, aiming to reduce reactive short-term maintenance and ensure that repairs are performed more permanently.
As of 2023, Via has significantly ramped up its operational capacity. Notably, the number of road repair teams has doubled, with structural patching gangs increased from four to eight, enhancing the efficiency of maintenance operations. Consequently, the daily repair output per team has doubled from 50m² to 100m². Over 67,000m² of road repairs were completed in 2022, quadrupling the volume of previous years.
By September 2022, a series of achievements were reported, including:
- 411 significant road surface improvements and 291 large patching schemes covering 465,500m² of highways.
- Over 41,000 potholes repaired.
- 56,975 gullies cleaned, alongside multiple structural drainage improvements.
- 7,176 streetlight repairs, with nearly 900 new columns installed.
- Nearly 5,000 trees received maintenance, including pollarding and epicormic growth removal.
The efficiency gains have also reduced emergency repair work using temporary “cold lay” materials by 61%.
Financial Performance
Via’s financial outlook remains robust. Since 2019, the company has consistently delivered operating profits, with a total of £4.8 million in profits over the past five years. For the fiscal year 2023-2024, Via generated an operating profit of £534,295, with a forecasted increase to £708,840 for 2024-2025. Since its inception, the company has returned £2.6 million in dividends to the Council, allowing for reinvestment into local services.
Additionally, Via continues to focus on driving efficiencies. In 2024-2025, £333,000 in savings are anticipated, with more savings projected for the following years. These financial gains have allowed Nottinghamshire County Council to suppress contractual inflation, saving £1.8 million.
Via has placed a strong emphasis on supporting the local economy. In 2023-2024, the company engaged with 786 subcontractors, achieving £26.4 million in local spending, 61% of its total spend for the year. This local expenditure has resulted in £19.8 million of added value to the D2N2 area (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire).
Via’s social value initiatives extend beyond local spending. As 79.6% of Via’s workforce lives within the D2N2 area, the company maintains close ties with local communities through sponsorships, charitable activities, and a strong commitment to environmental stewardship.
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