Highway repairs have been scrutinised at a council meeting, and the county council has been criticised for a lack of engagement with councillors.

St Albans District Council’s local services scrutiny committee discussed the performance of Hertfordshire County Council in maintaining the district's highways at a meeting on January 8.

The committee decided it wanted to consider the matter following a presentation by the county council’s executive member for highways and waste management, Councillor Terry Douris, in September 2013.

Councillor Anthony Rowlands, chair of the council’s local services scrutiny committee, said: “The committee recognises that highways repairs is a major service provided by Hertfordshire County Council that is of interest to all residents.

“We were disappointed that Hertfordshire County Council was not represented at our committee meeting to update us on progress with contract performance.

“However, we understand that a meeting will take place shortly between cabinet members and the county council that will cover highways repairs.

“District councillors are often contacted by residents about the repair of highways. Unfortunately, Hertfordshire county council is unwilling to engage directly with us regarding our concerns about how the process is working.

“We therefore have to raise these concerns indirectly through district council officers or county councillors. The county council has expressed a strong interest in wanting to work in partnership with the district council. Closer cooperation over highways issues would be a great starting point.”

In response, Terry Douris, cabinet member for Highways at the county council, said: “I would encourage district council members to get in touch with their Hertfordshire county council colleagues to influence highways services in their area, as each county councillor has a highways locality budget of £90,000 to spend on highways services within their division.

“Everyone, including district councillors, can make routine requests for services and report highway faults online, see what other people have reported and subscribe to follow works progress at www.hertsdirect.org/highwayfaults

“The county council provides a list of all works to the district council which details all the works undertaken and programmed in the district and the highways liaison meetings provide opportunities for further information sharing and discussion.

“As Hertfordshire County Council has responsibility for highways, the county council’s overview and scrutiny committee is responsible for scrutinising the service.”