The Performance Audit Group's Annual Report 2006/07

Inspection of structures
The inspection of structures is a key requirement of the contract and a vital tool in ensuring that the structures remain serviceable and safe to carry traffic.

In addition, these inspections allow a prioritised programme of work to be developed for maintenance, such as replacement of waterproofing and joints, parapet repair and replacement, concrete repairs, repainting and to rectify minor faults before they become serious.

Following each inspection, the OCs submit a draft report to Transport Scotland for review and discussion. On the basis of these discussions, the OCs issue a final report. This report may recommend future work on the structure.

2.2.5 Principal inspection of structures

Monitoring of Results

An analysis has been carried out of the data stored in TRBDb for the PIs programmed and carried out in 2007.
This analysis was to:

• Compare the agreed programme with the dates inspections were actually carried out.

• Compare the agreed programme for submission of the PI report with the month in which it was approved.

Figure 24 shows the total number of structures inspected in 2007 and the percentages of site works and reports completed early, on-programme or late.

NE – BEAR
BEAR completed only 33% of its inspection programme early or on-programme. The remaining 67%
of inspections were late. 96% of final approved reports were late.

SE – BEAR
In SE, 64% of the inspections were completed early or on-programme. The remaining 36% were late. 88% of final approved reports were late.

NW – Scotland TranServ
Only 21% of its inspections were completed early or on-programme, with the remainder of inspections being late.
83% of final approved reports were late.

SW – Amey
Amey completed over 60% of its inspections early or on-programme. 38% were completed late. 80% of final approved reports were late.

The apparent poor performance on reports by all OCs was perhaps due to the staged process. This involved drafting by the OC, submission and then assessment, possibly including revision, and approval by Transport Scotland. Only the final approval date was recorded for this process.

All OCs have given a commitment to improve performance in 2008/09.

	NE	SE	NW	SW
Total No of Structures Inspected	70	42	97	154
Inspections complete
Early	23%	5%	,11%	18%
On-programme	10%	59%	10%	44%
Late	,67%	36%	79%	38%
Total	100%	100%	100%	100%
Final Report Approved
Early	3%	5%	0%	5%
On-programme	1%	7%	17%	15%
Late	96%	88%	83%	80%
Total	100%	100%	100%	100%

contents