Vale of Glamorgan Council has faced criticism after spending more than £7 million on external contractors for road maintenance and repairs between 2022 and 2025, according to a Freedom of Information request.
Breakdown of Spending
The council spent £1,686,441 in 2022, £2,011,835 in 2023, £2,257,390 in 2024, and £1,662,877 in 2025 on external contracts. Conservative group leader Cllr George Carroll questioned whether relying on contractors offers better value for money than in-house services, calling for a full cost-benefit analysis.
Plaid Cymru councillor Cllr Chris Franks accused the council of failing to maintain the road network for years, noting that last year the state of highways was "dreadful" and the budget ran out mid-autumn, causing schemes to be cancelled days before contractors were due to start work.
Pothole Compensation and Council Response
The FOI request also revealed pothole-related compensation payments: £24,473 in 2021/22, dropping to £1,987 in 2024/25. A council spokesperson said they maintain over 1,000km of adopted highway and are investing more than ever in repairs, working with contractor Centregreat Ltd and using specialist equipment like the JCB Pothole Pro machine.
The council has trialled a sustainable repair technique called Elastomac, which converts old tyres into road repair material, lowering the carbon footprint of patch repairs by 85%. The spokesperson added that every pothole report is read, recorded, and inspected, and repairs are prioritised by depth, with no report ignored.
Challenges and Record Repairs
The spokesperson noted that fixing potholes is more challenging due to weather changes, heavier vehicles, denser populations, increased demand, and tighter budgets. The council has seen record numbers of reports but also delivered record repairs, including almost 2,000 in May this year.
