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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Kevin Dyson

The seven biggest risks to the operation of Ayrshire Roads Alliance

Ayrshire Roads Alliance (ARA), which maintains roads across South and East Ayrshire, has revealed the list of the types of risks it faces.

There are a total of 68 risks listed by ARA, with the seven highest risks resulting from Brexit, the Ukraine invasion, the pandemic, AshTree Dieback disease, material shortages and staffing issues.

These seven are considered to be at the upper end of ‘medium risk’. There are no high risk entries in the register, which will be presented to the Ayrshire Shared Services Committee next Friday, June 10.

Of the 68 entries, 38 are medium risk, with the remainder deemed low risk. Each has a status for likelihood of occurring and the level of impact.

The seven highest risks highlighted by ARA are:

  • The Ukraine crisis has led to the increase in the cost of bitumen and the potential of short supply due to Russian sanctions and increased costs. (probable likelihood and significant impact)
  • Councils can no longer use ‘red diesel’ within construction vehicles. This has an impact on project costs and the overall programme. (probable and significant)
  • There is potential for death or injury as a result of ash dieback related accidents, both to professionals working on trees, and to the general public.
    Increased safety issues due to declining ash trees on roads, owned and managed land.
    Risks to statutory functions or service delivery such as retaining safe schools, public open spaces or roads. (probable and significant)
  • Steel products, timber, electrical equipment and aggregates have seen a price increase with aggregates prices falling back in the spring.
    This is as a result of COVID-19 affecting suppliers, supply chains, shipping and transportation.
    Increased admin at UK ports due to EU Trade Co-operation has resulted in increased transportation costs and surcharges. (probable and significant)
  • Loss of trained and competent professional staff through retirement or turnover. (possible likelihood and severe impact)
  • The impact of the United Kingdom exit from the European Union. (probable and significant)
  • Loss of trained and competent personnel from all sections within ARA due to pandemic event. (possible and severe)

ARA also attach more details to the various levels of risk, including the cost, length of time to rectify and media coverage.

For example, the register states that ‘severe’ incidents include those that cost between £500k and £1m, take between one and three months to sort and get national newspaper coverage.

Those deemed a low risk cost up to £10,000 and can be dealt with in a day, with only councillors and senior management aware of the incident.

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