PM warns councils will have 25% of pothole funding cut if progress is not reported

The government has pledged to fix seven million extra potholes each year.

This month, Kingston Borough Council (KBC) will receive £543,000 of the £1.6b of government grants to councils for pothole repairs.

However, for the council to receive the full amount pledged, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced all councils must publish annual progress reports and prove that the repairs completed are to the satisfaction of their residents.

The Prime Minister said: “British people are bored of seeing their politicians aimlessly pointing at potholes with no real plan to fix them. That ends with us. We’ve done our part by handing councils the cash and certainty they need – now it’s up to them to get on with the job, put that money to use and prove they’re delivering for their communities.”

Any councils that fail to meet the conditions set out by the PM risk 25% of their grant being withheld. In KBC’s case, this would amount to a cut of £135,750.

A spokesperson for Kingston and Surbiton Labour Party confirmed that the Department for Transport will be responsible for ensuring KBC meets these new conditions and that the party fully supports the government’s funding offer whilst at the same time maximising value for money for taxpayers.

Kezia Coleman, Chair of the Kingston and Surbiton Labour Party, said: “We encourage the Lib Dem-run Kingston Council to take advantage of the funding and deliver for all Kingston’s Road users. Locally, Labour will continue to report potholes alongside other issues as necessary and expect the council to deliver noticeable improvements going forward.”

The reception of the government’s grant by local residents has been overall positive, but many stipulate the repairs done should prevent holes recurring.

Paul Rickard, a Norbiton resident, said the investment is welcome as the roads are “in an appalling condition, and in places potentially lethal for cyclists”.

He added: “However, there is one big provision. The job should be done properly, to a quality standard that ensures we’re not back to square one in a couple of years time.”

Chessington resident Carol Hickmott said the state of the roads is “dangerous for all road users” and that potholes keep recurring due to unsustainable repairs.

“In many cases it is also false economy just filling loads of potholes in one area of road instead of a proper resurface which would last,” she added.

The government requires the council to publish the progress reports on their websites by 30 June 2025. These reports must detail how much is being spent, how many potholes have been filled, what percentage of Kingston’s roads are in what condition and how KBC is minimising disruption to street works.

The council will also be required to show how it is spending more on preventative road maintenance programmes long-term. It must also have robust plans for the wetter winters the UK is experiencing, as these worsen potholes.

By the end of October, there should also be reports of how the council is ensuring the community has its say on what work should be done and where. 

The public can also report potholes to the local council via an online portal on the government’s website. KBC also has one on its own website.