See answers to previous information requests

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request information regarding compensation claims made against the council for pothole damage. Please can you provide the following information for the last five full financial years (2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25, and 2025/26), broken down by year:

1. The total number of compensation claims received by the council relating to vehicle damage, personal injury, or any other damage caused by potholes.

2. The total number of these claims that were successfully defended or rejected by the council.

3. The total number of these claims that were settled (either in or out of court) where the council paid compensation.

4. The total monetary value (£) paid out in compensation for these claims.

5. The total monetary value (£) spent on legal costs, administrative fees, or other associated costs incurred in defending these claims (excluding the compensation itself). If the data for Question 5 is not recorded separately from general liability defense costs, please state this and answer questions 1 to 4.

We have been provided the following response from our Insurance department:
The council records all claims by calendar year and not by financial year. We have therefore provided our answers by calendar year.

In the calendar year 2022, 32 claims were notified to the council’s insurance team and/or insurers seeking compensation for vehicle damage, personal injury or any other damage allegedly caused by potholes. 19 of these claims were successfully defended or rejected. 13 claims were paid for a total monetary compensation amount of £4,572.12. Total legal costs, administration fees, or other associated costs (excluding compensation) in defending claims are £5,189.00*

In the calendar year 2023, 145 claims were notified to the council’s insurance team and/or insurers seeking compensation for vehicle damage, personal injury or any other damage allegedly caused by potholes. 93 of these claims have been successfully defended or rejected. 51 claims have been paid for a total monetary compensation amount of £13,927.59. Total legal costs, administration fees, or other associated costs (excluding compensation) in defending claims are £19,706.00*

In the calendar year 2024, 85 claims were notified to the council’s insurance team and/or insurers seeking compensation for vehicle damage, personal injury or any other damage allegedly caused by potholes. 59 of these claims were successfully defended or rejected. 26 claims were paid for a total monetary compensation amount of £12,553.94. Total legal costs, administration fees, or other associated costs (excluding compensation) in defending claims are £16,003.80*

In the calendar year 2025, 71 claims were notified to the council’s insurance team and/or insurers seeking compensation for vehicle damage, personal injury or any other damage allegedly caused by potholes. 47 of these claims were successfully defended or rejected. 24 claims were paid for a total monetary compensation amount of £6,807.31. Total legal costs, administration fees, or other associated costs (excluding compensation) in defending claims are £11,751.00*

In the period 1 January to 30 June 2026, 135 claims were notified to the council’s insurance team and/or insurers requesting compensation for vehicle damage, personal injury or any other damage allegedly caused by potholes. 56 of these claims have been successfully defended or rejected. 7 claims have been paid for a total monetary compensation amount of £2,046.89. Total legal costs, administration fees, or other associated costs (excluding compensation) in defending claims are £10,920.00*

*The council’s insurance team has a total of 2.6FTE staff at different grades who are responsible for the council’s entire insurance programme, including claims. It is estimated that across the team approximately 0.75 to 1.25 FTE (depending on claim volumes and complexity) is spent on claims-related work, of which pothole-related claims is part. Other council officers (such as in Highways and Transport) or staff at the council’s highways contractors may also have significant involvement with claims. It is not feasible to isolate salary costs specifically attributable to claims management.