The Committee says that local government revenue funding has fallen by around a quarter since 2010 and acknowledges that without ring fencing of funds, cash strapped authorities are diverting money away from highways to other services such as social care.

It adds that the Department for Transport should make it easier for the public to report road concerns and to access real time updates on road condition.

“Local authorities are in the invidious position of having to rob Peter to pay Paul,” said Committee chair Lilian Greenwood. “Cash strapped councils raiding their highways and transportation budgets to fund core services has been a common thread in our recent inquiries. Now is the time for the Department to propose a front loaded, long term funding settlement to the Treasury as part of the forthcoming Spending Review.”

CIHT is carrying out a review ‘Improving Local Highways’ that will further make the case for spending on the local highway network. Immediate Past President Matthew Lugg said: “We are pleased that the Transport Select Committee has agreed with our evidence on the need for a longer term settlement for local roads. It has also agreed with our evidence on the need for collaboration and innovation to drive forward the necessary change in the sector.”

A Government spokesman said: “We know potholes are a nuisance and a hazard for all road users, particularly for cyclists and motorcyclists. To improve local roads we are providing councils with £6.6Bn between 2015 and 2020, which includes more than £700M for extra maintenance.

“We are also investing in trials on new road materials and repair techniques as well as using technologies to help councils predict when roads will need repairs and prevent potholes.”

The Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport’s engineering board chair Mark Stevens welcomed the report and said: “A stable, long term sizeable increase in funding for highway maintenance is critical if local highway authorities are to be able to provide a safe local road network. A five year rolling programme of investment would be a start – doubling current levels of investment would see much of the backlog cleared in a decade.”

The Local Government Association’s transport spokesman Martin Tett said: “This report rightly recognises the significant funding pressures councils are under and the detrimental impact this is having on local services such as roads maintenance.

“While the extra one off £420M funding announced in last year’s Budget has helped, we need Government to follow with a long term funding plan in this year’s Spending Review.”

• Also this week, a new study by transport economist Volterra says that infrastructure maintenance tenders must pay greater attention to the social costs of work imposed on the public.

The report, commissioned by geopolymer specialist Geobear, says that the award of contracts is largely judged on the contractor’s cost of delivering the maintenance. Instead, it adds, delays and other costs beyond the financial outlay for maintenance should be considered, leading to better procurement and outcomes and a lower cost to society.