NHT CQC – Measuring Efficiency and Value for Money in Highway Maintenance
The NHT CQC (Cost, Quality, Customer) framework helps councils assess the efficiency and overall value for money of their highway maintenance services, enabling informed decisions and continuous improvement.
compares cost and efficiency
Measuring Efficiency, Demonstrating Value, Support Net Zero
Measures both financial and carbon performance helping authorities identify savings, improve asset management and support progress toward Net Zero.
The CQC Efficiency Network is a benchmarking framework that helps local highway authorities measure and improve the cost, quality and carbon efficiency of their carriageway maintenance.
It evaluates how effectively authorities manage their road assets by comparing actual performance again a statistically adjusted ‘minimum cost’ model that accounts for factors outside their control, such as network size, traffic levels and local costs. This allows fair, like-for-like comparisons across the network.
CQC measures both financial efficiency – how much an authority has reduced costs through improved practices- and carbon efficiency through the concept of Value for Carbon, which quantifies how much future carbon is saved by extending asset life through maintenance.
Together, these metrics show how well an authority is delivering safe, sustainable, cost-effective road maintenance, supporting progress toward Net Zero and long-term asset resilience.
Institute for Transport Studies
Note: Members are bound by a mutual non-disclosure and confidentiality agreement, which protects the interests of all parties and preserves the anonymity of the results.
CQC Efficiency
Network
The CQC Efficiency Network benchmarks the cost, quality and carbon efficiency of carriageway maintenance in local authority areas on a like for like basis.
What is the CQC Efficiency Network?
- Fair Benchmarking: Compares authorise on a like-for-like basis, adjusting for factors outside of their control (e.g. network size, traffic and local costs).
- Efficiency Measurement: Quantifies how effectively authorities reduce costs through improved practices without compromising quality.
- Carbon Performance (Value for Carbon): Assesses how maintenance activities contribute to Net Zero by relating future carbon savings to carbon expended.
- Continuous Improvement Tracking: Monitors changes in efficiency and effectiveness over time, highlighting real savings and opportunities for further improvement.
Share experiences and good practice
If you have any questions or want to arrange a call back, please contact the NHT Network by completing the quick contact form.
- Join the national network of councils that use NHT
- Public opinion data on your transport services
- Measuring and comparing performance in order to improve
- Subscription to Local Authorities and their delivery partners
- Benchmarking with other authorities
- Member meetings, conferences, facilitated workshops
Give our sales team a call to see the many ways that joining NHT would benefit your authority
Find Out More About the Networks
Data Implementation
A record of the efficiency savings that have been achieved in the maintenance of your carriageways
What you can do with the data
Provides members with an annual assessment of their efficiency, using CQC methodology, focusing on carriageway maintenance expenditure.
Data Implementation
A record of the efficiency savings that have been achieved in the maintenance of your carriageways
What you can do with the data
Provides members with an annual assessment of their efficiency, using CQC methodology, focusing on carriageway maintenance expenditure.
NHT CQC Report Descriptions
The active use of the NHT CQC by Councils will enhance the focus on Customer in the planning and delivery of Highways and Transportation services.
Why your local authority needs CQC
NHT CQC can be used to highlight the level of efficiency/overall value for money of the Council’s Highway maintenance
Annual Assessment
Monetised Savings
Benchmarking
Create opportunities for growth, efficiency & stronger relationships with residents.
If you have any questions or want to arrange a call back, please contact the NHT Network by completing the quick contact form.
Tel: +44 (0) 1884 841884
Public Satisfaction Survey
The NHT Public Satisfaction Survey is the largest survey of its kind, and is recognised by the Department for Transport.
Performance Management Framework (PMF)
Compares service performance across asset types and management levels
CQC Efficiency Network
The CQC Efficiency Network compares Carriageway costs & carbon efficiencies across local authorities on a like-for-like basis