Greenwich Labour Blocks Potholes Debate | Red Rating

Key Points

• Greenwich Labour councillors utilised their voting majority at the Town Hall on Wednesday, 28 January 2026, to sidestep a debate on a Government report labelling the borough as the 13th worst local authority in England for pothole repairs and road maintenance.
• The Department for Transport’s ‘Local maintenance ratings 2025 to 2026’ scorecards rated the Royal Borough of Greenwich ‘Red’ overall for road maintenance, one of only 13 such authorities in England.
• Greenwich received ‘Red’ ratings on both the ‘Spend scorecard’ (measuring spending on local road maintenance) and the ‘Wider Best Practice’ scorecard (assessing adherence to best practices in highways maintenance).
• The borough was rated ‘Amber’ for overall road condition.
• Local Conservative councillors, led by Matt Hartley and Charlie Davis, submitted a motion criticising Labour-run Greenwich Council’s ‘disappointing and unconstructive’ response to the report, which was issued by their own Labour Government.
• The motion called for a public apology to residents, full cooperation with the Department for Transport’s planned ‘peer review’ intervention, advice-seeking from better-performing neighbouring councils Bexley and Lewisham, and publication of an Emergency Action Plan by end of March 2026.
• Labour councillors opted to challenge the report’s data and methodology rather than engage constructively, leading to a procedural vote that shortened the meeting and blocked debate.
• Councillor Matt Hartley, Leader of Greenwich Conservatives, described Labour’s avoidance as embarrassment over their ‘abysmal failure’, criticising a recent £8 million pothole funding pledge as ‘too little, too late’ amid claims of ‘managed decline’.
• Local elections are less than 100 days away, heightening political stakes.
• The report’s findings are based on data supplied by Greenwich Council itself to the Labour Government.

Royal Borough of Greenwich (South London News) January 29, 2026 – Greenwich Labour councillors leveraged their majority at the Town Hall on Wednesday evening to block a debate on a damning Government report that ranks the borough among England’s worst performers for pothole repairs and road maintenance. Local Conservatives, spearheaded by Councillors Matt Hartley and Charlie Davis, had tabled a motion urging a constructive response to the Department for Transport’s findings, but Labour’s procedural manoeuvre cut the meeting short.​

The report, titled ‘Local maintenance ratings 2025 to 2026’, places Greenwich 13th worst out of local highway authorities, with an overall ‘Red’ rating shared by just 13 councils nationwide. It highlights failures in spending and best practices, despite an ‘Amber’ score for road condition.

Why Did Labour Councillors Avoid the Potholes Debate?

Labour’s decision to invoke a procedural device stemmed from discomfort over the report’s implications, according to Conservative critics. As detailed in the Greenwich Wire coverage, the full council meeting saw Labour vote to truncate proceedings rather than address the motion head-on.

Councillor Matt Hartley, Leader of Greenwich Conservatives, stated:

“It says a lot that Greenwich Labour councillors were too embarrassed to debate their own record on potholes in our borough last night – though we shouldn’t be surprised given their abysmal failure to maintain our roads, as confirmed by the findings of their own Labour Government based on the data supplied by Greenwich Council itself.”

This quote underscores the political tension, with Conservatives framing the avoidance as evasion.

The motion submitted by Councillors Hartley and Davis – accessible via the Royal Greenwich Council committees portal – explicitly criticised the council’s ‘disappointing and unconstructive’ reply to the scorecard. It demanded accountability amid revelations that Greenwich scored ‘Red’ on the ‘Spend scorecard’, measuring investment in road upkeep, and the ‘Wider Best Practice’ scorecard, evaluating maintenance processes.

What Does the Government Report Reveal About Greenwich Roads?

The Department for Transport’s scorecards, published this month, paint a stark picture. Greenwich is one of only 13 English authorities with an overall ‘Red’ rating for road maintenance. Specific failings include ‘Red’ marks for spending levels and adherence to best practices, with road condition marginally better at ‘Amber’.

As per the Greenwich Wire article linking to the report, these ratings derive from data Greenwich Council provided to the Labour Government. Neighbouring Bexley and Lewisham achieved superior ‘Wider Best Practice’ scores despite comparable road networks, prompting calls for Greenwich to learn from them.

The report signals a planned ‘peer review’ intervention, where sector experts will assist ‘Red’-rated councils like Greenwich to refine processes. This proactive step highlights the national concern over deteriorating local infrastructure.

What Action Did Conservatives Propose in Their Motion?

The Conservative motion sought remedial steps. It urged Greenwich Council to issue a public apology to residents for inadequate road network maintenance.

Further demands included committing to full cooperation with the Department for Transport’s peer review, proactively consulting Bexley and Lewisham councils for advice, and publishing an Emergency Action Plan by March 2026’s end. This plan would detail engagement outcomes and measurable actions addressing the report’s concerns.

Councillors Matt Hartley and Charlie Davis framed these as essential for rebuilding trust. The document, titled ‘Motion Responding constructively to Greenwich Council’s Red rating for road maintenance from the DfT’, was submitted formally to the council.

How Did Labour Respond to the Damning Report?

Post-publication, Labour councillors questioned the report’s data and methodology instead of pledging improvements. Conservatives decried this as quibbling, especially given the Labour Government’s authorship.

At the 28 January meeting, Labour’s majority enacted a procedural vote to end debate prematurely. No direct Labour statements are quoted in available coverage, but their actions prioritised deflection over dialogue.

Hartley highlighted Labour’s private lobbying of the Department for Transport for rating upgrades and touted a recent £8 million pothole repair pledge. He dismissed it as a ‘pre-election bribe’, insufficient against years of what he termed ‘managed decline’.

Who Are the Key Figures in This Council Clash?

Councillor Matt Hartley leads Greenwich Conservatives and spearheaded the motion. His criticisms emphasise resident impacts and electoral timing, with local elections under 100 days away.

Councillor Charlie Davis co-authored the motion, amplifying calls for apology and reform. On the Labour side, the administration holds council majority, enabling the debate block.

Residents feature implicitly as victims of pothole-plagued roads, deserving apology and action per Conservatives.

What Is the Political Context Ahead of Local Elections?

With elections looming in under 100 days, potholes emerge as a flashpoint. Hartley noted Labour’s bid to sway Department for Transport ratings privately, alongside the £8 million pledge.

He argued:

“Greenwich residents deserve an apology for Labour’s failure to maintain our roads, and they also deserve a Council that responds with some humility to yet more evidence that it has been Getting Things Wrong on so many of the areas it is supposed to take responsibility for.”

This saga reflects broader scrutiny of Labour-run councils under their own Government’s metrics. The peer review offers a path forward, but political posturing persists.

Why Are Potholes a Major Issue in Greenwich?

Potholes endanger drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, symbolising neglect. Greenwich’s ‘Red’ ratings confirm systemic shortfalls in spending and practices, per Government data.

The 13th-worst ranking underscores severity among England’s 317 highway authorities. ‘Amber’ road condition offers slim solace amid daily disruptions.

Neighbours’ better scores suggest feasible improvements via shared learning.

What Happens Next for Greenwich Road Maintenance?

The council faces Department for Transport peer review, mandating expert collaboration. Conservatives push for the apologetically framed Emergency Action Plan by March 2026.

Labour’s stance remains opaque post-debate block, but funding claims signal activity. Elections may force reckoning, with residents’ roads at stake.

As reported extensively by Greenwich Wire, this episode highlights accountability tensions in local governance. Full cooperation could restore ratings; evasion risks further decline.