Please provide the information for the period 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024.
1. The total number of compensation claims received for damage allegedly caused by potholes or defects in the highway.
1,454
2.The number of claims:
2a. Accepted: 135
2b. rejected (repudiated): 1,238
2c. withdrawn by the claimant: 58
2d. still outstanding: 09
3. The total amount of compensation paid to successful claimants
£27,295
4. Of the claims that were rejected:
4a. how many resulted in County Court proceedings being issued against Devon County Council: 11
4b. how many were settled before a final hearing: 3
4c. how many proceeded to a final court hearing: 4
4d. how many were decided in favour of the claimant: 1
4e. how many were decided in favour of Devon County Council: 3
5. The total amount paid by Devon County Council in:
5a. damages following court judgments: £326.74
5b. settlements reached after legal proceedings had been commenced.£909 (in addition to £326.74)
6. The total legal costs incurred by Devon County Council in defending pothole compensation claims, including:
6a. payments to external solicitors: £4,370
6b. payments to barristers: £3,800
6c. expert witness fees: £0
6d. any other external legal costs: 0
7. The total amount of legal costs recovered from unsuccessful claimants.
N/A, as Qualified One-Way Costs Shifting means the Council are unable to recover costs
8. The number of claims where Devon County Council relied upon the statutory defence under section 58 of the Highways Act 1980.
932
9. The average time taken to determine a compensation claim.
95 days
10. If held, the number of claims where the Council’s original decision to reject liability was subsequently overturned following legal proceedings or settlement negotiations.
Devon County Council do not hold this information.