The Department is responsible for providing guidance to local authorities in England to help them run and maintain their road networks, but has not updated its guidance for several years.70 Such guidance has included good practice proactive maintenance to reduce the number of potholes, a Code of Practice on managing highway infrastructure, and road repair guides. For example, the Department has not reviewed or updated the highways maintenance appraisal tool, which is based on assumptions that are almost 10 years old.71