FOI request (FOIR-852667504)

Pothole claims

Requested Wed 01 July 2026
Responded Tue 07 July 2026

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request information regarding compensation claims made against the council for pothole damage.

Please can you provide the following information for the last five full financial years (2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25, and 2025/26), broken down by year:

1.  The total number of compensation claims received by the council relating to vehicle damage, personal injury, or any other damage caused by potholes.
2.  The total number of these claims that were successfully defended or rejected by the council.
3.  The total number of these claims that were settled (either in or out of court) where the council paid compensation.
4.  The total monetary value (£) paid out in compensation for these claims.
5.  The total monetary value (£) spent on legal costs, administrative fees, or other associated costs incurred in defending these claims (excluding  the compensation itself).
6.  

If the data for Question 5 is not recorded separately from general liability defense costs, please state this and answer questions 1 to 4.

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Response

Information not held

All aspects of roads and footpaths including potholes is dealt with by East Sussex County Council Highways, please visit their website for further information: www.eastsussex.gov.uk