Leeds and Manchester have both landed a ‘green’ mark in a new government scoreboard for local road maintenance published on 11 January 2026. The Department for Transport’s red‑amber‑green ratings cover 154 local highway authorities and, for the first time, let residents compare how councils are spending and how their roads are holding up. For Northern drivers long tired of cracked surfaces and emergency patches, the ratings give a clear, council‑by‑council picture of who is investing properly and who needs to step up.

The score is based on three measures: the condition of local roads, how much each authority is actually spending on repairs, and whether they are following recognised best practice rather than returning to the same holes every few weeks. An interactive map shows every council’s mark so people can see what good looks like and where improvements are overdue.

The programme sits on top of a record £7.3bn, announced at the Budget, to help councils move from short‑term fixes to planned resurfacing and preventative maintenance. Ministers say multi‑year certainty is the point: it should keep roads in better nick for longer and stop money leaking into repeat call‑outs.

To sharpen accountability, 25% of this year’s £500m uplift was withheld until authorities published transparency reports setting out how they meet best practice. The £125m has now been released to councils that filed the paperwork, with the department signalling that clarity for taxpayers is non‑negotiable.

There’s a stick as well as a carrot. Future allocations will be linked to performance, and red‑rated authorities will be offered targeted help worth up to £300,000 in expert support and peer reviews to raise standards. The message to underperformers is blunt: use the cash well or expect closer scrutiny.

Leeds and Manchester made the green list after demonstrating strong planning and long‑term investment. Officials say the mark reflects authorities that keep surface condition steady, spend meaningfully on upgrades and focus on prevention, not just quick patches that wash out with the next downpour.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said drivers have waited long enough for smoother journeys and less faff. She argued the funding gives councils the certainty they asked for and, in her words, shows ministers have “put our money where our mouth is”. Making performance public, she added, lets residents judge progress street by street.

Motoring groups point to the personal cost when roads fail. RAC data puts the average repair bill after a pothole strike at around £320, with some drivers out more than £1,000 last year. The AA and RAC both back the ratings as a push towards permanent, preventative fixes rather than endless patching.

Cycling bodies have welcomed the move too, warning that a rough surface is more than an irritation on two wheels - it can be dangerous. British Cycling said the map helps hold decision‑makers to account and gives riders a clear view of how safe, reliable routes are being maintained.

Town Halls aren’t on their own. The government has extended the Live Labs 2 programme for another year, offering up to £300,000 so councils can adopt longer‑lasting, lower‑carbon materials and quicker methods that cut repeat roadworks and keep traffic moving.

The ratings arrive in the same week as the first national Road Safety Strategy in more than a decade, with plans to tackle drink‑driving, improve training for young drivers and require eye tests for older motorists. Ministers say safer behaviours and better‑kept roads should go hand in hand.

For readers across the North the takeaway is practical. If your authority is green, expect more planned resurfacing and fewer emergency crews. If it’s amber or red, the cash is there but the pressure is on to prove it’s being spent wisely. We’ll be tracking how Leeds, Manchester and their neighbours turn ratings into fewer claims, fewer buckled wheels and calmer commutes through spring.