Here in Chelmsford, Essex, UK, if you discover a large pothole you can take photos and measurements and send into the Borough Council office (safe to say you sent copy to local newspapers) and they will (so they claim) go out and repair quite quickly.

Councils are terrified of bad press but I think they really rely on the vigilance of citizens to help them find locate and report the problems.
the problem is ,this,for a pothole to be repaired properly,it has to be done a certain way,it is no good just filling the hole with tar.
here is my understanding of the correct way,the pothole should be cut to a square,so that the whole hole becomes a square,then filled,then the ditches need to be unblocked so that no water runs onto the road.