Agenda item

7.1

The Executive Director, Place submitted a report seeking approval to implement the recommendations set out in section 14 of the report following a review of the Council’s winter maintenance service 2014/15. The review assessed the outcome of the decision by the Cabinet Highways Committee on 29 August 2014 to approve changes to the winter maintenance service. The report also detailed the options considered by Members and officers prior to reinstating previously removed Priority 2 precautionary gritting routes in December 2014 during a period of adverse weather in response to a small number of reported driving incidents in parts of the city.

7.2

RESOLVED: That:-

(a)

the relocation of 158 grit bins from reinstated Priority 2 precautionary gritting routes to ungritted routes in accordance with the grit bin criteria is implemented;

(b)

further snow shovels are made available to the public upon request and the public shall be informed of the collection process through the winter maintenance service information portal on the Council’s website;

(c)

the Priority 2 precautionary gritting routes reinstated in December 2014 continue to form part of the winter maintenance precautionary gritting service with any additional requests for precautionary gritting assessed against the precautionary gritting route criteria approved by Cabinet Highways Committee on 29 August 2014; and

(d)

the financial implications are noted and the expenditure is approved.

7.3

Reasons for Decision

7.3.1

The safety of residents within the city is of great importance to the Council.  Reports in December 2014 showed that the public were either not aware of the changes to the gritting network, or not driving in accordance with the prevailing conditions on those roads which were previously gritted.  Whilst the Council understands that there remains a risk of accidents on those roads that have been gritted, there is an increased risk on roads which have not received any gritting treatment.

7.3.2

The recommendations proposed meet the expectations of stakeholders for an extensive city wide winter maintenance service.

7.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

7.4.1

There were no alternative options presented in the report.

7.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

None

7.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

None

7.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Simon Green, Executive Director, Place

7.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

Economic and Environmental Wellbeing

7.1

The Executive Director, Place submitted a report seeking approval to implement the recommendations set out in section 14 of the report following a review of the Council’s winter maintenance service 2014/15. The review assessed the outcome of the decision by the Cabinet Highways Committee on 29 August 2014 to approve changes to the winter maintenance service. The report also detailed the options considered by Members and officers prior to reinstating previously removed Priority 2 precautionary gritting routes in December 2014 during a period of adverse weather in response to a small number of reported driving incidents in parts of the city.

7.2

The minutes of the meeting of the Economic and Environmental Wellbeing Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee, held on 30 September 2015, were circulated. The Committee had considered a presentation in respect of the Winter Maintenance Review and requested that their comments be circulated to Members of the Cabinet Highways Committee.

7.3

Steve Robinson, Head of Highway Maintenance, presented the report. He reported that, earlier in the year he had started to establish a city wide Multi-Agency Stakeholder Winter Planning Group. The aim was for this Group to identify any gaps in services and to identify something or someone to fill those gaps. The group met in May but other priorities meant that the Group was unable to meet again.  There was a commitment to re-establish this Group by May 2016.

7.4

In response to Members’ questions, Mr Robinson welcomed any feedback from Members about the distribution of Snow Wardens across the City. When asked about the security of salt stored, Mr Robinson said that the Salt Barns were manned during the winter months for 24 hours a day so he believed they were as secure as they could be. In respect of people taking grit from grit bins, Mr Robinson considered the important thing was for people to report when the bins were nearly empty so that grit could be replaced.  Mr Robinson also reported that he was working with his team and Amey to introduce further new winter services during this season.

7.5

RESOLVED: That:-

(a)

the relocation of 158 grit bins from reinstated Priority 2 precautionary gritting routes to ungritted routes in accordance with the grit bin criteria is implemented;

(b)

further snow shovels are made available to the public upon request, and  the public shall be informed of the collection process through the winter maintenance service information portal on the Council’s website;

(c)

the Priority 2 precautionary gritting routes reinstated in December 2014 continue to form part of the winter maintenance precautionary gritting service with any additional requests for precautionary gritting assessed against the precautionary gritting route criteria approved by Cabinet Highways Committee on 29 August 2014; and

(d)

the financial implications are noted and the expenditure is approved.

7.6

Reasons for Decision

7.6.1

The safety of residents within the city is of great importance to the Council.  Reports in December 2014 showed that the public were either not aware of the changes to the gritting network, or not driving in accordance with the prevailing conditions on those roads which were previously gritted.  Whilst the Council understands that there remains a risk of accidents on those roads that have been gritted, there is an increased risk on roads which have not received any gritting treatment.

7.6.2

The recommendations proposed meet the expectations of stakeholders for an extensive city wide winter maintenance service.

7.7

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

7.7.1

There were no alternative options presented in the report.