Agenda item

7.1

The Community Assembly received a presentation from Steve Robinson, (Head of Highway Maintenance, City Council) and Graeme Symonds (Network Director, Amey Construction) on the Streets Ahead Project, the programme of works to be undertaken under the Highways Private Finance Initiative (PFI).  Anita Dell (Communications Officer) also attended for this item.

7.2

Steve Robinson reported on the highway works to be undertaken under the Project, which included trees (planting and maintenance), traffic signals, footpaths, roads names, lamp posts, kerbs, street furniture (benches, grit bins and litter bins) and road surfaces.  He also referred to those elements of work which would not be undertaken under the Project, which included traffic management and regulation, the M1 motorway, the Tinsley Viaduct and Stocksbridge Bypass, works on unadopted roads, works to private structures such as Network Rail bridges, the making of any decisions on highway improvement schemes and any grounds maintenance of public realm land.

7.3

Graeme Symonds referred to the challenge of delivering the project whilst minimising congestion. In outlining details of the Project, he made the following points:

·          The model was based on a zonal approach with the City divided into 108 zones. The works would be completed in a zone before moving onto another zone.

·          The works in each zone would be delivered in a sequence. (e.g. lighting columns, tree replacement, resurface footway/carriageway, drainage, gullies/level manholes, lay new tarmac etc)

·          Once the project had been completed, there would no further work undertaken for 12/15 years except for any necessary maintenance.

·          700 people would be employed with 400 transferred from Street Force.

·          The first zone would be in Shiregreen and involve completing the road surfacing arising from the Sanctuary Housing project. A roadshow would be held at the Shiregreen Neighbourhood Centre on 25 July 2012 from 4-8 pm. The plans would be on display and there would be an opportunity to ask questions.

7.4

Public Questions

7.4.1

Steve Robinson and Graeme Symonds responded to public questions as follows

(a)

The Project would start from mid-August 2012 to 2017.

(b)

Amey would ensure that grit bins were full and would be working with Community Assemblies on the location of additional bins.

(c)

The preference was not to use grass verges to provide a hardstanding for car parking as it could add to flooding problems.

(d)

The works proposed for Shiregreen in the first zone were for resurfacing. The street lighting would be undertaken later in the programme.

(e)

When a street was being treated it would be closed for safety reasons. However, as the work was done fairly quickly, residents may only be unable to exit their properties for approximately 30 minutes. Arrangements would be made for residents needing to use their vehicles for hospital appointments etc.

(f)

The Project would allow the utility companies to be informed in advance when Amey would be working in a particular area. The utility companies would be required to undertake any work before Amey began their work. Once an area had been treated, the utility companies could not do any work in that area for 5 years but would still be able to carry out emergency repairs or make new connections.

(g)

Amey would be responsible for emptying gullies. They would also be replacing 6000 gullies.

(h)

The same standard of work would apply across the City.

(i)

There would be public meetings in each area before work started.

(j)

Some pavements may be replaced by a tarmac footway and this would give a smoother texture.

(k)

The intention was to retain any heritage or conservation interest in a street e.g. an old street nameplate.

(l)

The Council would welcome the offer to work with Cycle Sheffield.

(m)

There would be consultation on the replacement of highway trees through the roadshows and other means of contact. Residents would be given a list of trees to choose from. The intention was to replace about 18,000 of the 36,000 trees over a 25 year period on a street by street basis. Amey would be responsible for tree maintenance.

(n)

The provision of dog fouling bins was outside the scope of the contract and was an Environmental Health service.

(o)

Grass would be kept to a certain height under the contract.

7.5

In response to questions from Members of the Assembly, officers indicated that:

(i)

In terms of the new street lighting, Sheffield would have the first full LED illuminated highway. This would provide greater clarity, 11% less lighting columns were required and there would be a 40% saving in electricity.

(ii)

The cable television companies had received details of the 5 year programme of works.

(iii)

Each Community Assembly had a Steward to ensure that each area was fully informed. Any service requests during the works should be made through the Customer First call centre (0114 273 4567 or streetsahead@sheffield.gov.uk).

(iv)

Amey were committed to employing Sheffield people and the vast majority of the 700 staff would be from the City. Apprentice roadshows had been held and there would be 27 new apprenticeships every two year.

7.6

RESOLVED: That the Community Assembly:-

(A)

notes the information reported as part of the presentation on the Streets Ahead Project, together with the responses to the questions raised; and

(B)

thanks Steve Robinson and Graeme Symonds for the presentation now made.