Decision details

Streets Ahead - Changes to the Winter Maintenance Service

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Decision:

8.1

The Executive Director, Place submitted a report seeking approval to change the way in which the winter service is delivered across the City under the Streets Ahead contract following a recently undertaken review.

 

 

8.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet Highways Committee agrees to:-

 

 

 

(a)

retain the Winter Service Priority 1 gritting routes as previously established and any future changes would be due to changes in the status of particular roads in the City;

 

 

 

 

(b)

the criteria for Priority 2 gritting routes as being:

 

(i) The road forms part of a SYPTE bus route; or

(ii) The road has a main entrance to a School, Doctor’s Surgery, Pharmacy, Care Home, Residential Children’s Home or other critical public facilities; or

(iii) The road carries over 3000 cars per day and has a significant gradient (in excess of 10% (i.e. 1:10)); or

(iv) The road constitutes a Western access route for traffic travelling to Manchester Road avoiding causing congestion to other arterial routes;

 

 

 

 

(c)

The criteria for Priority 2 gritting routes being applied to the City’s road network to establish a new Priority 2 gritting network;

 

 

 

 

(d)

the precautionary gritting routes are regularly reviewed by officers against the approved criteria as there will certainly be further changes in the future for example as bus routes are updated;

 

 

 

 

(e)

the criteria for grit bin locations as being:

 

Assessment

 

Grit bin is situated:

1 point for each criteria met

On a road that has a drainage problem

 

On a road that has a steep gradient of 1 in 10 (10%)

 

On a bad bend that has a radius of less than 50 metres

 

On a junction

 

On a road that has a main entrance to sheltered housing

 

On a road that has a main entrance to a school

 

In an isolated area

 

Near traffic signals (within 20m)

 

Near a roundabout (within 20m)

 

 

 

 

 

(f)

the application of the criteria to the City’s grit bin locations using a minimum score of 1 for the retention of a grit bin. Grit bins having a score of 0 will be removed

 

It should be noted that the proposal also stated that regardless of the score achieved:

·         If a road is included in the Priority 1 or Priority 2 precautionary gritting routes then that location is unlikely to be considered for a grit bin; and

·         If the potential grit bin location is within 200 metres of an existing grit bin, that location will not be considered for another grit bin;

 

 

 

 

(g)

the application of the grit bin criteria for future additional grit bin requests using a threshold of a minimum of 2 points and only if future reviews of grit bin usage identifies grit bins that are not used elsewhere for relocation; and

 

 

 

 

(h)

the snow warden scheme be continued without seeking future recruits.

 

 

 

8.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

8.3.1

The recommended changes will introduce clear justifiable criteria for the provision of the winter service including precautionary gritting and grit bins and deliver contract savings to aid the Council to meet its budget as approved by Full Council in March 2014.

 

 

8.3.2

The refinements made to the proposed precautionary gritting routes following the analysis of the consultation feedback ensure that the Council is complying with its legal obligations.

 

 

8.3.3

The implementation of the proposed changes will realise a project saving of approximately £100,000 per annum which will contribute to the Council’s budget savings throughout the life of the Streets Ahead project.

 

The City will still have a significant, robust and effective winter service.

 

 

8.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

8.4.1

Details of the alternative options for changing the winter service are outlined in Appendix L to the report. It should be noted that other additional savings ideas are also being pursued within the Streets Ahead contract.

 

 

8.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

 

 

 

None

 

 

8.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

 

 

 

None

 

 

8.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

 

 

 

Simon Green, Executive Director, Place

 

 

8.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

 

 

 

Economic and Environmental Wellbeing

 

Publication date: 02/09/2014

Date of decision: 29/08/2014

Decided at meeting: 29/08/2014 - Cabinet Highways Committee

Effective from: 09/09/2014

Accompanying Documents: