Agenda item

Bob Stock, Network Principal Engineer, Streetpride, to report.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by Bob Stock, Streetpride Principal Network Engineer, detailing the actions taken in response to early snow falls that occurred at the end of November and into December 2010.

Particular reference was made to:-

-          the amount of snow predicted compared to amount of snow that fell

-          the very low temperatures and loss of effectiveness of salt below -8^o C

-          difficulties staff had in getting to work

-          early December the service concentrated on the precautionary/priority routes i.e. public transport routes and working with South Yorkshire Police to clear the A57

-          the vehicle fleet:- number of vehicles operational; number of vehicles out of action/needing maintenance or repair

-          commencement of the in-season review

-          3 shift – 24/7 operation

-          30 teams deployed on hand clearance, salting and refilling salt bins across the borough and concentration on sites where there were known to be more vulnerable users

-          compaction of snow into thick ice requiring deployment of JCB’s with each of the salting vehicles

-          use and abuse of salt bins

-          salt stocks:-  mid-November:  during December;  current

-          amount of salt used

-          damage to the highway network estimated to be as bad as last year

-          LTP maintenance allowance

-          budget provision and anticipated funding gap

-          public expectations

Members raised and discussed the following:-

-          the volume of snowfall in the south of the Borough resulting in several areas being cut off for up to a week e.g. Kiveton, Treeton and Hooton Levitt.  The lack of any form of public transport in these areas;

-          how to organise responses to areas severely hit by snow;

-          ways to solve the problems associated with grit bins;

-          enlisting local farmers to use their equipment to help with snow clearance;

-          the need to communicate to residents advice around clearing snow safely from roads, driveways & pavements;

-          the need for clarity around public liability if residents clear snow from paths;

-          various communications/press issues;

-          the amount of resources required to keep every school, surgery, OAP complex clear etc and possible prioritisation in future years;

-          public expectations re:  clearance of side roads

-          difficulties in the deployment of snow ploughs due to road humps, parked and abandoned cars

-          efficient use of the highways budget and different ways of traffic calming;

-          better use of local knowledge and information sharing with the Police re:  diversions

-          delegation of activities/services outside of the Council e.g. to Parish and Town Councils;

-          legality of Parish Councils hiring JCB’S and utilising them on the highway;

-          where communities could help themselves more – “The Big Society” approach

-          co-ordination of the current highways maintenance programme - aligning resurfacing & routine maintenance work with specific repair issues such as potholes caused by extreme weather.

The Streetpride Principal Network Officer, together with the Director of Streetpride responded to the above:-

-          the difficulties in trying to keep all the roads open.

-          the amount of resources required to clear around schools, GP surgeries, OAP complexes.  It was confirmed that teams were sent to these locations.  It was acknowledged that in future the list of identified sites for clearance may need to be prioritised.

-          resources had been concentrated on keeping strategic routes open;

-          farmers did help clear the A57 and this would be looked at for future years.  The Emergency Planning and Public Rights of Way Teams will be contacted. Discussions were underway re: the development of a volunteer schedule, including how to manage it; ensuring vehicles were fit for purpose and legal on the highway etc.

-          in any 24 hour operation, vehicles would need maintenance and repair and were likely to be off the road at some point.  However, both services now operated out of the same depot.

-          DfT publicity material re: people snow clearing was made available and information was issued via the Council’s own press team.

-          a normal grit run would use 45 tonnes of salt depending on rate of spread or whether snow/ice were expected.

-          Parish Councils hiring JCB’s was entirely within their powers.

-          decisions of the bus operators to cease services.

-          different types of surfacing materials and areas reaching the end of life date and thus needing replacement.

David Barker, Internal Communications Officer, explained that the Communications Team had:-

-          issued a message to staff re: what to do in severe weather conditions

-          information was provided for the radio stations re:  schools closures and bus routes

-          information was placed via Twitter

-          press release re: clearing own pathways was issued

-          value of Rother FM

Resolved:-  That the contents of the report, and additional responses from officers to Members’ questions, be noted, and that the issues raised be examined as part of the proposed scrutiny review.