Agenda item

(To receive a pre-decision scrutiny report by Joe Phillips, Policy and Strategic Asset Manager, in connection with proposed amendments to the existing Winter Service Plan. This decision is due to be considered by the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and I.T between 16 September 2019 and 27 September 2019. The views of the Scrutiny Committee will be reported to the Executive Councillor as part of his consideration of this item)

Consideration was given to a report in connection with proposed amendments to the existing Highways Winter Maintenance Plan.

Officers stated that a decision was due to be considered by the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT between 16 September and 27 September 2019. The views of the Committee would be reported to the Executive Councillor as part of his consideration of this item.

Members' comments and questions were as follows:-

·         What was the reason for the road temperature reduction from 1°C to 0.5°C and was this based on the long-term weather prediction or due to the use of treated brown rock salt? Officers stated that the use of treated brown rock salt was preferred because it adhered to the road better and was more economical compared to the use of white salt. The change in road surface temperature was in line with the National Winter Service Research Group and the quality of the Council's improved forecasting gave confidence in the move to this temperature.

·         The public should be informed that they would not be prosecuted if they kept the footpath outside of their property clear of snow and ice. Officers stated that they would publish the "Useful Tips" guide in the County News and on the various websites to advise the public on this matter.

·         The Plan stated that the Council had a minimum of 25k tonnes of salt at the start of the winter season and kept a minimum of 15k tonnes of salt available at any time across the county throughout the season. Two different sorts of salt were used, i.e. brown treated out of six depots and pre-wetted salt out of two depots. As the Council needed a minimum of each type of salt in stock at any one time the Council should state the split. In the following winter 2020/21 it would not matter because the Council would be using brown treated salt out of all the depots. Officers stated that they were reducing their stock of white salt and 15k tonnes minimum of the brown treated salt would be available.

·         It was noted that requests to fill grit bins was required from "responsible bodies". Last year requests to fill grit bins by the public were responded to by the Council but there was no reference to this in the Plan. Officers stated that this might have been caused by an increase in requests.

·         Urban areas did not have Parish Councils to act as the "responsible body" and a member stated that in his electoral Division in the City of Lincoln he was not aware of any grit bins. Officers explained the criteria for the distribution of the Council's grit bins. The member agreed to investigate the matter further in his area and respond to officers. Officers agreed to provide details of grit bins in the member's area, agreed to circulate the criteria used to maintain grit bins and to send "The Useful Tips" guide to Parish Councils and other interested parties.

·         An enquiry was made about those Parish Councils that had bought their own grit bins. The Executive Councillor stated that there was no problem in the maintenance of County Council bins but the cost of maintaining Parish Council owned grit bins required the Council and Parish Council to have an agreement on the matter because of the cost involved.

·         Had officers consulted with the team responsible for Community Resilience Plan? Officers stated that they needed to be more proactive in this area and would liaise with the Emergency Planning Officer.

·Officers stated that the figure of 73 fewer runs (individual routes not turnouts) was in regard to the amount of runs potentially reduced by route based forecasting based on last Winter (as an approximate) – if we wished to state the difference in turnouts between last Winter and the previous "more severe" Winter the figure would be 64.

RESOLVED

That the recommendations to the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT in connection with the Winter Service Plan 2019 be supported subject to the following comments of the Committee being sent to him:-

(a)  Parish Councils should be provided with details of the procedure for the supply of salt.

(b)  The public and other interested bodies should be informed of the procedure for the clearance of snow and ice from footpaths outside of their property.