Agenda item

LOCAL SERVICES ISSUES

To receive a verbal update from the Area Managers from Technical Services and Neighbourhood Services in attendance about any key recent, ongoing and/or future planned Local Services work for the attention of members of the Local Area Council, who will also then have the opportunity to raise issues with the Area Managers.

 

The Area Managers have principal responsibility for highway services and environmental services, such as refuse collection, street cleansing and grounds maintenance, within the geographic boundaries of the Local Area Council.

Minutes:

Members received the following updates and explanation of the impact of Covid-19 on front line services from the Area Managers from Neighbourhood Services and Technical Services:

 

Technical Services:

 

·        Additional resources had been put in place to make repairs to the network following winter damage.  Inspections and maintenance repairs were up to date and being undertaken in a timely manner.

·        Ditching, road widening and replacement road signs were being carried out in the rural area and recently around Sandhoe.

·        9 of 28 Local Transport Plan schemes had been completed to date with the remainder expected to be carried out within the year.

·        14,500 m2 of permanent patching repairs had been undertaken since April.

·        187,000 km of road surface dressing at 14 sites around Tynedale had been carried out using a lock chip sealing method to prolong the life of surface dressing.

·        Members Local Improvement Schemes were being programmed in.

·        Microsurfacing had commenced in the South East area the previous week and would be moving to the Tynedale area in the next few months. Councillors would be notified ahead of any work.

·        The Tynedale Highways team had performed exceptionally well during the pandemic and winter period.

 

The following issues were discussed:

 

·        Improved communications were to be issued regarding preparatory work which could be undertaken during the winter period and final stages which were weather dependent processes.

·        The cutting of grass on road verges had been done to a very good standard this year with improved sight lines and more clearance around signage and corners etc.  The team were thanked for the excellent work.

·        Verge to verge work continued and on the rural network could include hedges on highway verge.  If the land was private, hedges were the responsibility of adjacent landowners.  Notification letters requesting work be undertaken were issued by the Highways Team.  2 letters were issued prior to work being undertaken and the landowner recharged.  It was noted that this work could only be done during a certain window due to birds nesting and it was queried whether the period could be shortened.  Overgrown hedges led to safety concerns and complaints regarding broken mirrors on large vehicles which were expensive to replace.

·        Implementation of 20 mph speed limits were to be rolled out as a priority during the current year.

 

Updates on issues raised during the meeting would be obtained for Councillors Cessford (Hencotes), Stewart (20 mph speed limit on Castlefields Drive), Hutchinson (20 mph speed limit at Herdley Bank School and flashing 20 mph signs at Whitfield School).

 

Neighbourhood Services:

 

·        Collections of residual and recycling waste were going well; tonnages of garden waste fluctuated massively in periods of rapid growth with some additional return trips required the following day.

·        An additional 300 customers had signed up to the garden waste service in the Tynedale area in 2021/22 compared with the previous year (7,300 customers now in total).  There was one route which covered the main settlements but not all areas were serviced due to capacity.  The route was reviewed every year and decisions made regarding return, tonnage, mileage etc.

·        The kerbside glass collection trial continued at 1,000 properties in Hexham East which was 1 of 5 areas participating.  200 tonnes of glass had been collected to date.  The scheme had received mainly positive comments from participants who had responded to a recent survey.  A report containing more details of the survey and trial results would be considered in the next few months.

·        Demand for the bulky waste collection service was currently very high and additional resource had been put into the service to meet it.

·        Cutting of grass in amenity areas was currently at 6 or 7 cuts and on track to achieve the 10-13 cuts during the growing season.

·        Weed control had started late in June due to cold weather during May.  Contractors were also undertaking the work in addition to local services employees.  First applications should be complete within the next few weeks.  A range of alternative methods to glyphosate were being trialed across the county at certain locations with results to be analysed.

·        Grass cutting of roadside verges had commenced and was expected to be complete by the end of July.

·        Safety tests of memorials in church yards and cemeteries had been completed with the 5-year time frame and it was hoped that a 4-year cycle could be introduced through efficiencies.

 

Responses to issues raised by Councillors included:

 

·        Weed control was being used without dye during the pandemic due to concerns from members of the public.

·        Increasing numbers of members of the public appreciated wildflowers being allowed to grow along roadside verges and changes to the grass cutting cycle to accommodate requests was appreciated.  Requests were to be made to the Area Manager in the first instance.  Logistically it was not as efficient as it required return trips but were accommodated unless there was an issue for pedestrian safety or narrowing of carriageways.

·        They did not have equipment which was able to remove grass arisings although this was a better technique to emulate meadow management.

·        Overgrown vegetation around streetlights and signs should be noted during highways inspections with expert advice being sought from the Tree and Woodlands Officer.  A new officer, Michael Armer, had been appointed to the Tynedale area although requests should also be copied into Leon Savage, Team Leader.

 

RESOLVED that the updates be noted.