Neighbourhood
Services
Paul Lowes, Neighbourhood
Services Area Manager provided the following updates:-
Grounds Maintenance
- Winter works were
drawing to a close.
- A mild winter had
helped teams recover some ground lost to storms and were on target
to complete all scheduled winter works tasks.
- Teams continued to
work a 28 hour week during the winter period. Progress through scheduled work had been a
challenge but ultimately successful.
- He requested members
contacted him if they believed any requested work had not been
completed.
- Grass cutting would
be starting soon and preparation had been made
- All grass cutting
equipment had either been serviced or was scheduled to be
serviced.
- Interviews had been
carried out for seasonal grounds maintenance positions for this
year and working through the recruitment process.
- Weed control
activities would be undertaken in-house again this year
- Blue dye would be
used for weed killing this year and it had been well received
pre-pandemic.
Street Cleansing
- It was anticipated
that the increase in footfall experienced last year (due to the
pandemic, staycation) would reduce this year, which should ease
pressure on cleansing teams.
Waste
- Residual and
recycling
- Business as usual for
waste collection services
- Elevated tonnages
from households were still being received following the pandemic
due to people working from home
- Due to the rate of
housing growth in recent years, the waste service will see
additional investment this year of 2 additional RCVs and
crew
- Work was underway to
evaluate existing demands on the service and plan routes to ensure
these resources were deployed in the most efficient way
possible
- Garden waste
collection had started
- Increased housing and
customer numbers had means additional tweaking of rounds had been
required to accommodate the increase
- Initial take up for
the service was high, the scheme remains as popular as
ever
Additional
Information
- The glass trial had
been extended by 12 months.
Presentation rates and yields remained encouraging in most
areas.
- A food waste
collection trial was currently being planned and members would be
provided with more information on the trial when plans were
finalised.
In response to members’
comments, the following information was provided:-
- Extra contractors had
been helping the Tree teams to help with storm damage.
- A meeting and site
visit would be arranged with residents to hopefully resolve the
situation of residents having to wheel their bins to the end of
their lane.
- There had been no
problems with recruitment.
- It was hoped to run
food waste collections in line with the glass waste
collections.
- Mr Lowes would report
back on the issues at Choppington Woods.
- Additional cuts to
parishes were given the opportunity to have early cuts, there
should be no reduction to cuts during the season.
- Arrangements would be
made to clean the cycle path between Lynemouth and
Woodhorn.
- The Tree Officer was
aware of the problem with the tree referred to. Neighbourhood Services and the Trees and Woodlands
Team would have to work together to try and solve the
problem.
- Concerns with
fly-tipping were shared and the team would do their
best
- A report could be
provided on the number of parish councils taking up the additional
cuts.
- The Glass Trial
related to Government Plans and needed to be line with national
legislation. Further information would
be brought back to the committee.
Highways
Mr King provided an update on
progress with the delivery of Highways works:-
- Teams were currently
undertaking Cat 1 works while they continued with the catch the
catch up from recent storms
- Routine inspections
were ongoing, however, there was a slight backlog
- Reactive third party
requests continued to rise higher than any other area
- Backlog of works
continues to be reduced; introduction of 2 hotboxes with a reported
4800 competed within the last 3 month period
- A major scheme at
Goosehill was moving
forward. Issues with contaminated waste
and drainage which had now been resolved.
All LTP works had been
completed for this year, save for North Road, Ponteland and work
had been completed in minor patching.
Gully maintenance
- New routes had been
identified and it was proposed to introduce these from February,
this would provide backup data for frequency.
- New vehicles were
arriving with a proposed roll out for April, training required for
operatives before vehicle roll out.
Drainage works
- A large amount of
drainage works had been identified and a programme of works had
been issued and ongoing. Works were
still being identified from storm damage with a number of areas
requiring clearing of debris which was the main cause of
blockages. Works were currently being
programmed for post April start date with all works communicated
prior to start date.
In response to members’
comments, the following information was provided:-
- It was expected that
the car park at Goosehill would be
completed at the end of Autumn, the land contamination had delayed
the completion date
- The issue regarding
HGVs using the road from Berwick Hill towards Kirkley was a matter
for the police
- The comment regarding
wagons travelling through Ponteland would be taken up with the
Traffic and Road Safety Team.
- Thanks were conveyed
to the Highways Team for the refresh of road markings in
Lynemouth
- Councillor Wearmouth
would seek clarification regarding the draft LTP query. (Democratic Services to remind).
- A date would be
provided for the traffic calming measures at Ellington.
- 4800 potholes had
been completed in just over 3 months.
The Officers were thanked for
their updates.