Agenda item

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.

 

R. Welleans, Neighbourhood Services Area Manager, gave an overview of recent work carried out: 

 

Ashington and Blyth Neighbourhood Services Operational Update:? 

NEAT?? 

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Winter works continue at a rate we expect.?? 

Since the last Local Area Council, we have experienced a mild winter period.?? 

This has helped our teams recover some ground we lost to storm Arwen.?? 

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• Continued to work a 28-hour week during the winter period this ended on the 25^th of March when all Grounds staff revert to a 43.75-hour week to take advantage of the lighter evenings from the 28^th of March. 
• Progress through scheduled work had been a challenge but successful.? 
• We were continuing work to complete scheduled winter works tasks.? 
• Please alert me at your earliest convenience if you believe any requested work had not been completed.? 

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We have finalised preparations for the upcoming grass cutting season. All grass cutting equipment has either been serviced or is scheduled to be serviced.?? 

• Grass cutting was started in most areas and will continue depending on ground conditions?? 
• The Routes had been reviewed and agreed with Teams in all areas.? 

• Seasonal grounds maintenance positions for this year were in the process of been filled with all seasonal staff in place within Stakeford Depot and recruitment ongoing for Blyth NEAT (Neighbourhood Environment Action Teams) with 2 vacancies to fill, there was a low application rate this year and we were finding it difficult to engage seasonal workers in some positions but were going to use the Councils Staff bank to fill any vacant positions to ensure all staff were in place to start the season well.? 

Weed control activities will be undertaken in-house again this year.?? 

• The blue dye would be used?this year as it was well received pre-pandemic.? 

?Street Cleansing? 

• Business as usual.?? 

• We anticipated that the increase in footfall experienced last year (due to the pandemic – staycation) will reduce this year, this should ease pressure on our cleansing teams.? 
• Newbiggin: Cleansing routes ongoing within the area and in addition the Town Council have agreed to renew the partnership this year for 2 additional Seasonal operatives to carry out a variety of duties determined by the Town Council. The work on Newbiggin Beach to install a deterrent for windblown sand has been completed and we will be scheduling a clean-up of the sand within the Promenade area.? 
• Cambois and Sleekburn areas: cleansing routes were being followed; The Mechanical Sweeper was scheduled for the area week commencing the 21^st of March.? 
• A litter-pick and cleanse will be scheduled for Brock Lane, I will speak with SUEZ about vehicles leaving without securing there sheeting systems to prevent litter coming off the wagons when leaving the transfer station.? 
• Ashington: We have agreed new Zones with ATC with all areas now cleansed on a set day, we will be monitoring progress and monitor all areas with our Total Mobile LEQ inspections.? 

• Maple and Chestnut bin compounds, we continue to monitor the compounds as we have issues with fly tipping daily, the Rapid Response team are there twice daily at times to keep them to an acceptable standard, the other issues around the bulk bins are contamination of the recycling bins, we are having to service these most of the time as general waste on their weekly collections.? 
• Enquiries had been made about installing CCTV within Maple and Chestnut to deter fly tipping and will update councillors when further information is available.? 
• Blyth: All cleansing teams are active within the area and continue to work well with BTC.? 
• Inspections carried out by Blyth Town Councils officers in association with NCC (Northumberland County Council) officers.? 
• Overnight Cleansing of the A189 spine road is scheduled to start on the 2^nd of April for 5 consecutive weekends.? 

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WASTE? 

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Residual and recycling? 

• Business as usual for waste collection services. We are still seeing elevated tonnages due to covid – we put this down to many people now working from home and generating waste there, rather than at their workplace.? 

• Due to the rate of housing growth in recent years the waste service will see additional investment this year, we will receive 2 additional RCV’s and crew.?? 
• Work is underway to evaluate existing demands on the service and plan routes to ensure they are deployed in the most efficient way possible.? 

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Garden waste collections have started?? 

• Increasing housing/customer numbers have meant additional tweaking of rounds has been required to accommodate the increase?with 12 collection days over the 2 weeks now taken place.? 

• Initial take up for the service is high, the scheme remains as popular as ever.???? 

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Additional info? 

Glass trial – has been extended by 12 months, presentation rates and yields remain encouraging in most areas.?? 

A food waste collection trial is currently being planned. A special collection vehicle is required which we must hire in for the duration of the trial. Members will be provided with more information on the trial when plans are finalised.? 

 

The following comments were made in response to Member’s questions: 

 

• Members welcomed the weed programme and thanked Officers for the standard of grass cutting. Officers confirmed that a new type of blade on the grass cutters left a better finish as it mulched the grass. 
• It was acknowledged that there were some issues in the Blyth area with grass cutting and tree debris from recent storms. The Tree Officer had been informed and was due to send an update soon. Members asked if the Tree Officer could also look at potential hazardous trees near school sites and give information regarding tree stumps left behind. 

• Members asked if there could be a more enforcement around fly-tipping, littering and dog fouling and to be seen publicly addressing the issue. 
•  Officers confirmed the communal bins had made a positive change and the streets were much improved. 
• Officers confirmed that information shared regarding the cleaning programme that was shared with Town Councils could also be shared with County Councillors to ensure they were aware of what was happening in their divisions. 
• Officers assured Members that if there were any vehicle breakdowns (gullycleaners etc) that the Senior Team Leader would inform Members. 
• Members asked if a maintenance programme for Paths and Cycleways can be stepped up as some of the cycleways were in poor condition. The Officers confirmed they would look into this. 

• Members enquired whether a road sweeper could have been deployed at St John’s Church to help tidy up the debris. Officers confirmed they would look into this. 

 

R. McCartney, Infrastructure Manager, gave the following overview:- 

 

All Highways Inspectors and maintenance crews continue to work Inspecting, fixing carriageway defects, making repairs and making safe category one defects across the South East area.??? 

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Gully emptier is fully deployed dealing with reported issues and cyclic maintenance. An additional gully emptier is also working in the Ashington/Blyth area on cyclic maintenance.?? 

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Larger Tarmac Patching?? 

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?Larger Tarmac Patching has been carried out in the following locations:?? 

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• Links Road, Blyth?? 
• Wensleydale Terrace, Blyth?? 

• Garden City Villas, Ashington?? 
• A189 Woodhorn R/A?? 
• Woodlea, Newbiggin?? 
• St Andrews Terrace, Ashington?? 
• Coronation Street, Blyth?? 

• Station Road Junc Institute Road, Ashington?? 
• Station Road, Ashington (Bus Layby)?? 
• Willow Crescent, Blyth?? 
• Ford Drive, Blyth?? 
• Tynedale Drive, Blyth?? 

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Drainage Improvements:?? 

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Drainage Improvements have been carried out in the following areas:?? 

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• Black Close Bank, Ashington?? 
• A189 Spine Road?? 

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LTP - Carriageway Resurfacing?? 

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Footway and Carriageway LTP Resurfacing have been carried out the following areas:?? 

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• Newsham Road, Blyth (Finished Surface NCC1)?? 
• Norham Road, Ashington (Finished Surface NCC1)?? 

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Regeneration Scheme?? 

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• Bowes Street, Blyth – Started Monday 10/01/22 (48 Weeks)?? 
• Waterloo Road, Blyth?? 

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Winter Maintenance?? 

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Winter Services continue.??? 

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We continue to have an average winter so far in both snow and precautionary gritting.?? 

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A small restock of salt across the county has been completed. This will ensure we have sufficient resilience levels for the remainder of the winter period.??? 

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This includes a 5000 Tonne strategic store located in Powburn.?? 

  

The following comments were made in response to Members questions:- 

 

• Members asked for an update on a report being carried out to identify problematic Gullies. 
• Members raised concerns regarding gullies in John Street. The problem had been reported numerous times, but it was thought that it may have needed more than just gully cleaners to sort the problem. Officers noted this. 
• It was noted that grit bins had been topped up, as mentioned in the report, however in some cases the grit had been placed on top of old, unusable grit. Members asked that in future the grit bins are emptied before topping them up. 

• Members asked if a survey could take place on the drainage opposite the White Elephant beside the Post Office as it often flooded. 
• Officers noted that Members would like clarification on what determines a pothole and the criteria for when a pothole needs repairing. Members asked if the Service could be more proactive rather than reactive but also acknowledged the little funding they had been provided with. 
• Officers confirmed the scheme of work regarding line painting was like most other programmes and relied on updating the areas that were most in need.