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LOCAL SERVICES
ISSUES
Tony Gribbin, Local Services
Area Manager provided the following updates:-
Waste
Service
- Residual and
Recycling waste collection services continued to perform
well.
- Demand for the bulky
waste service remained high
- Garden waste service
is up and running and is also performing well. There was now
a total of 10,000 plus customers in the south
east
- Domestic bin
collection teams would be out on Thursday 2nd June to
prevent any disruption to services /public.
Grass
Cutting
- Now on cut 3 in
Cramlington / 4 in Seaton Valley and 4
Bedlington.
- The start to grass
cutting season saw a few interruptions in the form of wet weather
and bank holidays, this made the gap between some cuts a little
longer, however the team was working to recover this and if
necessary, have sanctioned overtime to cover lost
days.
- Still confident of
achieving the target cuts in each area
Weed
Control
- Weed treatments had
commenced in areas in the LAC, with obstacles in Seaton Valley well
underway and many in Cramlington still to do, as areas are
completed, Councillors would be advised.
- A small mechanical
sweeper had been deployed in Bedlington for weed
treatment
Bereavement
Services
- Running as
expected
- Service demands had
reduced
- Muslim burial ground
nearing completion in Bedlington Cemetery and area being
prepared
In response to questions from
Members of the Committee, the following information was
provided:-
- Mr Gribbin would
investigate the early bin collection which some residents had
missed in Bedlington and would report back.
- Complaints about
grass cutting in Westlea cemetery – two different teams were
deployed to undertake grass cutting in the cemeteries, the same
team were required to prepare graves and cover staff in the
crematorium. Meetings had been carried out to help
speed up the process. He was aware of some of the issues in
the cemeteries and was actively working with
colleagues.
- Blue dye was being
carried out for weed killing
- Weed killing was
being carried out in the Cramlington estates but was dependent on
staff resources and deployment to prioritised services. Mr
Gribbin would speak to the team. A number of small domestic
strimmers had been purchased which
should be able to be used around lamp
posts.
- Mr Gribbin noted the
comments regarding grass cutting on banks and Ringwood Drive,
Cramlington
- There was a limited
street cleansing team in Cramlington, and a pedestrian cutter had
to be borrowed from another area. If members identified any
areas, please inform the team.
- Mr Gribbin was not
aware of any green fly-tipping in Holywell Dene
- The edging programme
was a winter programme, specific areas should be passed to Mr
Gribbin
- The sweeper was a
shared resource between Bedlington and Ashington; Cramlington
borrowed the sweeper from Seaton Valley
- The number of cuts in
Cramlington was every 14 days, following the removal of partnership
between Cramlington Town Council and NCC. Some new staff were
not up to speed with using some of the machinery. Mechanical
issues and challenges getting replacement parts and new vehicles
impacted on the service.
- A number of teams
were deployed to carry out arterial and estate routes. New
software made it easier to identify parcels of grass and it was
hoped that this would address any issues.
- Councillor Dunbar
conveyed praise from a resident in Eastfield Glade and asked if
thanks could be passed on to the operative
- Mr Gribbin noted the
comments regarding weeds around Klondyke, Mayfield Glade and Beaconhill Grange. The grass cutting
mechanism was weather dependent.
- Spraying weeds did
not kill them instantly, the weed rip was instant and most
effective. A new machine was purchased last year with a
permanent weed rip.
(Councillor Flux left the
meeting at 5:58 pm).
(Councillor Chicken left the
meeting at 6:00 pm)
M Carle, Lead Highways Delivery
Manager provided an update to the Committee:-
- All Highways
Inspectors and maintenance crews continued to work inspecting,
fixing carriageway defects, making repairs, and making safe
category one defects across the South East
area.
- The gully emptier was
fully deployed dealing with reported issues and cyclic
maintenance.
Larger Tarmac Patching
has been carried out in the following
locations;
- Carriageway and
footway Work were being programmed to start in the coming weeks and
all affected members would be notified in
advance.
Drainage
Improvements:
The area teams were
continuously looking and programming future planned works both
patching and drainage improvements.
- Prospect Avenue,
Seaton Delaval (Investigation work complete)
- A189 Spine
Road
- St. Michaels Avenue
(Drainage investigations – Improvement work to start in
coming weeks) the relevant member will be
notified.
LTP - Carriageway
Resurfacing
LTP Carriageway Resurfacing
schemes were being programmed and all affected members would be
notified in advance.
Micro/Surface
Dressing
- Dene View,
Bedlington
- Nedderton Village,
Bedlington
Signage/Safety
Schemes
- Furnace Bank,
Bedlington
- New Hartley School
Signs
- A189 Spine Road
(Storm Arwen Damage)
Winter
Maintenance
Winter Services 2021/22 was now
complete. Forecast observations ended at the end of April
22.
All the gritting fleet that did
not have a dual function would be prepped ready for Winter Services
22/23.
Observation of the forecasts
would commence again on 1st October 2022 with full
winter services commencing in full across the county on the 31st of
October 2022 for Winter Services 22/23 season.
Members were informed that Alan
Taylor had recently retired, and Peter Davidson had taken over his
role.
In response to member questions
the following information was provided:-
- A notification would
be forwarded to all Bedlington Councillors regarding the date for
the interactive speed signs.
- The street lighting
at High Pit Road would be raised with Gavin
Barlow.
- An ad-hoc inspection
would be carried out regarding the potholes near the Burton House
pub.
- The parking issue at
Alex Scott cars would be revisited and the issue regarding
Brechany cars would be passed on to
Integrated Transport.
- Officers would liaise
with Highways regarding the road at Park View, Seaton
Delaval.
- Thanks were conveyed
for the repair of the roundabout at Fountain Head, but this had now
sprung a leak.
- Mr Carle would
contact Russell Mason regarding the tarmacking referred to by
Councillor Robinson
- Officers would
continue to try to contact Shenstone regarding the carpark behind
Dewley shops.
Members thanked the officers
for their attendance and the work of their teams in responding to
the Members requests.
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