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 from the Area Managers from Neighbourhood Services and Technical Services:
Neighbourhood Services:
· The service had continued to experience severe staffing challenges in respect of HGV drivers, but with the assistance from colleagues in Highways and other depots, the service had continued with only a few missed collections which emptied on subsequent days. Recruitment was progressing.
· There were 7,200 garden waste customers in the west which was proving challenging when there were large tonnages collected.
· Amenity grass cutting had been impacted by staff assisting with refuse collections however these had been caught up via overtime. 4/5 cuts had been carried out to date with the service on target for 10-13 cuts during the season.
· Weed control was being delivered by a combination of a local contractor and grounds staff. The service was 3-4 weeks behind schedule due to the number of windy days which had prevented weed killer from being applied. Most areas had received a first application. Members were asked to forward any locations which needed another visit.
· Verge cutting was on target for completion by the end of July. Local farmers were engaged to assist with 6.8 million m2 of grass verge in the county. Areas would be visited promptly if there were any concerns regarding regrowth at visibility splays. Any safety issues should be reported.
· 105 tonnes of glass had been collected from properties in the Hexham participating in the kerbside glass collection trial. In total 299 tonnes had been collected from across the 4 trial areas between November 2020 to October 2021 and 204 tonnes from November 2021 to date.
· They had worked in conjunction with Town and Parish Councils to ensure that In Bloom and Green Flag routes were well maintained and presented well before judging took place.
Responses to issues raised by Councillors included:
· A food waste trial was scheduled to commence in the Morpeth area in September to gather information on participation and collection amounts prior to it becoming a mandatory service. A hot box composting bin trial would also be commencing in some rural and sparsely populated areas where it would not be technically, economically or environmentally practical to provide a weekly collection.
· The locations of areas of concern regarding the cutting of grass verges should be emailed to the officer to investigate whether there had been regrowth, or the location missed. Verges in the most rural areas were last in the programme and may not yet have been visited.
· Further information on the food waste trial was available in a report considered by the Communities & Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 29 June 2022.
· A report on the alternative methods of weed control was being prepared by the Head of Neighbourhood Services and Neighbourhood Services Divisional Manager. The alternative methods had generally been more expensive and less effective with several more visits being required.
· Vandalism at the bandstand at the Sele had been identified as a priority for the police and community safety colleagues. The damage was being repaired and benches would be replaced when suitable alternatives were sourced.
· An external contractor was responsible for the cutting of the hay meadow at Hexham Middle School.
Technical Services:
· Reactive maintenance following statutory highway inspections and reports from third parties were up to date in the Tynedale area. 98% of actionable defects were repaired in line with the Council’s policy. 3,943 actionable defects had been recorded between April and May 2022.
· Work on footways had commenced in Kielder with work also programmed in a number of other locations.
· The gulley tanker continued its routine cleansing programme with a dedicated drainage gang renewing gully pots, cross drains and ditching.
· Discussions were being held by the Construction Manager and Street Works to address concerns of residents regarding the surfacing and pavement works to be carried out during the school summer holiday period in the vicinity of the High School.
· Work at 13 sites was being programmed in to improve U and C roads under the LTP Programme. Provisional dates would be shared with members although were weather dependent.
· Surface dressing work at 9 of 12 sites had been completed within the Tynedale area. This amounted to nearly 135,000m2.
· Local safety scheme work was also being carried out at a number of areas including replacement signs and road markings, bollards and tactile repairs.
· Salt supplies were being restocked ahead of the winter period with 28,000 tonnes of salt having been delivered to take the Council to its maximum capacity of 70,000 tonnes. Gritters had been out ‘dusting’ the roads during recent spells of hot weather.
The following issues were discussed:
· The Council was unable to undertake work at a specified location if a permit for a road closure had been issued to a utility company. Discussions would be held with Street Works regarding delays for NCC work in Riding Mill.
· A damaged / missing roundabout sign on the A68 had been reordered and would be followed up.
· Councillors were invited to arrange a site visit if they wished to discuss issues within their wards.
· Road markings would be renewed around taxi bays in Hexham to deter use by other vehicles at school drop off and pick up times.
It was reported that Hexham Town Council had identified a 20mph speed limit across the town an LTP priority as the current system was confusing. This had been raised with officers.
Several members expressed their gratitude to the officers and their teams for swift response to issues reported.
RESOLVED that the updates be noted.