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.

Tony Gribbin, Local Services Area Manager provided the following information:- 

 

Waste Service 

 

• Residual, Recycling and bulky waste collection services continued to perform well. 
• Garden waste service was also performing well but could be challenging on occasion. 

• There were 9900 customers at present. 

 

Grass Cutting 

 

• Now on cut 10 in Seaton Valley, cut 7 in Bedlington and cut 7 in Cramlington. 

• Grass cutting had proved to be a challenge for teams in the early part of the year. 

• Several days had been lost to rain in the early part of the season followed by warm and hot weather. 
• 5 bank holidays in the early part of this cutting season added to the challenge imposed by the rain. 
• This typically presented two challenges, the first being to complete  cutting rounds efficiently to avoid having long (and seemingly unmanaged) grass on view. 
• The second was the inevitable grass arisings left following cuts of grass which could be longer than usual. 

• Conditions had stabilised. 

 

Weed Control 

 

• Service was being delivered in house again this year. 

• The second round of treatments had commenced across the areas 
• Councillors would be emailed when their areas had been completed. 
• Blue dye was being used again this year. 
• A spare ride on mower machine had been secured which had weed ripping brushes fitted to it, a useful option for instant removal of weeds should the need arise.  

 

Glass Trial 

 

This was ongoing in the [Morpeth/Alnwick/Bedlington/Hexham] areas with approximately 134 tonnes in the Bedlington area. 

 

 In Bloom or Green Flag 

 

• Green Flag inspections had been carried out in Dr Pit Park, Gallagher Park, Astley Park, Alexandra Park 
• Results of the inspections were being awaited. 

 

In response to member questions, the following information was provided:- 

·       Mr Gribbin would check if Southfield Lea had been treated for weeds 

• Staff were deployed as and when for the mechanical sweeper.  There had been staff off sick due to Covid. 
• Mayfield Cemetery – Mr Gribbin would follow this up 
• A backpack would be used by the team to spray any weeds around parked cars 

• The recycling scheme was being assessed to see how successful it was 
• The issues in relation to the condition of the pavement on the B1505 and the sign post at the junction of High Pit Road would be chased up 
• The Countryside Teams would be contacted in relation to the issues at Gallagher Park 
• Mr Gribbin to come back about Green Flag status at Plessey Woods 
• Teams would WhatsApp before and after weed ripping 

• The routes for blue dye were dependent on parked cars  
• There had been no response regarding the Barns Park Scheme. 

 

Mick 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; 

 

• Main Access Road, East Hartford, Cramlington. 
• Needham Place, Cramlington 

• Nairn Road, Cramlington 
• Chesterhill, Cramlington 
• Astley Road, S/Delaval 
• St. Michaels Avenue, New Hartley 
• Church Lane, Bedlington 

• Millfield, Bedlington 

 

          Drainage Improvements: 

 

The area teams were continuously looking and programming future planned works both patching and drainage improvements. 

 

 Additional Gully Tanker deployed. 

 

• A190 Seghill – Aquajet Investigations 
• St. Michaels Avenue, New Hartley 

• Main Access Road, East Hartford 

           

LTP - Carriageway Resurfacing 

 

LTP Carriageway Resurfacing schemes were being programmed and all affected members would be notified in advance. 

 

• Rowen Close, Bedlington (Prep) 

 

          Micro/Surface Dressing 

 

• The Crescent, Seghill (Prep) 

 

          Other Work 

 

• Northern Line – A192 Astley Road, Seaton Delaval (Temporary access agreed and complete) 

• DVC’s (Section 184) - Large influx in work – NCC continued to deliver. 

 

          Winter Maintenance 

 

          Depots were being restocked with road salt across all 11 depots countywide. 

          Cowley Road Depot was fully restocked to 4250 tonnes. 

 

In response to member questions, the following information was provided:- 

 

• Traffic calming measures for Gallagher Park could be added as a priority into the LTP 

• Neil Snowdon to look into and provide an update for the scheme at Cragside School which had previously been Councillor Hepple’s MLIS scheme and would also investigate the traffic strips at Hazelmere, Bedlington 
• The request for disabled bays at Astley Road should be emailed to Highways generic email box 
• There was still no response from the landlord for the Dewley Road shops, Cramlington.  Mr Carle would contact Paul Lowes to see if he could provide any information. 
• Letters/emails had been sent out to County Councillors and Parish and Town Councils regarding the LTP 
• Alternative bollards were being considered for the missing ones outside Cramlington Village club 

 

Members thanked the officers for their attendance and the work of their teams in responding to members’ requests. 

 

RESOLVED that the information be noted and issues set out in the bullet points above be followed up.