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.

Michael Carle ,Neighbourhood Services Area Manager provided the following information:-

All Highways Inspectors and maintenance crews continued to work Inspecting, fixing carriageway defects, making repairs, and making safe category one defects across the Southeast area.

Gully emptier was fully deployed dealing with reported issues and cyclic maintenance.

Larger Tarmac Patching had been carried out in the following locations;

• A189 Spine Road
• Forum Way, Cramlington (Cycleway/Footway)
• O/S Lakes & Dales, Avenue Road S/Delaval
• Millfield Court, Bedlington
• Brockwell Centre, Cramlington
• Double Row, New Hartley

Drainage Improvements:

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

• Additional Gully Tanker deployed
• Klondyke, Cramlington
• Forum Way, Cramlington (Cycleway/Footway)
• A192 Astley Road, S/Delaval

LTP - Carriageway Resurfacing

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

• Durham Road, Cramlington
• Horton Road, Cramlington

Micro/Surface Dressing

• The Crescent, Seghill
• Poplar Grove Estate, Bedlington
• Nedderton Village

Other Work

• Bedlington Bank (Safety Scheme)
• DVC’s (Section 184) - Large influx in work – NCC (Northumberland County Council) continue to deliver.

Winter Maintenance

·         Winter Services observation starts on the 1st of October 22.

·         Full Winter Services starts on the 31st of October 22.

Over the summer the team had worked with Vaisala Weather Station and Bureau provider to upgrade and add additional weather stations countywide and would also be deploying several embedded road sensors at microclimate locations. These will all be coming online over the next few weeks ahead of full deployment on the 31st of October.

More info will be given to LAC’s in Novembers Winter Resilience Report.

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

• The legalities of Enforcement would be looked at for the speed along High Pit Road and a highways consultation process for parking at Aged Miners Cottages.
• Shenstone had been in contact regarding the road at Dewley shops and an inspection would be carried out by officers.
• The ramp near the Hope Centre would be investigated.
• Dale Rumney, Principle Programme Officer would be contacted regarding the road at East Farm Terrace.
• Mr Carle would inspect the road at Dudley Lane.
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Tony Gribbin, Local Services Area Manager provided the following information:-

NEAT

• Grass cutting had been challenging due to the warm weather.
• Currently on cut 11 at Cramlington, 10 at Bedlington and 14 in Seaton valley.
• Street sweeping continued but would soon be diverted onto collecting leaves.
• Any areas of concern, members please get in touch.
• Winter works schedules being finalised and any suggestions would be welcome.
• Hedges cut in the winter programme, may also be cut back in the summer, if they became a safety issue. Bird nesting will be taken into account too.
• Weeds were a concern all across Northumberland, with 2 and 3 treatments per year.  A different approach was being looked at for next year.

Waste/Recycling

• There had been a few minor breakdowns and some staff shortages.  All machines were now working well.  The demand for bulky waste remained high.
• Domestic tonnages remained high.
• Kerbs/food waste trial had been delayed.  The trial would establish where it would be rolled out across the county.

Bereavement

• Cremations were back to normal numbers.
• One of the cremators was being re-lined.
•  

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

·           A site visit would be carried out to industrial estates.

·           Colleagues from the Trees and Woodlands Team would be contacted regarding the trees in the Holywell ward

·           A meeting with a community representative would be taking place in respect of the Muslim Cemetery in Bedlington

·           The issue with horse riders using green spaces would be taken up with the Greenspaces team.

·           The overgrown trees at Storey Street were on target to be done.

·           The stream at Barns Park would be investigated and requests to the Environment Agency had again been made to discuss this.

·           Mr Gribbin would provide members the date that collection of the brown bins would cease.

Members requested if the ramp at Sainsburys could be cleared of mud and flood areas in Seaton Delaval and Beacon Lane be looked into.

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.