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:
· Grass cutting had finished for the year with leaf clearance hot spots being prioritised by both grounds maintenance and cleansing staff. The team were also responding to reported areas of concern as soon as possible as they were a safety issue to prevent them becoming a trip hazard when wet.
· The areas around the war memorials had been tidied the previous week prior to the Remembrance Day services.
· The winter cut back of shrubs and hedges was underway.
· Some of the Grounds and Cleansing team were part of the winter services rota with other staff assisting with footpath gritting when required.
· Waste collection services were currently running well and fully staffed after problems experienced earlier in the year with a shortage of HGV drivers.
· There were 3 weeks remaining of the garden waste collection service. Refuse collections would be a day late in the weeks commencing 26th December and 2nd January, due to the bank holidays. Existing rounds continued to be reviewed with houses being built and additional take up of the garden waste collection service with collections in some areas now being passed to depots in the southeast.
· The interval between collections for the glass recycling trial was to be extended to 6 weeks after the collection in January, as capacity in the bins and vehicles identified that this was feasible and would significantly reduce costs. A text alert service was available to receive reminders about collection dates if householders subscribed. Participation rates and yields would be closely monitored and returned to 4-weekly if negatively impacted.
It was agreed that clarification would be obtained after the meeting regarding charges for the disposal of rubble at Household Waste Recovery Centres.
Technical Services:
· Highway inspections were up to date in the Tynedale area with 5,997 actionable defects recorded over the last 3 months and 96.4% repaired in accordance with the policy.
· The main slurry sealing work had been completed before the temperature had dropped and preparatory work had commencing ahead of the 2023 season.
· The gulley tanker was continuing its routine cleansing programme with the dedicated drainage gang and JCB renewing gully pots, cross drains and ditching in known problem areas.
· A number of LTP surfacing works had been completed and it was anticipated that the U & C investment projects in the west would be completed before the end of the financial year.
· Carriageway permanent repairs refurbishment / patching had been undertaken at 5 locations out of the areas budget allocation where there were concerns regarding the extent of deterioration.
· A number of safety schemes and other works had also been completed.
· An update on the County wide winter services arrangements had been circulated electronically with no change to service standards or the winter maintenance policy since the previous year. The same roads would be treated within the specified timescales by 105 members of staff with assistance from colleagues in Neighbourhood Services and farmers. The 3-shift rota had commenced on 31 October. Grit bins and heaps were replenished throughout the season.
· All requests and issues regarding winter services during snow and ice events were to be directed via the Contact Centre on 0345 600 6400. During out of hours periods calls were transferred to the Fire and Rescue Control Room who would contact relevant members of staff on duty at that time.
The following information was provided in response to issues raised by Members:
· Weather stations including road sensors had been upgraded during 2022.
· Some dry test runs with the gritters had taken place in the last few weeks as part of the winter preparations. A query regarding unexpected use of the gritters would be investigated on provision of the date, time and route.
· Grit heaps would be located next to main junctions on the A68.
RESOLVED that the updates be noted.