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:
The Neighbourhood Services Area Manager and Highways Delivery Area Manager were in attendance to provide verbal updates about any key recent, ongoing and/or future planned Local Services work and to respond to issues raised by members.
Neighbourhood Services
Tony Gribbin, Neighbourhood Services Manager, stated that it had been a long and challenging year, with front-line staff out working across the entire Christmas period.
Delivering the following services:
• Bereavement Services
• Refuse collections
• Public convenience increased cleaning
• Emptying litter bins
• Street cleansing to ensure streets remained clean and tidy
• Continuing other winter works programme
• Winter maintenance
Since the lockdown on 23 March 2020, social distancing restrictions had been implemented with teams adapting to revised working practices to ensure they continued to deliver the high profile services across all the LAC areas. Embracing challenges in an extremely professional way. He acknowledged the efforts of front-line teams and the back office staff, during what continued to be one the most difficult and challenging periods ever faced.
Bereavement Services
The teams in both the crematorium and cemetery staff had worked magnificently. There had been an initial surge in services at the beginning of the lockdown, but thankfully, service numbers had returned to what was expected at this time of year. Monitoring took place on a daily basis to ensure that staff were available to provide services for families.
Waste Service update
Refuse collection service had worked very well over the Christmas period. There had been some unfavourable weather conditions but minimal missed bins in this area. A good communication strategy ensured that substitute collection days were successful. Refuse staff collected around 1530 tonnes of residual waste and 230 tonnes of recycling waste on the collections after the Christmas and New Year period, a 15% increase of residual (household) waste and 25% increase of recycling compared with the previous period last year.
Grounds Maintenance
Regular winter works were well under way and requests made by members would be addressed. Members were requested to submit any further winter work requests (e.g. hedges and shrub maintenance) for assessment. These would be added to the schedule, if appropriate, and carried out if there were available resources subject to any new COVID restrictions.
Street Cleansing
Leaf clearance routes were now completed with a return to regular sweeping schedules. These had been suspended for a few days due to the snow and ice. Other cleansing activities were ongoing as usual.
Additional information
Free Tree Scheme – during December, free trees were given out to residents at 11 locations across the county. Ultimately, the aim was to give away 15,000 trees and were on target to achieve this in January, but as a result of the current national lockdown this was being reviewed.
Mr Gribbin noted the following concerns and agreed to look at them or forward them to the relevant officer as appropriate:
Councillor Flux passed on thanks from a resident in relation to the Free tree scheme.
• The system for the changing of bins to larger ones. The comment would be picked up however, there was an electronic system for requesting a new bin or larger bin.
• Recycling of glass – the recycling trial was still in place and it was important to know what the take up would be. If this went ahead, there would have to be investment in additional refuse collection vehicles. Details of the timescale and roll out could be forwarded.
• Residents being omitted from the Free Tree Scheme. Mr Gribbin asked for the details to be emailed to him and he would pass to the relevant officer.
• Mr Gribbin was aware of the water drainage problem at Westlea Cemetery, and Aimrange would be going out to look at the problem. Once he had further information, he would feed this back.
• The increase in traffic and traffic management in popular coastal areas, eg Seaton Sluice. Mr O’ Farrell advised that this was being monitored and extra signage being used to dissuade people to travel. The Council was in discussion with the Police and messages were being sent through the Council’s website. Officers would work with the Ward Councillor regarding this.
• Service absence - Robust business continuity plans were in place and reviewed by the Business Interruption Management Team (BIMT) which met on a weekly basis to discuss all services and risks.
• Cllr Dunbar wanted to formally thank all members of the front-line teams for their work generally and particularly during the pandemic.
• Cllr Hepple, also formally thanked the teams for their work during this time too.
Technical Services
Michael Carle, Highways Delivery Area Manager, provided and update on maintenance:
Work had been carried out at the following locations:
Tarmac Patching and Resurfacing
• Thornhill Close – Seaton Delaval
• Millfield West –Bedlington
• Sudbury Way – Cramlington
• Humford Way – Bedlington
• Furnace Bank – Bedlington
• Cramlington Village – NCC have completed a six-week prep and resurfacing scheme.
• Moorland Way – Cramlington
Drainage Improvements:
Drainage works had been completed at the following locations:
• A192 Fire Station Roundabout – NCC have installed a new field drain to catch the water run-off from the central reservation. This was a problem area for a while and is now fixed
• Rothesay Terrace –Bedlington
• Beacon Lane –Cramlington
Hedge to hedge work has now been completed at the following locations:
• A1068 Cramlington
• Furnace Bank – Bedlington
• East Cramlington to Wheatfields Roundabout
Other works
NCC were currently working on a new safety scheme at Shankhouse Roundabout Cramlington, most of the work is now completed with just the road markings to install.
Upcoming Tarmac Patching
• Links Road – Seaton Sluice
• Netherton Road – Bedlington
• Avenue Road – Seaton Delaval
• Nelson Avenue – Cramlington
• Hester Gardens – New Hartley
• Linden Road – Seaton Delaval
• Dudley Lane – Cramlington
• Cramlington Cycle Tracks
Upcoming Flags to flex
• Harwood Close – Cramlington
• Dundsale Road – Seaton Delaval
• Hareside – Cramlington
• Porchester Drive – Cramlington
Winter Services Update
There had been a very mixed winter so far with predominantly marginal temperatures across the county, including a small amount of larger temperature dips. A mixture of precautionary gritting runs from high route runs to full runs had been carried out. The end of October 2020, to the beginning of December 2020 had been fairly quiet with just precautionary runs taking place. Since the start of December until 9 January 2021, there were three small weather events, predominantly 150-200ft in the higher ground. The events involved increased gritting runs and ploughing as well as the involvement of Winter Services Farmers and Sub Contractor framework to support the snow clearing efforts. In Allendale the snow blower had been required to clear some of the smaller road. As of 08:00 hours on 11 January, the following had been carried out:
• 49 full gritting runs involving all 28 front line gritters
• 6 additional reduced runs including all routes defined as west of the A1 (where the level above sea increases out of Zone 1 (Coastal)). This still included 22 front line gritters
• 10 additional high route tuns on routes over 800 ft
• Secondary routes had been treated on numerous occasions when the conditions persisted for prolonged periods into the day (snow/ice persisting into the day past 10:00 am) or in advance of expected snow/ice
Excluding the three smaller snow events 10,000 tonnes had been used on the gritting network. An additional 1,500 tonnes had been used on snow events etc. Since then, there had been another weather event which required all farming support out west of the A1. Gritters were also redeployed from coastal routes inland to support the ongoing cleaning efforts. Salt levels were being checked for a refill in early February 2021.
Mr Carle noted the following concerns and agreed to look at them or forward them to the relevant officer as appropriate:
• Grit bins on new estates – if roads were not adopted, gritting would be carried out if possible. There was an online request form but there was already a number of bins in the Cramlington area supplied by Cramlington Town Council, but the situation was always being reviewed.
• Road surface at Carisbrooke, Bedlington. Mr Carle would ask the relevant officer to inspect.
• The price of additional grit bins. Councillor Robinson to email Mr Carle and this would be looked at.
• The speed limit at the roundabout at Broadoaks development - Mr Carle would report to the relevant officer who would be in touch.
• Potholes on estate roads – the inspection regime was higher on main roads and any information on potholes on estate roads were welcomed. This could also be reported on the Council’s website.
• Missed works on Acombe Avenue, Seaton Delaval – this would be checked, and the relevant officer would respond.
• Major works by utility companies – this would be inspected by a Street Works team who liaise directly with the utility company and would replace on a like for like basis. This would be looked into and an answer provided.
• Inspection of footpaths – these tend to be inspected whilst carrying out carriageway check. Details to be forwarded and the relevant officer would inspect.
Thanks were conveyed to Mr Gribbin and Mr Carle and their teams for their quick responses to requests, this was echoed by the Chair who requested that the thanks be conveyed to Neighbourhood Services and Highways teams and also for the recent work carried out at Shankhouse roundabout.