Agenda item

LOCAL SERVICES ISSUES

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:

Tony Gribbin, Neighbourhood Services Area Manager gave the following updates: 

 

NEAT?? 

?? 

  • Winter works continue at a rate expected. 
  • Since the last LAC (in January), a mild winter period had been experienced with the exception being w/c 6th March? 
  • The Grounds staff continued to work a 28-hour week during the winter period, which ended this week, and they would revert to longer, summer hours from Monday coming.? 
  • Progress through scheduled work had been a challenge but ultimately successful.? 
  • Mr Gribbin to be alerted if members believed any requested work had not been completed.? 
  • Preparations had been finalised for the upcoming grass cutting season. All grass cutting equipment had either been serviced or was scheduled to be serviced.?
  • Grass cutting to start within the next 2 weeks depending on ground conditions?? 
  • No fundamental route changes? 
  • Seasonal grounds maintenance staff were being recruited for this year.?? 
  • Weed control activities will be undertaken in-house again this year.?? 
  • Blue dye?WOULD be used this year.? 

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?Street Cleansing

 

  • Business as usual 
  • Street sweeping was always affected by ground frost, the service had been suspended recently due to the winter weather event? 

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Waste 

Residual and recycling? 

 

  • Business as usual for waste collection services.?? 
  • Round Review - Work had been completed in readiness for deployment of the two new RCV’s. This is done to ensure they are deployed in the most efficient way possible.? 

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Garden waste collections had started?? 

 

  • Increasing housing/customer numbers had meant additional adjusting of rounds to accommodate the increase. (£49.50 for 20 collections)? 
  • Initial take up for the service was high, the scheme remained as popular as ever.?? 

 

Bereavement Services 

  • No issues at the Crematorium.? 
  • The Muslim burial area in Bedlington was now complete and ready.? 
  • The drainage on the roundabout, in Bedlington cemetery would have a new section of drainage attached to the field drain system. This would commence from Wednesday 22 March 2023. 

 

Members made the following comments: 

 

  • The team were thanked for their continued service 
  • Dirt was not being cleaned around the new Miller housing development in Bedlington. 
  • A request to clear leaves on the cycle path from Alexander Park and St Peter & Paul’s 
  • Flooding caused by leaves and mud in Cramlington 
  • Was there an update on the ownership of the fence 

 

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Russell Mason, Interim Area Highways Manager introduced himself and provided the following updates: 

 

  • 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.? 
  • NCC were one of the top performers in a national Excellence award in Highway and street lighting Maintenance by APSE (Association for public service excellence). 
  • The gully emptier was fully deployed dealing with reported issues and cyclic maintenance. 
  • Larger capital tarmac patching had been carried out in Elsdon Avenue, Seaton Delaval and Moorland Drive, Bedlington 

 

Drainage improvements 

 

  • Crookham Way, Cramlington, Front Street, Seghill, B1505 East Field, Cramlington, Stead Lane, Bedlington, Spring Vale, Sleekburn, Hester Gardens to The Avenue, New Hartley 

 

LTP – Carriageway Resurfacing 

The programme was completed for this year. Next year's Schemes had recently been approved in the following areas: 

  • East Farm Terrace, Cramlington. Complete.? 
  • Avenue head Roundabout (remedial Work) Complete? 
  • Beresford Road, Seaton Sluice (remedial Work)  

?Other Complete work

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  • A192 Large Signs Complete? 
  • Red Lion R/A, Bedlington - Safety Scheme (Upgrading barriers)? 
  • Seghill First School – Safety Scheme (Signs)? 
  • St Ronan’s Drive Seaton Sluice Traffic safety scheme. 

Upcoming work? 

  • Installation of parking bays Esmeralda Gardens, Hazlitt Place, Seghill 
  • Main Street Seghill – Installation of 2x pedestrian dropped kerbs (Andy Barbers) 
  • Signage Scheme – Stead Lane & Whitley memorial school Bedlington. (School safety scheme). 
  • Traffic Calming scheme Bristol Street New Hartley 

Cramlington Underpass Flooding

An upgraded pumping station had been approved and installation should commence next week. This would include a remote communications device that could report any flooding direct to the depot/officers. 

 

Members made the following comments/requests: 

 

  • Thanks were conveyed from residents to compliment Highways for the work which had been carried out on the drains and gullies on the B1505 to resolve flooding 
  • An incident had occurred at Atlee Park/Plessey Woods 
  • Parking to be looked at on the bend opposite The Church of Bedlington Christian Fellowship “Coffin church” due to parking outside an Eyelash extension shop. 
  • A transporter was parked on Choppington Road, Glebe Bank blocking the pedestrian walkway, could this be investigated. 
  • Officers were thanked for resurfacing part of Ellison Avenue, Holywell, however, the other side of the road was now in a bad condition. 
  • The team was thanked for their perseverance in repairing the underpass in Cramlington. 
  • An update was requested on re-surfacing of the entrance to CLV. 
  • Complaints had been received on worn road markings on Dudley Lane near Vue cinema and a refresh was requested. 
  • Could the town centre roadworks at Cramlington be reviewed and monitored. 

 

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