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:
Bereavement Services
• Both crematorium and cemeteries in the South East operating well
• Grass cutting and weed treatments had commenced. Bank holidays and
weather had affected the ongoing programmes.
Waste Service
? Residual and Recycling waste collection services continued to perform well
and there were very few issues following the bank holiday catch ups
recently.
? In the final stages of completing a detailed review of all kerbside collection
rounds – in response to ever increasing housing stock numbers. More
information on this would follow when the work was completed.
? Demand for the bulky waste service remained high but performance was
good, this service was constantly monitored and booking slots adjusted
accordingly.
? Garden waste service was up and running and also performing well.
Grass Cutting
? Required number of seasonal staff were appointed and cutting started late
March/early April.
? Cut 2 just finished and moving onto cut 3 in Bedlington and Cramlington
and on cut 4 in Seaton Valley.
? Grass cutting season started in March but there were a few interruptions in
the form of wet weather and the usual bank holidays, which made the gap
between the cuts a little longer than targeted for, but teams were recovering
well. Additional shifts had been added into the schedule and also the
teams had worked longer on days when the weather had been good and
allowed extended operations.
? The very wet start had been challenging for the teams, but would push to
recover during May (despite the extra bank holidays)
? Work was attempted to commence at the end of March, but the weather
and ground conditions were too wet.
? The beginning of April also saw very wet conditions as well and Easter was
early, so teams lost potential operational days to bank holidays in April too.
Coupled with the bank holidays hadn’t helped this aspect of the service. In
the first 10 operational days, 4 days were 4 days (40%) of the operational
capacity.
Weed Control
? Spraying had commenced in all main areas and would continue to do so. Due
to a vehicle being off the road in Seaton Valley, the programme had been
completed. A member of staff was now deployed into other areas to support
those treatments. This support would be reciprocated by other areas
deploying sweeping machines.
? Some wider area spraying or ripping had been undertaken.
? Regulated blue dye was also being used in devices.
Street Cleansing
• Scheduled works continued to operate. There had been a couple of
mechanical issues in Seaton Valley, but were working with other areas to
support that service as they supported other programmed works.
• Increased footfall, over the summer, particularly on the coastal areas, would
result in increased resources being deployed there. This would come as and
when necessary and was also, to some extent, weather dependent
Members made the following comments/requests:
• If certain areas of grass were left long for a purpose
• Leaves on paths and roads along the B1326, from Aldi
• Long grass around the bottom of trees and lampposts that the grass cutter
had missed or not strimmed at Eastfield Glade
• Grass cutting was required in the back lanes of Astley Road, Blyth Street,
and Manners Gardens.
• Areas in Seaton Valley required edging and tidying around seats.
• A request was made to circulate to members, areas that would not be cut
• Streets in Cramlington/Seaton Valley and Blyth had not been cleaned.
• Who was responsible for emptying the glass recycling at Northburn – Mr
Gribbin advised that this was Kevin Baston, Recycling Officer
• A request for regular gully cleaning in flood areas at Park Road, Elsdon
Road and Harrington Drive, Mr Mavin advised that cleans would become
more frequent.
• The Team was thanked for resolving the waste issue at a property
• How to manage overgrown ivy?
• Strimming was required at CLV.
In response to the comments regarding some areas not being cleaned, Mr Gribbin explained that some streets in Cramlington/Seaton Valley and Blyth had not been cleaned as there was no large mechanical sweeper. Members requested that Mr Gribbin inform them of what was needed so a request could be put forward in order to provide efficiencies.
Simon Mavin, Construction Manager gave 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.?
• The gully emptier was fully deployed dealing with reported issues and cyclic
maintenance.
Larger tarmac patching had been carried out in the following locations:
• Ringwood Drive, Cramlington
• Atley Way, Cramlington
• Dudley Lane, Cramlington outside learning village
• Front Street West, Bedlington
• Front Street East, Bedlington
• Hall Close, Cramlington cycleway
Drainage improvements
• Astley Road, Seaton Delaval.
The area teams continued looking and programming future planned works both patching and drainage improvements.
Micro surfacing prep
• Trevelyan Avenue , Bedlington
LTP Carriageway resurfacing
LTP carriageway resurfacing schemes had been carried out in the following locations – Spine Road, Three Horseshoes to Bebside – trial completed by WJ, captive shotblasting and road markings
Completed and Upcoming work
• Ongoing safety scheme on Bristol Street, New Hartley – kerb build outs and
installation of speed humps.
• Burnside, Cramlington 20 mph scheme, starting in June
• Drainage investigation – A190 Seghill
• Milbank Road – patching
• St Michaels Avenue – footpath patching
• Micro surfacing prep – Chesterhill
• Civils prep and re surfacing – A1172 Cramlington
Members made the following comments/requests:
• An update be provided on Double Row, Seaton Delaval - this was part of a
new scheme, details would be shared
• Gullies on the B1505, Mayfield and Shankhouse, raw edge not tarmacked
causing blockage.
• A response had not been received from Highways following a report of mud
slipping from a footpath causing narrowing. Mr Mavin would chase this up as
part of the LTP resurfacing.
• Foot/cycle path at Brockwell needs to be checked for a trip hazard
• Blockages of gullies close to St John’s Church, Cramlington and Windermere and Windburgh Drive, Cramlington
• Thanks were conveyed for repairing footpath at Elsdon Avenue but could the
tarmac at the top of the street be checked
• Sinkhole at bus stop on High Pit Road – this had been put on hold until
August/September.
• No footpath at the hospital roundabout adjacent to Beech Avenue.
• Thanks were conveyed to Russell Mason for the work done at Ridge Terrace, Bedlington
• Damage to fence at the entrance at CLV. Mr Mavin would contact the Senior
Team Leader regarding this.
RESOLVED that the information be noted and issues set out in the bullet points.
in members’ comments be followed up