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 and explanation of the impact of Covid-19 on front line services from the Area Managers from Neighbourhood Services and Technical Services:
Neighbourhood Services:
· Severe bad weather w/c 8 February had resulted in widespread disruption to refuse collections, street cleansing and grounds maintenance. He apologised for the delays as many properties had to wait until the next fortnightly recycling collection. He was pleased to report that there had been no injuries, damage to vehicles or property.
· NEAT operatives, working their shorter winter hours (28 hours per week) had been required to assist with town centre gritting.
· Final preparation was taking place for grass cutting which was due to start in the next couple of weeks, dependent on ground conditions.
· Weed control activities were due to start in May without use of blue dye. A trial of glyphosate alternatives was to be undertaken during the year.
· A programme of work was being developed for clearance of litter on rural A roads which required traffic management.
· Enhanced cleaning of public conveniences and additional emptying of litter bins was being programmed with increased footfall expected to continue with staycations due to the pandemic.
· Use of road sweepers had ceased during the adverse winter weather as they were not effective when the ground was frozen, however, the routes had recommenced.
· Tony Mousley had been appointed to the post of Waste Senior Team Leader.
· Extra collections of the 1100 litre bins at the glass recycling sites continued to be required.
· Garden waste collections had commenced with the yearly charge remaining at £43.00. Routes had been revised to accommodate an increased in demand for the service.
· Presentation rates and yields remained encouraging during the glass collection trial. A report summarising the effectiveness of the scheme was to be considered in July.
Issues raised by Councillors included:
· Additional weekend collections were required of waste bins at Tyne Green. Bins at this location were to be included in the extra collections during the spring and summer. Officers were also looking at the possibility of removing the flaps on waste bins with lids, as the bins were often not full, but dog waste bags had been left on the ground. It was believed individuals were reluctant to touch the handles to lift the lids during the pandemic.
· The bad weather refuse collection updates had been extremely helpful and shared with residents.
· Review of public toilet facilities. It was understood that capital funding was proposed to upgrade and refurbish some public toilet facilities. Cleansing had been increased to 3 visits per day.
· The recruitment process was underway to fill the vacant Trees and Woodland Officer post. Members commented on the helpfulness of the previous post holder. Queries could be sent to the Trees and Woodland Team Leader.
Technical Services:
· The first 2 weeks in February had been particularly challenging for staff due the prolonged period of freezing temperatures, ice, snow and 10-foot drifts in some areas of Tynedale.
· During this 2-week period, there had been 31 planned applications / treatments on the network, as well as revisits and additional routes. This amounted to 4,160 hours of gritting on the network and application of 11,872 tonnes of salt. All major routes had remained open with the exception of a section of the A68 for a few hours on 14 February.
· Unfortunately, the prolonged period of freezing temperatures and subsequent thaw had led to a deterioration of the surface of the road network which was, worse than anticipated. Extra highways inspections and resource has been brought into the area to undertake repairs as fast as possible with staff working additional hours to reduce the backlog of repairs.
· Hedge to hedge works continued with clearing of ditches and widening of roads; 100 signs were to be replaced around the Sandhoe and Sill areas.
· The LTP Programme was behind schedule due to the period of bad weather, but staff were working weekends to catch up and complete the programme before the end of the financial year. 47 of 51 schemes had been completed to date.
· 186,432 m2 of permanent road surfacing had been completed in the locality.
· Areas had been identified for surface dressing with work due to commence in May / June. 500,000 m2 was due to be completed across the road network in 2021/22.
· Notification of dates for members’ schemes work would be issued in next few weeks.
The Local Services Area Managers expressed their appreciation to staff and contractors for the long hours worked in the recent period of adverse weather.
Councillor Quinn left the meeting.
Issues raised by Councillors included:
· Concerns regarding the surface of roads on the network and longevity of repairs. Temporary repairs had been made quickly in some areas to make the road safe, although it was likely that 2 jobs were recorded in the Mayrise system, with a separate order for a permanent repair at a later date. Additional equipment had been hired due to the volume of work outstanding on A and B class roads.
· Grit bins would continue to be replenished in the next few weeks.
· The importance of drainage works. The gulley wagon timetable had been halted whilst drivers had been required for winter services work. The programme had resumed and an additional vehicle hired to assist with the work for the next couple of months. Letter drops were used to remove vehicles from areas, when required.
· Temporary repairs were required on Alndale Road.
· Volume of water on road surface next to Bristol Street Motors remained a concern. Work had been undertaken to replace the gulley and the volume of detritus was suspected as a contributing factor. The issue would be reviewed with a view to increasing the frequency of drain clearance.
· Traffic management plans be shared with Councillors, in advance of work. where possible. It was noted that many rural roads had not been constructed for the size of vehicles now in use.
Many of the members expressed their gratitude to the staff and contractors for the work that had been undertaken in difficult conditions and for the prompt response to requests.
Updates on issues raised during the meeting would be obtained for Councillors Stewart, Gibson, Sharp, Riddle and Cessford.
RESOLVED that the updates be noted.