Agenda item

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting on 15 February 2018.

(a)       That the minutes be approved and signed by the Chairman as an accurate record; and 

(b)       That the Committee’s concerns at recurring pot holes and damage to road surfaces because of utilities ‘ dropped iron works be sent to the Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee for consideration as part of their work programme.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 February 2018 were submitted.

Matters arising:

Minute number 66 -   Councillor Paul Cunningham referred to discussion which had taken place around the Flintshire bridge inspection and asked if there was any progress to report.  The Chief Executive responded that the Council was in discussion with the Welsh Government and the outcome would be reported back to the Committee when known. 

Councillor Arnold Woolley commented on the issue of potholes in roads and asked if information could be provided on the total cost of repairs in Flintshire.  He asked if the funding from Welsh Government (WG) to support local highway improvements would be sufficient to cover the cost or whether there was a ‘gap’ that the Authority would need to fund.  The Chief Executive advised that some of this work was funded by the Council as routine maintenance, with the road conditions post-winter  being assessed by the Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) and his team, and that work was being prioritised to address the most urgent repairs.  He also referred to the ‘one off’ funding of £1.472m the Authority had received from the WG to support local highway improvements. 

The Leader referred to ongoing work through the WLGA and reported that Flintshire, along with other authorities, had made a bid to the WG for extra funding for winter weather road damage. He said that details of the Flintshire bid (of  £200k or more) would be circulated in due course.

Councillor Woolley referred to the request by Councillor Paul Johnson to ask if any additional funding could be sought from the WG to repair rural roads damaged by diverted traffic as a result of work along the A55.  The Chief Executive explained that this was part of ongoing discussions around the future of the Flintshire bridge with the WG, and that the outcome would be reported back in due course.

Councillor Woolley referred to the proposal by Councillor Richard Jones that the Committee receive a report outlining the effects of the capital expenditure (new schemes for approval) and asked when this would be made available to the Committee. The Democratic Services Manager said that this would be for the April meeting.

Councillor Hilary McGuill expressed concern around the need for repeat repairs to road surfaces due to the same pot holes recurring.  She questioned whether this could be due to the materials used or whether the work undertaken was not to the standard required.  Members commented on the repair work undertaken by contactors on behalf of utility companies and asked if the work was inspected on completion.  The Chief Executive acknowledged the points made and said that this was a matter for further consideration by the Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Richard Jones reiterated the concerns expressed by Councillor McGuill and said that repairs should last longer than a few weeks. 

Councillor Dave Hughes congratulated the Streetscene team on the work undertaken to repair pot holes particularly as a result of current adverse weather conditions and said in some cases an urgent repair was carried out until a permanent repair could be done. 

Minute No.68 – Councillor Richard Jones said he had not yet received a response to his request for clarification on the comparative figures for agency worker spend and non-school turnover from the previous year. The Democratic Services Manager commented that this information would be included in the next quarterly report.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the minutes be approved and signed by the Chairman as an accurate record; and 

(b)       That the Committee’s concerns at recurring pot holes and damage to road surfaces because of utilities ‘ dropped iron works be sent to the Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee for consideration as part of their work programme.