Agenda item

(a)       That the report be noted;

(b)       That a full review of the Winter Maintenance service be undertaken after the 2013-14 winter season;

(c)        That the legal advice on the lack of personal liability for persons clearing snow be revisited and circulated to Members of the Committee for information; 

(d)       That a letter be sent to Town and Community Councils to ask for confirmation that all salt bins are still in situ; and

(e)       That the Director of Environment and all staff involved in winter maintenance be thanked for their hard work and achievements. 

The Director of Environment introduced a report to advise Members on the extent of winter maintenance operations over the 2011-12 winter season and the performance of the Council’s new Winter Maintenance policy during the period. 

The Director reported that in comparison to previous years the 2011/12 season had been relatively mild and there were only two minor snow events, however, the number of gritting turnouts for ice prevention had been 65.  Due to the relatively mild conditions there had been no difficulties in obtaining rocksalt and the strategic stocks held in the County by the Council and Welsh Government were not required and would be stored for future use.  He advised that the Service had made a £245K saving on the winter budget last year which would be held in a special contingency fund for future winter maintenance.   The Director reported on the areas of Service which had been subjected to the Policy review and the actions taken during the 2011-12 winter period.

The Chair expressed his appreciation on behalf of the Committee to the Director of Environment and all his team for the hard work, progress, and achievements gained in Service delivery.  

Councillor C.J. Dolphin commented on the Tan y Felin road in Greenfield and asked if this could be designated as a Priority 2 route.  He also referred to the distribution of bags of salt to local residents last winter and asked when this would be provided again.   The Streetscene Business and Strategy Manager responded to the matters raised and explained that distribution of salt bags would resume at the end of September 2012. 

Councillor P.J. Curtis commented on the matter of personal liability for individuals clearing snow.  The Director of Environment referred to the legal advice previously given and explained that persons would not be held liable if they treated a road.  He suggested that the issue be revisited and legal advice recirculated to Members of the Committee for information.

In response to a query raised by Councillor G. Hardcastle concerning salt bins the Streetscene Business and Strategy Manager advised that all salt bins were regularly inspected.  It was suggested and agreed that a letter be sent to Town and Community Councils to ask for confirmation that all salt bins were still in situ.   In answer to a further query raised by Councillor Hardcastle about the provision of sandbags to prevent flooding, Officers advised that there was a proactive response by the Service to deliver sandbags to areas liable to flooding.              

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the report be noted;

(b)       That a full review of the Winter Maintenance service be undertaken after the 2013-14 winter season;

(c)        That the legal advice on the lack of personal liability for persons clearing snow be revisited and circulated to Members of the Committee for information; 

(d)       That a letter be sent to Town and Community Councils to ask for confirmation that all salt bins are still in situ; and

(e)       That the Director of Environment and all staff involved in winter maintenance be thanked for their hard work and achievements.