Agenda item

To consider details of gritting that will be carried out on Council land together with an update on issues raised in the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s ‘Gritting: a short , sharp review’.

(Report attached)

The Committee considered a report setting out the Council’s proposed approach to gritting and snow clearance during bad weather events.

Officers made it clear that the County Council was the authority with responsibility to carry out the majority of gritting and snow clearance within the Borough and the matters under consideration focussed upon measures to be undertaken on Council land and only in other areas of the Borough where the necessary resources were available.

The Leader of the Council expressed her concern that some of the original Overview and Scrutiny recommendations had not been addressed. Following the passing of correspondence received by the Leader from the County Council on to the relevant Redditch Borough Council Task and Finish Group there had been no further comment received by the Leader and an assumption made that matters were in hand. This misunderstanding aside, the Leader provided further feedback on the discussions that she and Officers had had with Members and Officers of the County. It was clear that the County would not entertain delegation of responsibility during adverse weather to the Borough Council. It was also noted that the County was investigating the use of snow-plough attachments which would allow for the removal of a greater depth of snow and ice. Significantly, there had been an acknowledgement that they had not performed as well as they would have hoped in clearing and gritting roads in Redditch last winter.

Members commented that there was some understanding locally that the Borough Council had performed well during the adverse weather and that shortcomings had generally been the result of County Council failings. There had clearly been a lack of recognition at the outset at the scale of the problems facing Redditch, with resources possibly being allocated on the basis of anticipated problems from previous episodes of severe weather.

The measures being considered for adoption locally by the Council were considered in some detail. Members were encouraged to let Officers know which roads they considered to be priority routes for gritting should the Council have the resources available in future winters to carry out gritting over and above that provided by the County Council. A list of priority sites was still being worked up by Officers and this additional information would assist in the process. Discussion ensued around the gritting of the Council’s sheltered housing schemes, with Officers highlighting the Council’s priority as being to enable access to the properties by Home Support workers. The provision of up to date information to local residents by the Council on where gritting had taken place and the state of the roads and pavements was suggested as a measure that could be undertaken using the Council’s website.

RECOMMENDED that

1)           the following policy be adopted with regard to gritting and snow clearance:

Redditch Borough Council will strive to keep the following areas clear of snow and ice and safe to use:

a)           crematorium and cemeteries to allow funerals to continue;

b)           Redditch Borough Council staff car parks to ensure that there are suitable parking areas for Council staff who are getting into work to provide essential services;

c)           key Council sites like the Town Hall and district centres to assist local shops and businesses and enable residents to access services;

d)           gritting/snow clearance at other areas including Council sheltered accommodation will only be carried out subject to available resources; gritting/snow clearance at Council owned sheltered accommodation will be to allow the home Support Service Access to residents;

and RESOLVED that

2)                 the Council will not provide grit bins on any highway land but may provide grit bins on its own land to enable gritting to take place – e.g. at leisure sites;

3)                 further publicity is undertaken to ensure that residents are aware of how the Council will deal with gritting/snow clearance and what to do when bad weather affects their waste collection service;

4)                 Officers purchase appropriate snow clearance and gritting equipment from within existing budgets; and

5)         relevant Officers from Redditch Borough Council arrange a meeting with relevant Officers from Worcestershire County Council in advance of winter 2011/12 to discuss additional issues raised in the Gritting Short, Sharp Review Group’s final report and arrangements for gritting and snow clearance in Redditch for the winter.