Issue - meetings

RESOLVED:

1.         That the policy changes, policy amendment and savings recommendation summarised in paragraph 17 of the report be approved.

2.         the Environment and Infrastructure Select Committee recommendations as detailed within paragraph 14 of the report be noted.

Reason for Decisions:

To enable savings of £340,000 from the Winter Service Budget identified in the Medium Term Financial Plan to be realised.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Environment and Infrastructure Select Committee]

Mr Stephen Cooksey was given the opportunity to speak to this item as a Member previously involved with the task group under the previous council.  He made the following statements:

·         Policy change 2 was rejected by the task group as it was thought that one mini gritter was not enough for the whole county.

·         If the grit bins were not surveyed how would it be known if they were being used or needed refilling.

·         Policy change 4 should be reviewed after one year to see if it was working.

·         That saving recommendation 3 should be removed unless local committees could change officer recommendations.

The Cabinet Member for Highways introduced the report and responded to Mr Cooksey’s concerns as follows:

·         That the overall season length will be reduced in line with other authorities, but that the ability to react to an early cold spell will be still available.

·         The second mini gritter had not been widely used since it was added to the fleet and that routes have sufficient access for larger vehicles except in limited areas where a single mini gritter provides sufficient coverage and therefore felt comfortable having just the one mini gritter.

·         Members and the public reported when grit bins were empty and were encouraged to do so.  Grit bins reported as needing refilling would be refilled.  To stop surveying would save money and wasted journeys.

·         That policy changes 4 and 5 needed to be viewed together as each helped to deliver the other.  An in-house solution for software to manage grit bins is expected to be in place by next year.

·         A full list of routes that no longer meet the criteria as well as suggested changes for each area would be presented to every local/joint committee and not just chairmen, as it was recognised their local knowledge would be valuable in compiling the final gritting routes. 

·         The recommendations were supported by Environment and Infrastructure Select Committee with a few small amendments.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the policy changes, policy amendment and savings recommendation summarised in paragraph 17 of the report be approved.

2.    That Environment and Infrastructure Select Committee recommendations as detailed within paragraph 14 of the report be noted.

Reason for Decisions:

To enable savings of £340,000 from the Winter Service Budget identified in the Medium Term Financial Plan to be realised.