Agenda item

To consider a joint report by the Network Manager and the Head of Highways and Environmental Services (copy enclosed) seeking the Committee to consider and comment on the route changes that have been developed with a view to reducing the cost of precautionary gritting.

A copy of a joint report by the Head of Highways and Environmental Services (HHES) and the Network Manager on how Highways and Environmental Services intend to deliver reductions in precautionary salting mileages, which had been endorsed as part of the Freedoms and Flexibilities process, had been circulated with the papers for the meeting.

The HHES introduced the report which detailed how the required reductions in route mileage had been developed in a logical and rational manner, and provided an assurance that they would deliver the required savings.

The officers confirmed that a total of £250K of savings would be required from within the Highways maintenance budget for 2015/16.  Potentially £60K of the total savings had been identified through reducing the number of precautionary gritting routes in the County.  The routes referred to in the report were part of the County's own road network.  Trunk roads had not been included as they were the responsibility of the Welsh Government, who paid the Council to grit them on its behalf.  He emphasised that the proposal was to remove the identified routes from the 'precautionary' gritting schedule.  These routes would be gritted in the event of a snowfall or snow being forecast.

The Section Manager: Network Management (SMNM) confirmed that the majority of the proposed routes were located in the north of the County, as alternative routes were available for road-users.  The lack of suitable alternative routes in the south of the county meant that the rationalisation process could not as easily be applied there. 

A change in legislation within the last 10 years had meant that Local Authorities now had to publicise in advance which routes they planned to precautionary grit during the forthcoming winter, hence the reason to consult on these proposals at this time.

The following points, included in the report were also highlighted:-

·                 Each salting run involved 9 vehicles driving a total of 850 kilometres of which 570 kilometres was salted.

·                 The optimisations prior to the 2014/15 season having led to some complaints from the public, so the reasons behind the changes would have to be communicated in a planned and coordinated manner.

·                 An estimated route reduction of around 10% being required to achieve the level of saving specified on non-trunk roads, dependent on weather conditions.

In response to Members' questions the officers and the Lead Member advised that once the final decision had been take to remove the identified roads from the County's precautionary gritting lists the decision would be communicated to all neighbouring local authorities with whom the Council worked closely with on cross-border gritting.  This was normal practice and would inform the normal discussions between authorities on cross-border gritting arrangements.  All the savings in relation to this proposal would be realised from the salt/grit saved and vehicle operative costs, no jobs would be lost.  However, an adverse winter could severely impact on the projected savings.

It was also explained that with respect to assessing risks when determining gritting routes officers considered the probability factor of accidents occurring.  In relation to the routes identified for withdrawal from the precautionary gritting schedule the probability factor had not been calculated as 'high risk', it was considered an 'acceptable' level of risk.  However, if it became apparent that a high rate of accidents were occurring it would be reported to the Head of Service who would undertake an immediate review of the risk and the decision. 

The officers agreed that they would circulate the proposals and relevant maps to each Member Area Group (MAG) seeking them to discuss them before July 2015.  If required a Highways officer would be made available to attend the MAG meetings to explain the proposals.

Members were informed that the resulting effects of the review would be on the drivers only.  There would not be any disproportionate impact on any groups with protected characteristics, and Members attention was invited to Appendix 2.  Details of the consultation process adopted, and the possible risks and measures implemented to mitigate them, had been included in the report.

At the conclusion of the ensuing discussion, it was:-

RESOLVED – that, subject to the above and the distribution of the proposals to Member Area Groups for information, Communities Scrutiny Committee endorse the route changes for precautionary gritting.