Agenda item

The Chairman asked the Highway Asset Manager, Brian Kitching to give Members an update presentation in relation to Winter Maintenance (for copy see file of minutes).

The Highway Asset Manager noted the issue was regularly highlighted as a priority by Councillors and the public and indeed preparing for winter was a year round activity for the Council.  Members noted the Authority’s statutory duty in terms of maintaining the highway and that Winter 2015/16 had proved to be challenging, with many marginal nights.  It was added that statistics for 2015/16 included: 5,245 pre-salt runs; 340 snow salt runs; 29,804 tonnes of salt used; 4,909 salt bin replenishments; with an overall total budget expenditure of £4 million.

Councillors noted that service changes and improvements included: a new snow blower, “multi-hog”; improvements to weather forecasting to introduce the “Roadmaster” system; the annual review of Priority 1 and Priority 2 gritting routes; extension of the “winter season” for the High/Low Pennies; a tracking system on all vehicles; and “Go Live”, a system allowing the public to view gritting services via the DCC website.

Members noted images highlighting improvement works carried out at the Wolsingham Depot and the new plant purchased for 2015 and also of the weather stations that gave live updates every 10 minutes via the DCC website, highlighting road conditions and helping in terms of safe journey planning.

The Highway Asset Manager noted the updated Winter Maintenance Policy and the obligation of the Authority under Section 41 (1A) of the Highways Act 1980 that: “In particular, a Highways Authority are under a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonable practicable, that safe passage along a highway is not endangered by snow or ice”.  Members noted that the Winter Maintenance Policy was aligned with the national Code of Practice “Well-Maintained Highways”.

The Committee noted that it was not practical to treat all parts of the adopted highway and that the policy prioritised routes for treatment such that:

Carriageways          -         Priority 1 – precautionary salting and post treatment

Carriageways          -         Priority 2 – post treatment

Carriageways          -         snow clearance

Carriageways          -         minimum winter network

Footways                -         snow clearance

Cycleways              -         snow clearance

Members were shown a map setting out the Priority 1 and Priority 2 winter gritting routes and noted that in terms of the Priority 1 routes, precautionary salting and post treatment: 45% of carriageways were treated; the target treatment time was 2.5 hours; decisions were made by trained and experienced Duty Managers that were on call 24 hours, 7 days a week; specialist winter weather forecasts were received from Meteogroup; and the actual on the ground conditions were monitored via 12 roadside monitoring stations and with feedback from operational staff.

It was explained that for Priority 2 routes, post treatment, 10% of carriageways were treated and only treated during prolonged severe weather subject to available resources.  Members noted these activities were undertaken mainly by local farmers under contract.

The Highway Asset Manager noted that during and after heavy snowfall more intensive resource is required to keep carriageways clear and resources are concentrated on the “Resilient Network”, a smaller network of the most strategic Priority 1 routes.  It was added once these had been cleared, then the remainder of the Priority 1 and Priority 2 routes would then be cleared in order.

Members were shown a table setting out the work carried out in terms of footpath clearance, highlighting that only Durham City Centre was a Category 1A area, and that in cases of severe weather then clearance would take place in terms of: Category 1A and 1 footways; public transport interchanges; hospitals; doctors surgeries/health centres; selected Category 2 footways; sheltered accommodation; and care homes.

The Committee noted the provision of salt and grit bins and associated issues and a slide setting out the key facts and figures in terms of Winter 2015/16.  Members were reminded that an important aspect of winter maintenance was the partnership working, including a number of Town and Parish Councils across the County.  The Highway Asset Manager noted that the public often query what is permitted in terms of clearing of snow and ice from the pavement in front of their properties and that the “Snow Code” as set out on the Met Office website provided advice in this regard.

The Highway Asset Manager reminded Members of the “Go Live” tracking system utilising “TrackYou”, developed in-house between Technical Services, IT and Communications.  It was added that Durham was the only known Authority with such a live system in place, with data refreshed every 15 minutes.  Members noted slides showing how the map showing Priority 1 routes would change to purple when a gritter was operating along a route and change again to green once a route had been completed.  It was noted that the system was in its early stages and that the required disclaimers were included on the webpage.

The Chairman thanked the Highway Asset Manager and asked Members if they had any questions on the report and presentation.

Councillor P May noted the Go Live system and the winter weather alerts were all useful and asked who was responsible for the main arterial roads.  The Highway Asset Manager noted that the A19 was maintained by Autolink and the A1(M) by A1 Plus, on behalf of Highways England, and that the Council did not grit these roads.   

Councillor I Jewell asked what the optimum speed was for gritting vehicles while operating and whether there was duplication in terms of gritting.

The Highways Services Manager, Mark Readman noted that the optimum speed for gritting operations was between 20mph and 30mph and that he was not aware of any duplication on routes, however as many gritters were dual use and they would operate from our depots, some may appear to be following other vehicles when on other operations or heading in or out of the depots.

Councillor G Holland noted that the Go Live system was a good innovation and added that he felt this would be the type of ‘news item’ that the local television news, such as Look North, would be interested in and would provide far reaching coverage and promotion for our services.  The Highways Services Manager noted that plans were in place as regards media coverage, with a balance in terms of not advertising too early prior to the winter period, and that the comments as regards television coverage would be taken on board.

Councillor J Armstrong asked if there was a shelf-life for gritting salt, and the Highway Asset Manager explained that the supply was stored in dry barns and that the lifespan of the salt was such it would be used before it was no longer effective.

Resolved:   

(i)              That the report and presentation be noted.

(ii)             That an update on the delivery of winter maintenance for 2016/17 and detail of winter maintenance plans for  2017/18 is included in the Environment and Sustainable Communities work programme for 2017/18.