Issue - meetings

To scrutinise the arrangements for gritting and salt bins.

Resolved:

1.         To accept the report, noting the observations made during the discussion.

2.         To support the Highways, Engineering and YGC Department's proposal to send letters to Community and Town Councils to confirm the salt bin arrangements and send a copy to County Councillors.

3.         To recommend to the Highways, Engineering and YGC Department that safe access to school lands in inclement weather should be considered as a part of the gritting routes' review.

The report was presented by the Cabinet Member for Highways, Engineering and YGC, along with the Head of Department of Highways, Engineering and YGC and the Dwyfor Area Engineer.

It was noted that it had been three years since the management arrangements for salt bins had been scrutinised, as part of the Winter Support Service. The members were reminded that the winter maintenance period ran from 1 October to 30 April annually, confirming that the services included the gritting of first and second priority routes as well as the provision of salt bins. It was highlighted that there was flexibility with this timetable as it was possible to continue gritting later in the year, and the service's arrangements were reviewed following the winter period to see if there were lessons to be learned and to respond to any challenges that had emerged over the winter.

They updated the Members that the Service had adopted a Gritting Vehicle Monitoring System since November 2024 to record the routes. It was explained that this technology was key to ensuring that all roads on the circuits were gritted and for ensuring the safety of the drivers of the gritters as they could be tracked live and the service could see if any vehicle had gotten into difficulties. They emphasised that the workforce was doubled for those periods where snow was forecast because the work was carried out in the dark and in potentially dangerous circumstances. It was reported that positive feedback had been received from staff about this technology and it was hoped that similar technology could be used to support the Council's other areas of work.

It was elaborated that the first priority when planning the circuits was given to those routes where the roads were used by school buses. It was added that a number of factors were taken into account when designating roads as first priority for gritting, such as high traffic, providing at least one access to the emergency response centres, emergency admissions, or roads that were class 2 or 3 county roads with approximately one access to towns and villages.

It was explained that the Council, as the Highways Authority, was responsible for providing a winter service on all public highways adopted by the County. It was elaborated that the Council also treated the County's trunk roads on behalf of the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency. As well as the part of the A55 managed by UK Highways A55 Ltd.

It was reported that all salt bins in the county had now been numbered and that work was underway to ensure that their location was visible on Map Gwynedd on the Council's website, so that residents and Community Councils could report the number and location of a particular salt bin if a problem arose.

It was confirmed that the Council received a winter weather forecast provision and advisory services from MetDesk. It was elaborated that this service ran for 24 hours a day from 1 October to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6