Issue - items at meetings - Response to Winter Service Scrutiny Report

Report of the Director of Environment (copy attached).

(1)         That the Cabinet Member notes the evidence, findings and recommendations of the Environment & Community Safety Overview & Scrutiny Committee and its scrutiny panel in relation to the Winter Service Plan Review.    

(2)         That the Cabinet Member agrees the actions detailed in the officer response to Scrutiny’s recommendations with particular regard to timescales and any constraints identified.

29.1               The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Environment concerning the executive response to the Environment & Community Safety Overview & Scrutiny Committee Scrutiny Panel on the Winter Service Plan.

29.2               The Cabinet Member reported that he had attended and given evidence to the scrutiny panel and that it had been a valuable opportunity to discuss the experiences and learn from the previous winter’s extreme snowfall, bearing in mind what could be genuinely and practically achieved during such events.

29.3               The Cabinet Member invited Councillor Morgan, Chairman of the scrutiny panel, to introduce the panel’s report.

29.4               Councillor Morgan thanked the other Members on the panel and the rest of the Environment & Community Safety Overview & Scrutiny Committee, in addition to the Overview & Scrutiny Team and all those who provided evidence to the panel. He made the following comments:

§         The panel had recognised the immense pressure on staff during the periods of extreme weather in December and January and the very real safety concerns that arose.

§         There had been an improved response to the January snowfall as a result of improved communications and additional resources.

§         The panel acknowledged that the recommendations should be proportionate to the likelihood of such events reoccurring regularly.

§         The panel was pleased that the response agreed all of their recommendations and, despite being disappointed that new gritting vehicles could not be purchased until November 2011, they hoped that implementation of the remaining actions implementation would take place prior to winter of the current year.

22.1               RESOLVED - That having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Member accepted the following recommendations:

(1)         That the evidence, findings and recommendations of the Environment & Community Safety Overview & Scrutiny Committee and its scrutiny panel in relation to the Winter Service Plan Review be noted.           

(2)         That the actions detailed in the officer response to Scrutiny Panel’s recommendations be agreed with particular regard to timescales and any constraints identified.

29.6               The Cabinet Member and Councillor Mitchell thanked the Director of Environment for all her hard work during her time at the council and wished her well in her new position as Chief Executive of Lewes District Council.