Issue - meetings

The Committee resolved:-

(i)    to approve the” Appendix 1 Roads Winter Service Plan” for 2018-19 including the changes made to accommodate the The Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS) updated guidance on the use, in Scotland, of the UK guidance document Well Managed Highways Code of Practice Appendix H

(ii)  to instruct officers to continue with the comparison of similar urban authority’s winter services both in terms of operation and cost.

(iii)to instruct officers to review further guidance issued by (SCOTS) and consider incorporation of this guidance in future Winter Service Plans.

(iv)to instruct officers to continue examining the implications of the anticipated additional maintenance burden for the winter maintenance provision from the de-trunking of sections of the A90/A96 following completion of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Road and to reduce the cost implications of this where possible.

(v)  to instruct officers to examine the possible benefits and savings achievable through route optimization and automated gritting.

(vi)to delegate authority to the Chief Officer Operations and Protective Services, following consultation with the Chief Officer Finance to continue to deliver the Winter Maintenance Service where the allocated budget is exceeded due to extreme weather, noting that this would be funded through use of the council’s contingency budget and reported to the City Growth & Resources committee through the following quarterly financial performance report; and

(vii)        to request that media releases are publicised early in order to inform residents about the deadline tor community sand bags.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Operating Officer, which presented the proposed Roads Winter Service Plan and explained significant changes from previous years.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee –

(a)         approve Appendix 1 Roads Winter Service Plan for 2018-19 including the changes made to accommodate The Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (SCOTS) updated guidance on the use, in Scotland, of the UK guidance document Well Managed Highways Code of Practice Appendix H;

(b)         instruct officers to continue with the comparison of similar urban authorities’ winter services both in terms of operation and cost;

(c)         instruct officers to review further guidance issued by SCOTS and consider incorporation of this guidance in future Winter Service Plans;

(d)         instruct officers to continue examining the implications of the anticipated additional maintenance burden for the winter maintenance provision from the de-trunking of sections of the A90/A96 following completion of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Road and to reduce the cost implications of this where possible;

(e)         instruct officers to examine the possible benefits and savings achievable through route optimization and automated gritting; and

(f)          delegate authority to the Chief Officer - Operations and Protective Services, following consultation with the Chief Officer - Finance to continue to deliver the Winter Maintenance Service where the allocated budget is exceeded due to extreme weather, noting that this would be funded through use of the Council’s contingency budget and reported to the City Growth  and Resources Committee through the following quarterly financial performance report; and

The Committee resolved:-

(i)            to approve the recommendations as contained within the report;

(ii)          to offer thanks to all of the officers involved with the Winter Maintenance for the city, for their continued efforts and hard work; and

(iii)         to request that media releases are publicised early in order to inform residents about the deadline for community sand bags.