Issue - meetings

Report of the Assistant Director – Highways and Public Protection

The Committee considered the report of the Assistant Director - Highways and Public Protection seeking consideration of the revised Winter Maintenance Policy and Operational Plan policy document for approval for 2024/25.

The report indicated that the Council provided a Highway Winter Service to the Borough in accordance with the Winter Service Policy and Operational Plan; that officers monitored the weather conditions 24 hours a day throughout the winter season and enacted the plan when weather conditions dictated; that the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (section 111) had inserted an additional section 41(1A) to the Highways Act 1980 which placed a duty on the Highway Authorities in respect of winter conditions, and stated ‘In particular, a Highway Authority is under duty to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, that safe passage along a highway is not endangered by snow or ice’; and that in addition, the Traffic Management Act 2004 placed a Statutory Network Management Duty on all local traffic authorities in England requiring all authorities to do all that was reasonably practicable to manage the network effectively to keep traffic moving. In meeting this duty, authorities should establish contingency plans for dealing promptly and effectively with unplanned events, such as unforeseen weather conditions, as far as is reasonably practicable. The Council’s Winter Service Policy and Operational Plan, which has been approved by the Council, is reviewed each summer to ensure that it remained ‘fit for purpose’.

The report advised that as part of the annual review and reassessment consultation was undertaken and that a consultation letter was sent to every Elected Member seeking their views. A copy of the letter was attached as Annex A to the report.

One response to the consultation exercise was received requesting the addition of the footways in Birkdale village to the current gritting routes; and as the policy states that footway gritting should be tarrgeted towards shopping areas as these are the locations of the highest footfall, it was proposed to include Liverpool Road, Birkdale, between the railway station and Bolton Road, in the designated footway routes for the forthcoming season.

The report concluded by seeking comments for submission to the Cabinet Member – Housing and Highways.

Members of the Committee asked questions/commented on the following issues:

·       Evaluation of the impacts of severe weather on road safety

·       Information was sought on the schedule of highways and pavements to be gritted as part of the Winter Maintenance Policy and Operational Plan

RESOLVED: That