Issue - meetings

The Winter Service report, enclosed with these papers, will be considered as part of the Managing Director’s and Cabinet Member’s Update.

(1)          Mr Chard gave a verbal report on the following issues:-

Kent Highway Services

Winter Service (see paragraph (2) below); Procurement of KHS Core Maintenance Contract; Courtesy Boards; Permit Scheme; Killed & seriously injured figures; Contact with KHS

Integrated Strategy & Planning

Lower Thames Crossing; Operation Stack; Rail; Kent International Gateway

Waste

Household Waste Recycling Centres – commencement of capital programmes work

Environment

East Kent Access – Heritage

(2)       Following Mr Chard’s update Members considered a report which provided information relating to Kent Highway Services response to the Department for Transport commissioned report ‘The Resilience of England’s Transport Systems in Winter’ Interim Report July 2010. The Winter Service Plan for 2010/11 was also presented for approval.

(3)       In March 2010, the then Secretary of State commissioned an independent review of the resilience of England’s transport systems to severe winter weather. The Interim Report focuses on measures that could be implemented relatively quickly in relation to England’s highway networks in preparation for winter 2010/11. The final report would be published in the autumn of 2010.  The report contained 17 recommendations most of which could be implemented by highway authorities. Appendix 1 of the report detailed how KHS would act upon the recommendations in the coming winter.

(4)       The KHS winter service budget for 2009/10 was £2,525,000 and the out turn was £2,636.579. For 2009/10 there was a requirement for funding from the corporate emergency fund for three snow emergencies which cost £1,451,756. The budget for 2010/11 had been set at £2,490,581.

(5)          The Winter Service Plan 20010/11 had been produced and Community Delivery Team Leaders would produce a local version. The plans detailed local actions that would be taken during the winter and outline arrangements in place for working with the district council. Copies of the plans were held at depots and on the shared KHS IT area.

(6)          RESOLVED that:-

(a)          Mr Chard’s update be noted and a copy circulated to Members of the Committee; and      

(b)  the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste be   recommended to:-

(i)       approve the Winter Service Plan for 2009/10; and

(ii) note the implementation of ‘The Resilience of England’s Transport Systems in winter – An Independent Review – Interim report July 2010’ by KHS