Agenda item

(1)  Further to Minute 8 of 18 September 2007, the report gave information relating to the winter of 2007/08 and sought approval of the Winter Service Policy and Plan for 2008/09.  The winter service policy required precautionary salting on ‘A’ and ‘B’ and other busy roads (as defined in the policy statement paragraph 2.1.2) where frost/ice was likely to form on road surfaces.  An analysis of winter weather and the action taken by Kent Highway Services (KHS) for 2007/08 was contained in Annex A; a table of forecast accuracy and other performance indicators were given in Annex B; and a statistical comparison of winter activities for the 2007/08 winter with the preceding four years was given in Annex C of the report.

(2)  On all occasions, during the winter of 2007/08, when frost was forecast and frost occurred, precautionary salting had taken place in advance of freezing temperatures.  There were instances during the winter service period where a frost was not predicted in the main forecasts issued at 14:00 hrs, but subsequent updates warned that frost was likely.  This activated precautionary salting instructions where necessary.  Overall the winter was mild but also with some very brief snow interludes.  Appendix A of the report gave full details.

(3)  The KHS winter service budget for 2007/08 was £2,225,000 and the out turn was £1,822,000.  For 2007/8 there was no requirement for funding from the corporate emergency fund for snow emergency cost. The budget for 2008/09 has been set at £2,326,000

(4)  The KHS winter service contractor for the winter of 2007/08 was Ringway Infrastructure Services, within the alliance partnership agreement formed by Kent Highway Services. Ringway Infrastructure Services would be the service provider for the winter of 2008/09.

(5)  The Meteorological Office supplied forecast services for the winter of 2007/08 under a five-year agreement, which the Board agreed in 2003.  The agreement had now expired.  There were other weather forecast service providers who had emerged over the last few years that provided a similar service to the Met. Office.  These are private companies that have been winning tenders with local authorities in the UK and had gained credibility.  An informal price was supplied to KHS by one of the market leaders, for road weather forecasting during the 2008/09 winter season.  This indicated a substantial saving could be made.  It was therefore decided to formally tender the winter forecasting service for the coming winter.

(6)     The ice prediction service had been provided by Vaisala Ltd in the past and they had performed well again over the past winter season.  It was therefore proposed to continue the relationship with Vaisala Ltd. for the coming winter.

(7)    The Winter Service Policy 2008/09 was given in Appendix D.  There were no significant changes to the policy for the forthcoming winter.  Copies of the Winter Service Plan for 2008/09 had been placed in the Members Room.

(8)     Pre-wetted salt would be operated from the depots at Haysden and Ashford this coming winter.  It was the intention to introduce pre-wetted salt at the other new or refurbished depots as they came on stream.

(9)     The Board supported the proposals for recommendation to the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste that:-

          (a)     the contents of the report, particularly the decision to tender the winter weather forecasting service, be noted;

          (b)     the Winter Service Policy and Plan for 2008/09 be approved; and

          (c)     the continuation of the arrangement with Vaisala Ltd. for the provision of ice prediction computer services, be agreed.