Agenda item

To discuss and comment on the report and the proposed work plan to implement lessons learned from the recent snow emergencies.

Andrew Loosemore (Interim Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste) and Carol Valentine (Highway Manager, West) were in attendance for this item.

1. Mr M Whiting (Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste) introduced the report which provided an update on the winter service actions taken during the two snow emergencies declared in the 2017/18 winter season, the lessons learned and the continuous improvement initiatives to be implemented for the 2018/19 winter season. Mr Whiting paid tribute to all those involved in the extensive winter operations to ensure that Kent’s primary routes remained open.

2. Mr Loosemore said that the severity of the weather had caused Kent Highways to declare a snow emergency. All resources were deployed throughout Kent to ensure the primary networks remained open, however, steps were due to be taken during the summer period to review the secondary routes and to determine which parts of that network could be prioritised during a snow emeregency.

3. Mrs Valentine said that the winter emergency was an extensive operation which cost Kent County Council an additional £1,141million on-top of the allocated winter service budget. She assured Members that all resources were deployed to deal with the snow during the period between 6 February 2018 to 5 March 2018 with additional assistance from Kent Police, Borough and Parish Councils and farmers whom were a valuable asset in clearing snow drifts within the local communities. In terms of communication, social media played a critical role in providing the county with regular updates which helped to reduce the number of complaints. Daily written briefings had also been provided to Members and Senior Management to ensure all information was being cascaded to stakeholders. Following lessons learned, work was due to be carried out to review the deployment of resources to secondary routes and to work with farmers to pilot the use of new gritting equipment. Mrs Valentine commended the work of all those involved and said that the service had been delivered successfully in line with service policy.

4. In response to Members questions regarding number of vehicles deployed, Mrs Valentine assured Members that all routes had been cleared, no primary routes had been left unattended. She said that the deployment of additional vehicles would not have made a difference as all resources would have been deployed to the primary routes and there would not have been capacity to use those vehicles or staff on the secondary routes. Mrs Valentine reminded Members that staff were working twelve hour shifts to ensure all primary networks remained open.

5. With regard to climate change, Mr Loosemore said that the winter service period had been moved forward to accommodate the shift in weather patterns and therefore started in late October and ran until the end of April.

6. Mr Whiting asked that the Committee provide feedback from the public, following the winter operation, to Mrs Valentine and her team as local knowledge was crucial in helping to determine future activity of the winter service.

7. Members commended the work of the Highways Team and all involved.

8. RESOLVED that the report and the proposed work plan to implement lessons learned from the recent snow emergencies, be endorsed.