No. | Item | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Question from: County Councillor Jon Williams Subject: Gritting
Question: Could the portfolio holder please explain, why with the current restrictions on officers working from county hall in Llandrindod, the service are fully gritting the road leading to and car park around county hall when there are virtually no staff using the building. Is this happening with all other council buildings that are not being used? It seems a total waste of tax payers money to grit an area that is not being used when there are other areas such as nursing homes that are in dire need of precautionary gritting. Also, it has been reported that the gritting area routes have not been reviewed for 20 years, how has this been allowed to happen and why is the portfolio holder unwilling to react to small changes that are desperately needed now to protect some of the most vulnerable residents.
Minutes: Response by the Portfolio Holder:
Thank you for your questions.
• Gritting of County Hall carpark and entrance road - as you will be aware there are still limited numbers of staff working from County Hall along with contractors working on the ground floor alterations. Powys CC have a duty of care for these members of staff and any pre- agreed gritting must continue. Additionally, County Hall carpark has also been used for Covid testing and the top of the car park is also used to access Cefnllys school which has remained open for key workers children.
• Other properties - where gritting is agreed then this is continuing.
• Gritting Hierarchy - Current gritting routes were developed some years ago and it is questionable how some roads were included, basically there was no set criteria to ensure consistency across the county. The new hierarchy being developed will ensure whatever is included in Brecknockshire will also be included in Radnorshire and Montgomeryshire i.e. a consistent approach. Class 1 roads would be top of the list to salt with the majority of rural class 3 and U/C roads probably not being included unless there is a special requirement such as a hospital or fire station.
• Wylsefield Home - I will arrange for additional salt bins to be provided along the public highway leading to Wylesfield, road users / residents will then be able to help themselves. |