Issue - meetings

For information and members’ questions.

To note that senior highways officers from Amey, the Council’s highways contractor, will be available immediately following the meeting to answer questions.

This item was not considered.

For information and members’ questions.

To note that senior highways officers from Amey, the Council’s highways contractor, will be available immediately following the meeting to answer questions.

Cllr Vernon Smith, the Cabinet Member for Highways and Flood, presented the report.

Answering a question from Cllr Dr John Cordwell, Cllr Smith said that he would check when the parish and town council survey was being undertaken and inform Cllr Cordwell outside the meeting.

RESOLVED to note the report.

For information and members’ questions.

To note that senior highways officers from Amey, the Council’s highways contractor, will be available immediately following the meeting to answer questions.

A number of members expressed concern at the failure of Amey, the Council’s highways contractor, to meet performance targets.  They specifically referred to low levels of public, parish and member satisfaction, failure to complete winter salting routes on time, poor performance in resolving three month defects, lack of communication with members and delays in Highways Local projects.

Cllr Vernon Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways and Flood, responded to the issues raised.  He invited members to accompany him for a day so that he could show them the steps that were being taken to maintain and improve the network.  He said that new technology and equipment would improve the way in which potholes were filled and provide a mechanism for larger areas to be resurfaced where there were a number of potholes in close proximity.  Referring to winter salting routes, he explained that the failure to complete all the runs on time reflected changing weather conditions and the particular requirements of individual localities.

At the end of the debate, there was an exchange between Cllr Smith and Cllr Chris Coleman over attendance at the Cheltenham area highways meetings.  Cllr Coleman asked Cllr Smith to withdraw a comment he had made about Cllr Coleman’s non-attendance at the meetings.  Cllr Smith refused to withdraw the comment. 

The Vice-chairman noted that the Cheltenham area highways meetings were held at Shire Hall and he called on officers to arrange them in Cheltenham to make it easier for local members to attend.  He believed that this principle should be extended for other service areas at the Council too.

The Chairman noted that senior highways officers from the Council and Amey would be available after the meeting to answer detailed questions from members.

RESOLVED to note the highways performance report.

For information and members’ questions.

To note that senior highways officers from Amey, the Council’s highways contractor, will be available immediately following the meeting to answer questions.

A member asked whether an indicator could specifically be included to reduce harmful emissions from diesel engined vehicles on the highways fleet. He believed that the time was right to make such a commitment.

Cllr Vernon Smith, the Cabinet Member for Highways and Flood, explained that this was complex and there would need to be discussions with officers about how such an indicator could be put in place.

Cllr Klara Sudbury expressed concern that performance against some of the targets did not reflect her experience on the ground in Cheltenham.  She said that she received regular complaints of blocked gullies from residents.   She was also finding that restrictions were being put on Highways Local projects that she wished to pursue in her area.

Cllr Vernon Smith stated that he would be happy to discuss the member’s particular concerns outside of the meeting.

RESOLVED to note the highways performance report.