Decision Maker: Marr Area Committee

Outcome: Approve

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: September 10, 2024

Purpose: Provide members with the outcome of the 5 year review of the Roads Winter Maintenance Policy and any accompanying documentation and ask for comments from members.

Content: To provide the following comments to Infrastructure Services Committee: Suggested linking in with the Braemar and Ballater Weather Page as a source of weather data. Highlighted challenges around snow warden volunteering in small communities with ageing demographics. In relation to snow gates, highlighted concerns about a lack of joined up communications and requested that Councillors be provided with an out of hours contact for reporting issues. Would welcome improvements in relation to F3 and F4 footways. It would be helpful if F3 and F4 footways were visible on public facing maps. The prioritisation criteria did not account the importance of main hubs in smaller communities such as Tarland Square. Improvements were needed in relation to gritting/snow clearing on school routes. The position on snow clearing/gritting at primary schools should be reviewed. Could cross-service working, including with schools, be enhanced; for example, to include head teachers to enable informed decision making on school late opening. Suggested communications to improve understanding and expectations in relation to how gritting worked. Enhanced publicly accessible information would be welcomed. Clarity was needed in relation to hospitals and healthcare facilities - specifically queried the road access to Glen O’Dee Hospital and the Banchory Medical Practice which was within a Council car park. The snow warden forms may put people off volunteering. Could businesses be involved in the snow warden scheme? In relation to the road network hierarchy review, requested that the B9077 South Deeside Road be given higher priority as it was a heavily used major artery into Aberdeen. Welcomed engagement with local communities regarding footways and the place-based approach but asked that officers also work with local Councillors.  Queried the timeline for the further engagement piece referred to at paragraph 3.4.5 of the report.  There was a need to ensure that gritting continued on the Aboyne Bridge while it was closed. Asked that communications on the Winter Readiness Plan be linked to Resilience communications. Questioned whether the Equalities and Fairer Scotland Duty was being met in terms of the public being able to safely use road networks. Need to ensure that public message was mindful of cost-of-living issues and was not patronising. Suggested that the winter maintenance budget should be enhanced. Requested clarity on the position regarding unadopted roads in cases of new developments where developers had gone into liquidation. Queried scope for increasing grit bin availability and whether signage could be put on bins to explain appropriate usage/deter private use.