North Yorkshire Council
Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee
12 September 2024
Update on the Gully Cleaning Schedules in the Harrogate and Knaresborough ACC Area, from April 2024
Report of the Corporate Director - Environment
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1.0 PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
1.1 To update the Committee on the gully cleaning schedules in the Harrogate and Knaresborough ACC Area, from April 2024 to August 2024.
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2.0 UPDATE REQUEST
2.1 Following an informal Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency programming session a member request came forward for a report to be delivered to the 12 September ACC on the cleaning schedules of gullies in Harrogate and Knaresborough from April 24 to present date.
3.0 GULLY CLEANSING PERFOMANCE MANAGEMENT
3.1 In July 2022 and July 2023 a risk base approach/ data led programme was introduced, using a software system called Kaarbontech.
3.2 A detailed survey of the gully assets across the county (164,171 identified on the county wide highway network) and the state of the gullies have been inputted into the software and these continue to be captured as new gullies are installed as part of new developments or improvement schemes.
3.3 Following a successful trial in 2022/23 an interim programme was introduced in September to take us to April 2024. This included input from the local highways teams to ensure main A roads and specific ‘hots spots’ were included. The programme identifies that approx. 98,503 gullies need to be attended in any given year, with certain high-risk locations. Including those that require 6 monthly cleans the annual figure in year 1 (2024/25) will be 105,820 cleans, with 105,846 in year 2 (2025/26),
3.4 By April 2024 all parts of the North Yorkshire area had seen 12 months of the new risk-based process, with evidence of performance improvement in the overall gully cleans. Appropriate amendments and improvements have taken place along the way to ensure the correct gullies are targeted. The new 2-year gully programme commenced from April 2024, which ensures the gully crews only attend those in need of attention, improving efficiency of the gully cleaning programme across the county.
3.5 Alongside the planned gully programme the highways team also have the ability to raise reactive orders, these are where exceptions are found in areas that may need intervention before the gully programme.
4.0 GULLIES IN HARROGATE AND KNARESBORUGH
4.1 With approximately 39,000 recognised gully assets across Harrogate and Knaresborough the programme regime set against this identifies assets for a 6-month, 12-month, or 24-month clean. The frequency of cleans is determined on local knowledge and gully location, such as road category.
4.2 The programme is currently in Harrogate’s surrounding wards, due to return to Harrogate urban area in September. In Harrogate and Knaresborough urban area we have attended 4,065 gullies, to clean/clear the pots. We have completed 93 reactive (Non programmed gully) cleans in Harrogate on Knaresborough since April 24.
4.3 Appendix A identifies the Harrogate and Knaresborough programme, of which the team are delivering to the identified timescales, with no slippage to report at present. With any programme of this size slippage can occur due to sudden or widespread weather requiring resource to be assigned to responding to such events and or breakdown of machinery, but the teams do review outputs and progress weekly and where it is feasible to do so endeavour to make up the time lost in future weeks.
5.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
5.1 There are no financial implications arising directly from this report as it provides an update on progress.
6.0 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
6.1 The maintenance of gullies falls within the Council’s highway maintenance responsibilities. There are no legal implications arising directly from this report as it provides an update on progress.
7.0 EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS
7.1 The purpose of this report is for updates only, separate reports are submitted when appropriate to ensure the equalities implications of each induvial project is considered.
7.2 Consideration has been given to the Council’s Public Sector Equality Duty and the potential for any adverse impact arising from the recommendations of this report. Officers believe that the recommended options to deliver from this report do not have any adverse impacts on any of the protected characteristics identified in the Equalities Act 2010 or NYC’s additional agreed characteristics. The completed Equalities Impact Assessment screening form can be found in Appendix B.
8.0 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS
8.1 The purpose of this report is for updates only, separate reports are submitted when appropriate to ensure the equalities implications of each induvial project is considered.
8.2 Consideration has been given to the potential for any adverse impacts on climate change arising from the recommendations of this report. A climate change assessment has been completed and included as Appendix C to this report.
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9.0 |
RECOMMENDATION
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9.1 |
That the Area Committee notes the updates provided.
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APPENDICES:
Appendix A – Members Gully Programme
Appendix B – Equalities Impact Assessment screening form
Appendix C – Climate Change Assessment
Karl Battersby
Corporate Director of Environment
County Hall
Northallerton
Author of report: Melisa Burnham, Area Manager, Highways and Transportation.
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Initial equality impact assessment screening form
This form records an equality screening process to determine the relevance of equality to a proposal, and a decision whether or not a full EIA would be appropriate or proportionate. |
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Directorate |
Environment Services |
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Service area |
Highways and Transportation |
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Proposal being screened |
Update on the gully cleaning schedules in the Harrogate and Knaresborough ACC area, from April 2024
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Officer(s) carrying out screening |
Melisa Burnham |
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What are you proposing to do? |
To update the committee on the gully cleaning schedules in the Harrogate and Knaresborough ACC area, from April 2024 to August 2024.
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Why are you proposing this? What are the desired outcomes? |
The report requests that members note the updates provided. |
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Does the proposal involve a significant commitment or removal of resources? Please give details. |
No
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Impact on people with any of the following protected characteristics as defined by the Equality Act 2010, or NYCC’s additional agreed characteristics As part of this assessment, please consider the following questions: · To what extent is this service used by particular groups of people with protected characteristics? · Does the proposal relate to functions that previous consultation has identified as important? · Do different groups have different needs or experiences in the area the proposal relates to?
If for any characteristic it is considered that there is likely to be an adverse impact or you have ticked ‘Don’t know/no info available’, then a full EIA should be carried out where this is proportionate. You are advised to speak to your Equality rep for advice if you are in any doubt. |
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Protected characteristic |
Potential for adverse impact |
Don’t know/No info available |
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Yes |
No |
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Age |
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x |
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Disability |
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x |
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Sex |
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x |
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Race |
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x |
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Sexual orientation |
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x |
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Gender reassignment |
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x |
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Religion or belief |
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x |
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Pregnancy or maternity |
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x |
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Marriage or civil partnership |
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x |
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NYCC additional characteristics |
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People in rural areas |
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x |
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People on a low income |
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x |
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Carer (unpaid family or friend) |
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x |
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Does the proposal relate to an area where there are known inequalities/probable impacts (e.g. disabled people’s access to public transport)? Please give details. |
N/A |
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Will the proposal have a significant effect on how other organisations operate? (e.g. partners, funding criteria, etc.). Do any of these organisations support people with protected characteristics? Please explain why you have reached this conclusion. |
N/A |
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Decision (Please tick one option) |
EIA not relevant or proportionate: |
x |
Continue to full EIA: |
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Reason for decision |
The purpose of the report is an update only, outlining processes of current processes and procedures already set up and approved.
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Signed (Assistant Director or equivalent) |
Nigel Smith
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Date |
30.08.24 |
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Climate
change impact
assessment
The purpose of this assessment is to help us understand the likely impacts of our decisions on the environment of North Yorkshire and on our aspiration to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2030, or as close to that date as possible. The intention is to mitigate negative effects and identify projects which will have positive effects.
This document should be completed in consultation with the supporting guidance. The final document will be published as part of the decision making process and should be written in Plain English.
If you have any additional queries which are not covered by the guidance please email climatechange@northyorks.gov.uk
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Title of proposal |
Update on the gully cleaning schedules in the Harrogate and Knaresborough ACC area, from April 2024
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Brief description of proposal |
To update the Committee on the gully cleaning schedules in the Harrogate and Knaresborough ACC area, from April 2024 to August 2024. |
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Directorate |
Environmental Services |
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Service area |
Highways & Transportation |
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Lead officer |
Melisa Burnham (Area Manager) |
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Names and roles of other people involved in carrying out the impact assessment |
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Date impact assessment started |
19/08/24 |
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Options appraisal Were any other options considered in trying to achieve the aim of this project? If so, please give brief details and explain why alternative options were not progressed.
Not applicable
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What impact will this proposal have on council budgets? Will it be cost neutral, have increased cost or reduce costs?
Please explain briefly why this will be the result, detailing estimated savings or costs where this is possible.
The content of this report is for update purposes only, to share details of the gully cleaning programme. Costs of which are included as part of revenue budgeting each year.
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How will this proposal impact on the environment?
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Positive impact (Place a X in the box below where relevant) |
No impact (Place a X in the box below where relevant) |
Negative impact (Place a X in the box below where relevant) |
Explain why will it have this effect and over what timescale?
Where possible/relevant please include: · Changes over and above business as usual · Evidence or measurement of effect · Figures for CO2e · Links to relevant documents |
Explain how you plan to mitigate any negative impacts.
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Explain how you plan to improve any positive outcomes as far as possible. |
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Minimise greenhouse gas emissions e.g. reducing emissions from travel, increasing energy efficiencies etc.
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Emissions from travel |
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x |
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Impact is minimal, routes are efficiently planned |
No negative impacts identified. |
N/A |
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Emissions from construction |
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x |
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N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
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Emissions from running of buildings |
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X |
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N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
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Other |
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Minimise waste: Reduce, reuse, recycle and compost e.g. reducing use of single use plastic |
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X |
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N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
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Reduce water consumption |
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X |
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N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
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Minimise pollution (including air, land, water, light and noise)
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x |
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N.A
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N/A |
N/A |
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Ensure resilience to the effects of climate change e.g. reducing flood risk, mitigating effects of drier, hotter summers |
X |
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The ongoing gully cleaning programme manages the water on the road network, this will have a positive impact on the management of flood risk areas. |
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To continue to see improvements in the efficient delivery of gully cleans and drainage cleaning management. |
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Enhance conservation and wildlife
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X |
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Safeguard the distinctive characteristics, features and special qualities of North Yorkshire’s landscape
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X |
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Other (please state below)
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Are there any recognised good practice environmental standards in relation to this proposal? If so, please detail how this proposal meets those standards. |
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- N/A
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Summary Summarise the findings of your impact assessment, including impacts, the recommendation in relation to addressing impacts, including any legal advice, and next steps. This summary should be used as part of the report to the decision maker.
Whilst it is recognised that the gully cleaning schedule and associated drainage cleans will have a positive impact on the management of flood risk areas, know flooding hot spots the purpose of this report is to provide members with an update pf the ongoing gully cleaning programme only.
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Sign off section
This climate change impact assessment was completed by:
Authorised by relevant Assistant Director (signature): Nigel Smith, Head of Highway Operations
Date: 30.08.2024
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