North Yorkshire Council
Transport, Economy, Environment and Enterprise Overview & Scrutiny Committee
11 July 2025
Review of Winter Weather Event - January 2025
Report of the Corporate Director – Environment
1.0 PURPOSE OF REPORT
1.1 To update Members following a review of the winter weather event that commenced on 04 January 2025, the Council’s response, and considerations for responding to future events of a similar nature.
2.0 SUMMARY
2.1 This report includes a brief overview of the winter service that is delivered by North Yorkshire Council working in conjunction with its teckal partner NY Highways and supported by North Yorkshire Council (NYC), farming and other third-party contractors. The main focus of the report is a review of the winter weather event that occurred in January 2025. The report also contains proposals / next steps to further explore changes to existing arrangements.
3.0 BACKGROUND
3.1 North Yorkshire Council provides a winter service in line with its responsibilities as Highway Authority for a highway maintainable at public expense. The Council is under a duty to ensure ‘so far as is reasonably practicable’ that safe passage is not endangered by snow and ice. The winter service is delivered from 12 locations across the county comprising the seven ‘main’ operational depots and five ‘satellite’ depots. Those locations are:
|
Area |
Main Depot |
Satellite depot |
|
1 |
Brompton on Swale |
Leyburn |
|
2 |
Thirsk |
Stokesley |
|
3 |
Whitby |
Seamer Carr, Scarborough |
|
4 |
Kirby Misperton |
N/A |
|
5 |
Skipton |
Ingleton |
|
6 |
Boroughbridge |
Penny Pot Lane, Harrogate |
|
7 |
Selby |
N/A |
3.2 Each of these locations contains a salt store, which facilitates operational winter service delivery from those bases without the need for excessive travel across the county. In addition to the ‘business as usual’ salt stock at Seamer Carr, there is also a strategic salt reserve at an adjacent site in the same location and also a small reserve of salt in Hawes for use during snow events.
3.3 There has been a change in the overall pattern of winters experienced in recent years. The last particularly significant and sustained winter event affecting North Yorkshire was during the 2017/18 winter season when the Beast from the East occurred in March 2018; during that season some 80,000 tonnes of salt were used.
3.4 Since 2018, subsequent winter seasons have seen a range of conditions where snowfall, sub-zero temperatures and ice / frost hazards have still been experienced but were not as prolonged or intense as the 2018 event. This is reflected in the levels of de-icing salt used. Salt usage for the winter seasons between 2018/19 and 2021/22 was between 40,000 and 60,000 tonnes per season. In 2022/23 the figure was 32,163 tonnes and during the winter of 2023/24 a total of 23,563 tonnes of salt was used across the county. Whilst salt usage has fallen, treatments still need to be undertaken when frost / ice / snow etc. occur, albeit lower salt spread rates are used when less-severe hazards present. Nevertheless, these treatments still need to be undertaken. Similarly, in order to ensure those treatments can be enacted when required, gritting fleet & standby costs will be incurred throughout the winter period. Overall, in terms of the Council’s response in dealing with winter hazards, sufficient resilience and provision was in place for the frequency, type and intensity of winter weather that did occur.
3.5 The trend of comparatively milder and wetter winters that has prevailed in recent years has seen a number of flooding events as part of the change in the nature and type of weather experienced. Acknowledging this change and reflecting on weather events such as Storm Arwen in November 2021 (which brought a combination of wind, rain and snow), discussion took place regarding the annual winter service budget. The winter budget subsequently became accessible as a wider ‘weather’ budget in order to better reflect weather patterns and the costs associated with responding to any ‘named storms’ i.e. wind & flooding events that might occur inside as well as outside of the winter season alongside snow events. This was particularly helpful during 2023/24, where 12 named storms occurred between April 2023 and March 2024.
3.6 The winter service budget for 2024/25 is just under £8.3m. The budget has grown year on year in line with inflation. A number of reviews have been undertaken and initiatives enacted to ensure the service can be delivered in as efficient a manner as possible and this is under constant review. Recent and ongoing initiatives include:
i. review of salt spread rates whilst remaining compliant with national guidance and good practice
ii. avoiding unnecessary re-treatment of routes through more-robust decision making and timings of treatments
iii. realisation of savings under Teckal arrangements with NY Highways through investment in and rationalisation (numbers and spares) of gritting fleet alongside achieving efficiencies in route treatment costs per km
iv. (road surface temperature) triggers for treatment
v. operational review of gritting route treatment (route optimisation)
4.0 THE EVENT OF JANUARY 2025
4.1 January 2025 saw significant snowfall across North Yorkshire commencing during the evening of Saturday 4 January and continuing for the next few days. This was accompanied by a sustained period of intense cold, with road surface and air temperatures falling significantly below zero degrees Celsius across all eleven of our weather forecasting domains and in some cases temperatures fell to below minus 10 degrees Centigrade. Temperatures remained well below zero across the majority of North Yorkshire into the week commencing 06 January 2025 and only began to fully recover from 12/13 January.
4.2 The nature, extent and duration of this event was such that actions were required across the county. Any parts of the network that could not be immediately addressed and where snow had fallen were susceptible to that fallen snow freezing. Addressing that hazard became more challenging.
4.3 To give the intensity of this snow event some context, during the whole of the 2023/24 winter season 23,563 tonnes of salt was used as mentioned earlier. During the period from Saturday 04 January to 13 January 2025 (incl.) 11,313 tonnes of salt was used, equating to 48% of salt used during the whole of the 23/24 winter season. Some 1,430 route treatment instructions were issued during the same (4-13 January) period, many of which included multiple treatments of the same route if conditions dictated. The number of instructions for this January 2025 weather event alone was equivalent to 28% of instructions issued for the whole of the previous winter season (2023/24).
4.4 Carriageway treatments
4.4.1 The Council’s Winter Maintenance Policy outlines the highway network is divided into Priority 1, 2 and 3 (P1, P2, P3) routes for purposes of carriageway treatments. P1 routes comprise principal roads, important B Class, C class and unclassified routes. P2 routes include remaining B class, some C Class and unclassified roads. A map of P1 and P2 routes can be found on the council’s public facing website at: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-travel/winter-service/road-gritting. Priority three (P3) routes include the remainder of the highway network not designated P1 or P2 (and includes estate roads).
4.4.2 The policy states P1 routes will receive preferential treatment in all conditions; this includes widespread wet and freezing conditions and also snow conditions, with an acknowledgement that treatment times of Priority 2 and Priority three routes will be impacted if ongoing treatments are required on P1 routes.
4.4.3 Carriageway routes were treated in priority order, with treatments from 4 January supplementing salting that had already taken place on Priority 1 and Priority two gritting routes during previous days in relation to earlier winter hazards. Outside of snow events, a typical cycle of addressing winter hazards usually involves pre-treating P1 and then post-treating P1 & P2 routes as necessary. With more significant and heavy snowfall, as was the case with this event, multiple and successive treatments were required on the P1 and P2 gritting route network using the fleet of gritters operated by our teckal contractor NY Highways and supplemented by the Council’s network of farming contractors. In some parts of the county, more rural and exposed routes were also susceptible to drifting snow due to moderate/fresh winds. This need for repeated ploughing & salting protracted the time taken to clear those P1 routes before attention could be turned to P2 carriageway routes or indeed other parts of the network. This is not unusual when dealing with more significant snowfall.
4.4.4 In addition to the initial response and repeated actions on P1 & P2 routes, further treatments were also required on those same routes to mitigate the ongoing frost and ice risk that continued through the week commencing 6 January. This affected how quickly it was possible to deploy resource to address snow and ice hazards on other parts of the network. Notwithstanding, where resource could be deployed via our gritting fleet or farming contractors, duty managers undertook dynamic assessments of service requests and / or identified windows of opportunity wherever possible then deployed assets to assist.
4.4.5 As the event progressed during week commencing 06 January carriageway treatments continued as necessary. In the Selby area, teams were also faced with some flooding issues following periods of heavy rainfall and where water was retained on the carriageway network by snow on carriageway edges. Teams were eventually able to start making inroads into the P3 network that had not been treated and this included routes in both rural and urban centres. Actions continued throughout the remainder of that week. Ongoing treatments were undertaken until temperatures recovered and the resultant thaw commenced.
4.5 Footway treatments
4.5.1 The Council’s Winter Maintenance Policy states Category 1 footways will be post salted in exceptional conditions before 9am with the remaining footways and cycling network being treated in priority order subject to available resources. The policy also states that when conditions and resources permit snow will be cleared from shopping streets, then heavily used footways (main access routes) then other footways in prolonged conditions.
4.5.2 Footway treatments are currently undertaken through a variety of mechanisms across the county, ranging from NY Highways staff to NYC Street scene personnel and also farming / other third party contractors. Overall, in recent winter seasons and during the earlier part of this current 24/25 season, the resource available to undertake such treatments when required had been sufficient to deal with the duration and intensity of prevailing weather.
4.5.3 Footway treatments were undertaken across the county during the January 2025 event. Those treatments comprised a mix of mechanical and manual resource to treat Category 1 pedestrian routes in urban centres. The extent to which those treatments could be enacted was dependant on resource available and ongoing weather conditions across the county. Challenges did occur in some areas due to the scale and extent of the weather event when considered against the level of resource available to respond.
4.5.4 The current policy on footway treatments is caveated with availability of resource; whilst in this regard the policy was complied with, it is recognised that the extent to which treatments were able to be undertaken was constrained by the resource available during the event . It was not possible to immediately clear snow from footways, and whilst Category 1 footway treatments were undertaken, it was not possible to treat all footways. The immediate freeze thereafter, which then persisted for over a week, compounded the issue of extensive snow and ice on the footway network in some areas.
4.5.5 One of the particularly challenging urban locations was Harrogate, where stubbornly cold temperatures resulted in widespread freezing of the footway (and carriageway) network. During the event additional resource was made available through the Parks and Grounds team, but it is recognised that the extensive urban footway network in the urban centre was widely impacted. Particular reference has been made to previous winter seasons and the (then) level of mechanical resource in and around Harrogate that existed via a former third party contractor. The level of provision has been comparatively reduced since 2021 when the third party ceased trading, but those recent winter seasons have not presented the level of challenge the January 2025 event did – something that will be reflected on as part of this review / report.
4.6 Grit Bins / Heaps
4.6.1 In order to facilitate self-help, grit bins and heaps exist across the county. These are ‘bulk-replenished’ pre-season, mid-season and following any major snow event alongside ad-hoc requests. Where predetermined criteria are met (gradient, severity of bend, number of premises, pedestrian movements) then grit bins / heaps are provided by NYC; other grit bins / heaps have been provided via other funding sources, such as through Members’ locality budgets or via Parish / Town Councils.
4.6.2 During the snow event many of the bins and heaps were accessed and the salt/grit mix was utilised by local residents and others. Whilst the weather event was ‘live’ and ongoing, the timescale for being able to immediately respond to requests for replenishments unavoidably lengthened, but teams endeavoured to facilitate specific service requests as quickly as possible throughout. Inevitably, the rate at which the salt/grit mix in bins and heaps was depleted was quicker than the rate of replenishment - this is where sustained and prolonged events of this nature do have a more significant impact.
5.0 FURTHER COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK
5.1 During the course of the weather event, multiple service requests were received relating to salt bin/grit heap replenishments, gritting information or gritting requests. Data indicates that there were 911 winter related cases for the period 04 – 13 January 2025 inclusive, split across the area teams as shown below:
|
Area Office |
Number of cases |
% of Total |
|
1 - Brompton on Swale |
206 |
22.6 |
|
2 - Thirsk |
50 |
5.5 |
|
3 - Whitby |
49 |
5.4 |
|
4 - Kirby Misperton |
23 |
2.5 |
|
5 - Skipton |
205 |
22.5 |
|
6 - Boroughbridge |
369 |
40.5 |
|
7 - Selby |
9 |
1.0 |
5.2 Dialogue also took place with elected members and other stakeholders such as Harrogate Chamber of Trade and BID. Local discussions between winter duty managers in NYC and NY Highways confirmed treatments and actions. Council-wide and multi-agency groups were also convened during the event in order to review and coordinate wider activity.
5.3 Officers from the Council were in regular dialogue with elected members, the Harrogate BID Manager and other stakeholders during and following the event. Post-event, the BID manager shared feedback from a weather impact survey the BID had conducted. In that feedback, the majority of respondents expressed discontent with footway treatments. Respondents also reported a reduction in footfall and takings that they attributed to be a consequence of the weather event and minor road / footpath condition. Some respondents commented on self-help and queries were raised around liability if they undertook footway clearance. Of the 40 respondents to the survey, 60% stated they would be willing to consider becoming a winter partner working with NYC, 33% declined and 7% did not respond to that question.
5.4 Post-event feedback was sought from Elected Members by Cllr Keane Duncan, Executive Member for Highways and Transportation. Sixteen responses were received from Councillors and analysis of that feedback identifies themes that can be explored in terms of next steps. That feedback and officer comments are grouped and outlined in the following text.
5.4.1 Carriageway Treatments:
|
Member Feedback |
Officer Comment |
|
There was positive feedback on carriageway treatments |
Noted |
|
some frustration was felt regarding side / minor road treatments as the event unfolded due to the time taken to get to some of those lower category routes |
This was a consequence of ongoing challenges and the need for repeated treatments on P1 and P2 routes, but were addressed as soon as was possible |
|
there was a recognition of why the hierarchy of routes for treatment existed and the need to prioritise those key routes |
Noted |
|
Don’t wait to get on to Priority two and three routes |
P2 and P3 routes were treated as soon as practicable once P1 routes were in an acceptable condition |
|
Upgrade waste collection routes so wagons can get round |
This would require a major review of all winter treatment routes and what is likely to be significant increase on the percentage of network currently treated |
|
Winter event was unique, main roads were clear, but would the team be able to do anything different under these circumstances? |
P2 and P3 routes were treated as soon as practicable once P1 routes were in an acceptable condition – this can be investigated further as part of this review and follow up actions |
5.4.2 Footway Treatments:
|
Feedback |
Officer Comment |
|
a challenge on the effectiveness with which footways were treated and the prolonged duration of snow and ice on footways. |
the evaluation of this weather event includes a review of treatments undertaken and whether this can be enhanced |
|
whether footway treatments might be extended to ensure routes to schools, GP surgeries and areas of high footfall into and out of towns could be accommodated |
Some such sites were treated based on specific requests during the event. Extending footway treatments in the vicinity of existing category 1 routes could be considered as could treatment of routes to schools, GP surgeries and areas of high footfall into and out of towns (this could have more significant impact on the resource needed compared to existing provision) |
|
clear support for improving mechanical capability to assist with footway treatments using either quad bikes or other small machinery |
This will be investigated further |
|
enhancing overall resilience to treat footways was seen as important |
Noted and agree – will be explored further |
|
whether we can formalise arrangements with other teams within or beyond NYC to complement existing resource |
Agree – work has already commenced in this regard to establish what additional provision could be made from within NYC (and NY Highways) during extreme events |
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Hierarchy of priority for footway treatments: consider schools, GP Surgeries, Pharmacies |
Would require wider review as per earlier comments re schools, GP Surgeries, Pharmacies, but can be looked into |
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Can we get gritters to spray onto pavements |
Not possible in many cases due to presence of parked vehicles or verges separating carriageways from footways; would also be undesirable when pedestrians using these routes |
|
Can municipal vehicles have grit / salt sprayers like they do in Austria |
Would require significant financial investment in bespoke equipment |
|
Winter event was unique, main roads were clear, but would the team be able to do anything different under these circumstances? |
Will be further investigated as part of this review and follow up actions |
5.4.3 Grit Bins and Heaps:
|
Feedback |
Officer Comment |
|
clarity was requested regarding whether certain grit bins on the network had been removed from operation as some were reported to be empty; remove any redundant bins |
There should be no redundant grit bins on the network as will either be NYC / Parish / Town Council or member funded. Bins may have been accessed emptied during the event; some bins may be on private land and out-with NYC control / responsibility. Will be reviewed at end of current season |
|
can the criteria for grit bins could be reviewed and more be provided? |
This is possible, but has a cost implication |
|
whether NYC could adopt grit bins where locality budget funding had expired |
Such bins are unlikely to meet current criteria |
|
Could grit heaps be more easily identifiable when covered in snow – would marker poles help? |
Not practicable due to maintenance liability attached to having several thousand marker posts which outweighs perceived benefit |
|
Some site-specific requests for grit bins |
Can be dealt with via local area teams and reviewed against existing criteria |
|
can temporary grit bins or stocks be deposited at village halls, town councils and churches |
Can be promoted/explored in terms of existing community self-help group initiative that exists on a case by case basis |
|
can we add stickers to grit bins deterring use on private drives and also add a QR code / link to replenishment requests |
Agree – will investigate |
|
Minimise potential for any standing water on roads |
This is addressed via our scheduled and non-scheduled gully emptying programmes; |
|
positive feedback received that bins were stocked pre-event and refilled quickly in some instances |
noted |
5.4.4 Collaborative / Partnership working
|
Officer Comment |
|
|
formalise any existing arrangements with Parks & Grounds |
Work already underway on this |
|
suggestion of volunteer winter ambassadors |
This does exist in the form of Community Gritting Partnerships – can explore how to further-promote alongside concept of winter ambassadors |
|
Engage / collaborate with parish and town councils; get parishes to set up winter gritting teams |
This does exist in the form of Community Gritting Partnerships – can explore how to further-promote alongside concept of winter ambassadors |
|
engagement with other bodies such as BIDs |
Discussion already underway with some BIDs – can explore some form of gritting partnerships |
|
coordinate local resident action groups |
This does exist in the form of Community Gritting Partnerships – can explore how to further-promote alongside concept of winter ambassadors |
|
Can activity be devolved to town councils when formed under double devolution initiative |
can explore some form of gritting partnerships |
|
promote self-help |
This does exist in the form of Community Gritting Partnerships – can explore how to further-promote |
5.4.5 Communication
|
Feedback |
Officer Comment |
|
Promote self help |
Can be delivered through some positive publicity around clearance of snow and ice, Community Gritting Partnerships and also understanding of current guidance from government (the ‘snow code’) |
|
Manage expectations, including cost of any enhanced service |
Noted and agree – additional provision could incur additional cost, so need to consider cost, benefit and proportionality of any enhancement |
|
Offer advice on preparation for winter, including what is an essential journey |
Agree – can review / enhance existing pre and mid-season winter comms messages |
|
Disparity between statements and activity on the ground |
Ongoing sense-checks required with regard to activity and messages / press releases |
|
Perception of feeling let down |
This is understood – this review contains thoughts around enhancing future resilience |
|
PR drive on winter treatments including drivers out in all weathers and use of farming contractors |
Can review messages that are sent pre and mid-season |
|
Introduce gritter trackers |
Online gritter tracking was introduced several seasons ago: Road gritting | North Yorkshire Council |
5.4.6 Other / Miscellaneous
|
Feedback |
Officer Comment |
|
Requests for route reviews |
Requests for route reviews, additions and changes are considered in August as part of the annual route review report. Submissions should be made to the appropriate area highways office |
|
Treatment of unadopted roads |
This is out-with the scope of the service currently provided |
6.0 SUMMARY AND NEXT STEPS / PROPOSALS
6.1 Under normal circumstances, resource and response provision in recent years has generally been proportionate with winter weather conditions and the more ‘typical’ winter weather events we have experienced in those recent winter seasons. The event of January 2025 has to be acknowledged as an exceptional event and the existing resource capability was challenged given the event’s severity, duration and extent, particularly where footway treatments were concerned. Alongside ideas that were already in train, reflection on this event has been a catalyst to explore opportunities where existing service provision can be supplemented or enhanced. This includes making the best use of our wider staff resource availability within the council now that NYC is a unitary authority.
6.2 There are a number of areas to be explored where the winter service might be evolved and whether resilience might be increased a measured and proportionate manner. These include:
i. Greater emphasis on footway clearance & treatment on Category 1 footway routes during snow events
ii. Review provision for footway treatments in proximity to Category 1 footway routes and other key locations during prolonged / sustained winter weather events
iii. Greater use of mechanical equipment to clear and treat footways in urban centres
iv. Promoting winter / community gritting partnerships, including (but not limited to) Parish & Town Councils, BIDs and other local resident / business group
v. Review resource availability within NY Highways & NYC in order to create a larger resource pool during extreme weather events
vi. Formalise access arrangements to personnel from other NYC departments to assist, and set triggers for enacting that assistance
vii. Enhancing existing winter service communications and initiatives, to include guidance on preparation for winter, snow clearance, myth busting and winter partnerships
viii. Review extent to which pre-treatments can be undertaken in advance of significant weather events
ix. Review criteria for grit bins, reinforce use on the public highway, QR codes for refills
6.3 It is proposed that the items in 6.2 are explored alongside any learning from the operational review of the whole 2024/25 winter season. A further report would then be presented to the Corporate Director, Environment and Executive Member for Highways and Transportation ahead of the next winter season.
7.0 ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED
7.1 This report is a reflection on service provision during the January 2025 winter weather event and how that provision might be improved in a manner proportionate to the frequency of future extreme winter weather events. The report includes proposals for Members’ comment regarding how the service can be developed utilising a range of existing resource and support from other teams within NYC, as well as developing partnership working with businesses, residents, Parish / Town Councils and other community groups.
8.0 IMPACT ON OTHER SERVICES/ORGANISATIONS
8.1 This review includes consideration of how colleagues from other services within NYC such as Waste & Street scene and Parks & Grounds might support alongside the service provided NYH Highways and other third parties. Proposals will be evolved and would form part of a further report presented to Corporate Director, Environment and Executive Member for Highways and Transportation. Preliminary discussion has already commenced with these Heads of Service and would continue as this review progresses.
9.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
9.1 There are no financial implications as a direct consequence of this report as it is a review of events. Any amendments to service provision in the future could have financial implications for the Council. Any financial implications would be included in a future report for consideration.
10.0 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
10.1 The Council as highway authority has a duty under the Highways Act 1980 section 41 to maintain highway maintainable at the public expense. Further it has a particular duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that safe passage along a highway is not endangered by snow or ice. There are no direct legal implications as a consequence of this report, however, any change to existing operational winter service provision / resilience could form part of the Council’s defence against potential third party claims.
11.0 EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS
11.1 An initial equalities impact assessment form was completed and is included as Appendix A. The assessment of this report concluded that there is no impact on people with protected characteristics.
12.0 Environmental Impacts/Benefits including Climate Change Impact Assessment
12.1 See Appendix B
13.0 REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
13.1 The recommendation is that Members note the information contained in the report alongside seeking Members’ views is to inform further work that will follow as part of this review.
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14.0 |
RECOMMENDATION
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14.1 |
Committee Members are requested to note the information within the report and offer comments or suggestions where necessary - those comments and suggestions will inform the further report to the Corporate Director and Executive Member mentioned in paragraph 6.3.
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APPENDICES:
Appendix A – Initial equality impact assessment screening form
Appendix B – Climate Change Assessment
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS: North Yorkshire Council Winter Service Policy
Karl Battersby
Corporate Director, Environment
County Hall
Northallerton
2 July 2025
Report Author and Presenter: Nigel Smith, Head of Highway Operations
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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 |
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Service area |
Highways & Infrastructure – Highway Operations |
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Proposal being screened |
Review of Winter Weather Event - January 2025
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Officer(s) carrying out screening |
Nigel Smith – Head of Highway Operations NYC |
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What are you proposing to do? |
To update Members following a review of the winter weather event that commenced on 4 January 2025, the Council’s response, and considerations for responding to future events of a similar nature as well as seeking comment / feedback |
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Why are you proposing this? What are the desired outcomes? |
To apprise Members of the above, seek feedback and evolve proposals to enhance existing winter service provision / capability
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Does the proposal involve a significant commitment or removal of resources? Please give details. |
To be determined in a future report to Corporate Director, Environment and Executive Member for Highways and Transportation |
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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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ü |
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Disability |
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ü |
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Sex |
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ü |
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Race |
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ü |
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Sexual orientation |
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ü |
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Gender reassignment |
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ü |
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Religion or belief |
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ü |
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Pregnancy or maternity |
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ü |
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Marriage or civil partnership |
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ü |
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NYC additional characteristics |
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People in rural areas |
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People on a low income |
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Carer (unpaid family or friend) |
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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. |
No. This is a report seeking Members’ views / comments at this stage. Future reports to Corporate Director, Environment and Executive Member for Highways and Transportation where proposals are presented may improve provision for movement around the highway network where improvements are enacted
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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. |
No |
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Decision (Please tick one option) |
EIA not relevant or proportionate: |
Yes |
Continue to full EIA: |
No |
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Reason for decision |
This is a report for information only and seeking Members’ views / feedback. There are no adverse impacts on any of the protected characteristics.
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Signed (Assistant Director or equivalent) |
Barrie Mason |
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Date |
4 April 2025
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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
Version 2: amended 11 August 2021
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Title of proposal |
Review of Winter Weather Event - January 2025
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Brief description of proposal |
To provide update Members following a review of the winter weather event that commenced on 4 January 2025, the Council’s response, and considerations for responding to future events of a similar nature as well as seeking comment / feedback |
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Directorate |
Environment
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Service area |
Highways & Infrastructure – Highway Operations |
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Lead officer |
Nigel Smith – Head of Highway Operations NYC |
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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 |
18 March 2025 |
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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.
The report is a reflection on the Council’s response to the winter weather event of January 2025; the service is delivered via NYC, NY Highways and a number of farming / other subcontractors. The report includes proposals for Members’ comment regarding how the existing service can be enhanced utilising that resource and through possible partnership working with business, residents, Parish / Town Councils and other community groups.
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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 report includes proposals for Members’ comment. A series of proposals is set out for further investigation that would be subject to approval via a further report to the Corporate Director, Environment and Executive Member for Highways and Transportation.
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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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Potential for increase in mechanised capability (and resultant emissions) to treat / clear footways from snow / ice – NB this would be subject to approval in a future report and is not yet confirmed |
Consider lowest emission / electric vehicles |
Explore market – maximise opportunity to procure low / no emission vehicles |
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Emissions from construction |
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N/A |
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Emissions from running of buildings |
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N/A |
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Emissions from data storage |
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N/A |
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Other |
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N/A |
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Minimise waste: Reduce, reuse, recycle and compost e.g. reducing use of single use plastic |
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N/A |
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Reduce water consumption |
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N/A |
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Minimise pollution (including air, land, water, light and noise)
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Ensure any mechanical equipment (if approved) is low emission and low noise, but effective treatment of footways would encourage alternative modes of travel, including walking if footways treated more effectively/extensively. Consideration can be given to utilising a salt / grit mix to reduce the amount of salt used in footway treatments and future consideration can be given to alternative de-icing methods |
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Ensure resilience to the effects of climate change e.g. reducing flood risk, mitigating effects of drier, hotter summers |
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N/A – this relates to how the winter service is delivered during extreme winter weather events |
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Enhance conservation and wildlife
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N/A
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Safeguard the distinctive characteristics, features and special qualities of North Yorkshire’s landscape
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N/A |
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Other (please state below)
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N/A |
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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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Rocksalt is widely recognised as a de-icing agent, but as part of a wider review of winter service provision, alternatives such as liquid de-icers can be explored as part of next steps / future reports to for consideration by the Corporate Director Environment in conjunction with the Executive Member for Highways and Transport as this review evolves.
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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.
This report is for information and to seek Members’ views after which further work is required. |
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Sign off section
This climate change impact assessment was completed by:
Authorised by relevant Assistant Director (signature): Barrie Mason
Date: 4 April 2025 |