Dear All

I would I to thank all of you that attended the April Local Highway Town and Parish
Council Meeting. I attach all the relevant information from the meetings.
As there is a lot of information attached I have kept this months newsletter short, so
you are not overwhelmed with reading.

Launch of Parish Steward Scheme

The council is giving advance notice that it hopes to run a set of workshops in June
to detail the launch of the new Parish Steward Scheme. Further details will be
issued shortly.

Q & A On Free Parking Spaces

The Q&A details from the last round of Town Council Evening Meetings will be
issued within the fortnight and contained in next months Newsletter.

Wiltshire Highway Contracts

Balfour Beatty Living Places have now exited the Wiltshire Contract. The councils
main contractors are now:

Tarmac The Largest Highway Schemes

Ringway The Majority of Highway works
The Landscape Group Amenity and Streetscene Services
Jacksons Rural Verge Cutting

All contracts are now up and running. There are a number of new schemes to be
introduced, the Parish Steward Scheme for example. These will be implemented
over the next few months. Any changes will be notified in advance through this
newsletter.

Wiltshire Invests 3million in Local

Highway Services
The council is investing an additional 3million into highway services. This can be
broken down to:

Introduction of the Parish Steward Scheme

Paying for three additional cuts of amenity grass between 1st March and 31st
April (cut monthly thereafter).
Additional Scheduled litter picks of all main routes between 1st April and the
31st June.
Supporting Community Schemes:
o Community Toilet Initiative (see below)
o Play Area Transfer Funding
o Local Priority Scheme (From Priority Sheet).
o Etc.

All other services will be as previously stated.

Local Highway Restructure

We are currently out to consultation with staff on the new structure for the Local
Highway Service. I will write to detail the changes in my next newsletter when the
consultation has finished.
However, I am giving you an early heads up on the possible change.
But the service needs to change because:

The council has identified savings within contactor management (this is

outside of the investment in operational services).
A review of similar authorities found that councils are moving away from
generic structures to service structures to ensure the focus on local priorities.
Historic ad-hoc staff reductions (savings been achieved by not filling vacant
posts) has led to the current staff allocation not being in line with work
demands.
The contract now being split between different providers, means the contact
points have changed and Local Highways structure is not designed around
the new arrangements.
Contract management will now carry out the first response for reactive works
through the MyWiltshire System. Through this we will enable improved
electronic feedback.
The introduction of the Parish Steward Scheme means they become the first
point of contact for town and parish councils.

Wiltshire Council Launches Community

Toilet Scheme

Wiltshire Council is launching a Community Toilet Scheme. The council is looking for
businesses it can work with across the county to make more toilets available to the public. It
is also hoping the scheme will deliver longer opening hours and more convenient locations.
Any business or community building in Wiltshire can become involved. The scheme
promotes the buildings as being happy to allow non-customers to use their toilet facilities
during their normal opening hours.
Participating properties will display a sticker in the window, so wherever you see this sign it
means you are welcome to use the toilet facilities without necessarily having to ask or make
a purchase.
The council recognises that some buildings will need to make improvements to their current
facilities and so has allocated 1,000 per community area board to pay for one off set up
costs for the financial year 2016/ 17. Applicants can apply to their local community area
board for grants up to 250 for improvements.
Many businesses and community buildings already provide public toilets and I believe this
scheme will help further deliver major benefits to visitors to Wiltshire. It recognises the
change in requirements for public convenience provision whereby commercial and retail
buildings have become the provider of choice for public toilet users. I trust the funding that
the council is making available will encourage even more properties to open their doors to
residents and visitors to Wiltshire.

Utility Works On The Highway

If you look at our highways you will see that many of the potholes and poor surfaces follow
the line of works completed in the past by a utility company. Wiltshire Council does seek to
avoid roads being dug-up repeatedly, but the utilities do have the right to carry out certain
works, including emergency repairs and new connections. The Council can influence
diversion routes and the timing and dates of work within reason, and works with the utilities
to co-ordinate their work with that of others. Both Wiltshire Council and the utility companies
exchange information about future works.
Utility companies must meet prescribed material specifications and standards of
workmanship when reinstating a road or footway and to guarantee the performance of the
reinstatement for a minimum period of two years. Wiltshire Council can carry out inspections
of utilities' works at their expense.
Any cases of defective reinstatement identified by Wiltshire Council can be rectified at the
utility company's expense. The utility company must also, for each proven defect, bear the
cost of the initial investigation and three further follow up inspections, and any additional
inspections required if works are not completed within an agreed timeframe.
The council appreciates the active support of local communities in keeping on top of this
problem. Their efforts in monitoring utility company repairs is helpful. Local communities
can be the extra eyes and ears of the council, and can assist in ensuring the standard of
our highways are maintained. If a local community is aware of a utility repair that appears
to be substandard it can be reported to streetworks@wiltshire.gov.uk so an additional
inspection can be undertaken to check the condition of the repair.

Unauthorised work on Wiltshire

highways
Please remember that before work on the highway can begin it must be authorised by Wiltshire
Council. Besides the obvious safety concerns, unauthorised works can cause traffic congestion
and potential risks for road users.
The council can apply conditions within reason to when, where and how roadworks take place in
the county to help manage and reduce the impact of works on both the traffic and the
environment.
When people are found to be working in breach of their permission or without permission, the
relevant penalties are applied and the appropriate action is taken with the person carrying out the
works, which can include prosecution.
Some of the problems typically found on site can vary from temporary traffic signals not being
correctly operated, to works sites being unsafely guarded.
Depending on the severity of the issue, people are in some instances instructed to stop work and
their permission may be revoked. The Council works closely with those undertaking works in
order to reduce issues.