Councils cut grit budgets

Jason Petsch, Commercial Director, www.gritit.com
Councils are under pressure to continue to deliver the best possible service to the public in what are tough economic times. Cuts are inevitable but there should be a focus on ensuring service levels are maintained.

When it comes to winter risk management, the safety of the public and company employees is paramount. Success will depend on proper planning and management, and what councils cannot afford is a reduction in service, as this will have an impact on other areas of activity.

There is a need for standardisation across all councils at the moment so that taxpayers across the country have access to and can get the best possible service for their money. We are going to have to see privatisation and outsourcing to professional organisations if these efficiencies are ever going to be realised.

By jasonpetsch on 9 November, 2011, 2:11pm

CUTS!!!! and more CUTS!!!!

This government are leaving the country and it's people wide OPEN to terrorists and major road accidents along with everything else. We are doomed to stay here mark my words.

The last two winters have shown we NEED snow clearing equipment to keep the country moving, and we NEED border controllers at airports to keep the Terrorists out.
CUT CUT CUT is not always the right way to go, try "ORGANISE" instead and only cut the dead wood.

By john550i on 10 November, 2011, 9:13am

Common Sense

If councils stop running themselves as a company and stop wasting money on high redundancy packages and buying services through a fixed contract then the savings are there for these services. The councils tend to waste a lot of money when buying parts instead of shopping around for cheaper alternatives. For example, my council bought a load of memory sticks which cost them £58 each when they could have bought the same amount at £7 each by shopping around. That wasted over £10,000 just for one item and all due to having parts supplied from a contractor who can charge what he wants. Cuts can be made without losing any services by utilising the money correctly and not following fixed practices.

By Rych1506 on 10 November, 2011, 9:28am

Councils will be held legally negligent for consequences

I don't know if the law has changed, but I believe Councils have the legal responsibility to keep roads safe by ensuring they are gritted in icy weather conditions. Perhaps the Councils think it will be cheaper to pay out compensation for accident damage, injuries and deaths due to their negligence. If this is the way the Councils want to go in the future, the Compensation Lawyers will be rubbing their hands in glee.

By jamesmclaughlin on 10 November, 2011, 1:52pm

National economy

Cuts are needed to improve the countries economy, and wherever they come they will have a negative impact; Health, Education, Policing, roads ..... it is allways painful to make cuts ... that is just the way it is. My advice to UK drivers is to buy dedicated winter tyres and you will find many of the winter delays and agrevations will disapear.

By up2eight on 10 November, 2011, 2:59pm

How much the authorities REALLY care about road safety!!!

The same councils that are partners in speed camera partnerships and preach on about road safety plus use 'if it saves one life' propaganda to 'justify' the grab for easy fixed penalities are the same councils cutting gritting - i.e. real road safety measures.

Along with pothole strewn roads, this is all you need to know in a nutshell on how much the authorities really care about road safety when they're not collecting fixed penalties.

Putting people in danger is just fine as long as it costs them less - road safety is only of 'interest' to them when it can be used as a tenuous excuse to bring in the cash.

Disgusting.

Interesting that this story appears at the same time as the one about the top ten speed cameras raking in the cash.

What a corrupt, hypocritical, two-faced, vile regime the public sector represents - and they expect sympathy from the public when the subject of having their gold-plated pensions slashed is raised.

Get rid of the public sector non-jobs and spend the money on grit and filling in potholes!

Time the public stopped serving the people that were (and still are) supposed to serve the public...

By Rodge on 10 November, 2011, 10:39pm