Decision details

The Committee gave consideration to a report which provided an update in relation to the 2026-27 Winter Service Policy budget savings options, following the 2025-26 Winter Service Policy being endorsed by Members at the September 2025 meeting of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee.

This report proposed a two-track approach, immediate savings for winter 2026/27 which are achievable through a reduced gritter fleet hire period, alongside a fuller review of the Winter Maintenance Service Policy over the next 12 months to assess longer-term options for route prioritisation, network coverage and service resilience.

Decision

The Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee:

1.    approved the comprehensive review of the Winter Maintenance Service Policy over the next 12 months, with a report back to the committee in June 2027;

2.    agreed that the Winter Maintenance Service Policy for 2026/27 is brought to the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee in September 2026 for approval; and

3.    approved the savings of £0.080m by reducing the hire period for the gritter fleet by four weeks, and that this can be implemented for winter 2026/27, thereby contributing to the overall savings allocated to the review of Roads and Infrastructure Services.

(Reference: Report by Executive Director with Responsibility for Roads and Infrastructure, dated June 2026, submitted)