Gritting services to return to council control by next winter

Gritting and plouging services across the Harrogate district will be taken over by a new organisation from next winter.

NY Highways Ltd, a company set up and run by North Yorkshire County Council, is set to begin operations this summer and will be running gritting services from then on.

In recent years, highways services including gritting have been sub-contracted to Ringway, with a contract value of £40 million. Instead, by next winter NYCC will directly control the work through its new local authority trading company or ‘Teckal’, with a revenue budget of £20m, a capital budget of £35m, and an expected turnover of £60m.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, NYCC executive member for access, said:

“Having our own company gives us greater control and flexibility over our highways service delivery, while removing the contractual constraints that exist with the current arrangements.

“Through more direct accountability for the works on the ground we aim to deliver a ‘right first time’ service with the customer continuing to be at the heart of everything that we do.

“A very large proportion of the highways team live in North Yorkshire, they are passionate about their communities and take pride in delivering services which are used by their own friends and families. We believe the new company will ensure that we get the maximum benefit from that local pride and passion.”

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The news has been welcomed by Pateley Bridge Town Council, which has issued a letter about the arrangements for winter gritting and ploughing after residents raised concerns.

The Mayor of Pateley Bridge, Cllr Mike Holt, explained NYCC’s role and priorities in bad weather, and said he hoped the changes over the summer would bring improvements by next winter.

“At the moment NYCC subcontract all this work and much more to outside contractors but later this year, after many years they are bringing these services back in house.

“This should mean a more efficient cost-effective service and also through local knowledge, potentially a different set of priorities, concentrating on the worse affected areas instead of just following a scheduled programme.

“Certainly when the changes occur, you can be assured that Pateley Bridge Town Council will be monitoring the situation.”

County council approves £8m funding for highways company vehicles

Senior county councillors have approved £8 million worth of funding to purchase vehicles on behalf of the authority’s new highways company.

NY Highways Ltd, which was announced by the authority in June, is set to take over the council’s £40 million highways contract next year.

The new company will maintain the county’s roads and the authority said the new arrangement will give them greater flexibility and control, and will also remove “contractual constraints”.

Now, senior county councillors have approved £8 million worth of of additional funding on top of £2 million already set aside to purchase specialist vehicles.

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A report before county councillors said:

“As the project has progressed, further scoping has been undertaken which has resulted in the identification of additional requirements.

“As a result, an additional £8m is requested to allow further orders to be placed on the same basis as the original approval. This will bring the total funding included in the capital plan for the advance purchase of vehicles to £10m.”

The cost is expected to be recharged to NY Highways Ltd once it is in operation, which is expected to be from June 1, 2021.

It comes as Ross Bullerwell has been announced as manager director of NY Highways. The council advertised the post for around £100,000 a year with flexible benefits.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, the executive member for access, welcomed the news of his appointment and said:

“Having our own company gives us greater control and flexibility over our highways service delivery, while removing the contractual constraints that exist with the current arrangements.

“Through more direct accountability for the works on the ground we aim to deliver a ‘right first time’ service with the customer continuing to be at the heart of everything that we do.”

North Yorkshire County Council sets up highways company

North Yorkshire County Council has set up a limited company that will begin running its highways operations in June next year.

NY Highways Ltd will take over the current £40 million a year contract that the council currently has with Ringway to maintain North Yorkshire’s roads.

The council says that this new arrangement will give them greater flexibility and control and will also remove “contractual constraints”.

Not only will NY Highways Ltd repair and build roads for North Yorkshire but it also plans to expand to other local authorities and the private sector.

The council says that NY Highways has a revenue budget of £20 million and a capital budget of £35 million with an expected turnover of £60 million.

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Ross Bullerwell will join NY Highways Ltd in September next year.

New managing director for NY Highways Ltd

NY Highways Ltd has today announced it has appointed Ross Bullerwell as managing director. The council advertised the post for around £100,000 a year with flexible benefits.

Mr Bullerwell is currently the managing director of Rennicks Ltd, which supplies road traffic signs and technology. He will start work at NY Highways Ltd in September next year.

Councillor Don Mackenzie, the executive member for access, welcomed the news of his appointment and said:

“Having our own company gives us greater control and flexibility over our highways service delivery, while removing the contractual constraints that exist with the current arrangements. Through more direct accountability for the works on the ground we aim to deliver a ‘right first time’ service with the customer continuing to be at the heart of everything that we do.”

Councils across the country have set up limited companies to look after different sectors. Harrogate Borough Council will this week decide on plans to create a company to look after its leisure portfolio.

Unison spoke out about that decision and said it feared that jobs would be under threat in the leisure sector as the council looked to save around £400,000 a year.