Ubique Posted February 24, 2015 Report Posted February 24, 2015 A few comments ago Dippy Hippy remarked on the litter on the side of the road as well as in the hedgerows on the A49 between the Starting Gate and Leominster , well I travelled from Wellington to the Starting Gate Roundabout ( where , by the way , they are still building ! The cycle path , has got to be over 3 months now ! ) and I can confirm , if conformation is needed that this is another disgrace for this County . The A49 is the main North / South road through the County and it just reflects the cokeyed priorities and lack of pride the elected members of this Council have . So sad. But what can we do other than fall into their trap and pick this litter etal up at no cost to the Council. Quote
Chris Chappell Posted February 24, 2015 Report Posted February 24, 2015 For details about the Lengthmens scheme and parish councils signed up to it, contact HALC who represent most of the PCs in the county. All PCs have a clerk to the council who would be responsible for over seeing, along with possibly the parish chairman, the work of the Lengthman's. They all work closely with the Locality Steward for the area and it is to the Locality Steward that any problems with litter, water courses, pot holes etc should be reported. They are then sent through to BB who prioritise the work. RTOs are taking almost three years but litter picking should be done with in a few days. All these things need to be reported first either to Ward councillor or to parish Council. The Locality Stewards are working well, report weekly to their respective Ward Councillors and PCs about work done and work to be done next next week. We have just had published the road works schedualled to be done for next two years. Your Parish Clark or Ward councillor should be able to inform of work in your area. Again hope this helps. Quote
twowheelsgood Posted February 24, 2015 Report Posted February 24, 2015 Chris, I've reported hundreds of issues with blocked gullies, racist graffiti, other graffiti, potholes, fly tipping, rubbish and more since BB took over - either via 'fixmystreet' or directly to the council - I can honestly say that no more than half a dozen issues have been fixed in that period. Even the racist graffiti took 12 weeks to be cleaned and numerous chasing by me, even using the Council's facebook page couldn't sort that one. In short, no one who is paid to gives a stuff about the environment we live in. That multi-million pound greenway bridge you cut the ribbon on? Covered in graffiti. I reported it all 3 months ago - still there. How is Joe Bloggs supposed to know who to report things to - how many have heard of locality stewards? I'm going to send a long list of issues to mine and see what happens. Quote
dippyhippy Posted February 24, 2015 Report Posted February 24, 2015 Good grief Chris! In your post above, we have...... 1.HALC. 2.PC. 3.Clerk to the Parish Council. 4.The chairman of the Parish Council. 5.The Lengthsman. 6.The Locality Steward. 7.Balfour Beatty. 8.RCO......whoever/whatever that is! 9.Ward Councillor. Phew! That's quite a list. It's little wonder there is confusion, and the left hand doesn't know what the right is doing! All this....... and the place is still a mess. Quote
flamboyant Posted February 24, 2015 Report Posted February 24, 2015 Cllr Chappell the links in the posts above contradict your response? Which is the whole point. Quote
Chris Chappell Posted February 24, 2015 Report Posted February 24, 2015 Dippy, I am sure those that follow how parish councils work will know about the Hereford Association for Local Councils and it's parent, NALC? The parish councils should be able to give you information you need about HALC as most are signed up to this organisation. There should be no confusion as all know about each other and most have web sites. Locality Stewards are working well, and they work closely with PCs, Commuinity Groups, Ward Councillors etc. RTOs are Road Traffic Orders, and take far too long to implement but the law is there and there to ensure the public are protected. Twowheelsgood, send me an email to my council address;cchappell@herefordshire.gov.uk I need exact position of all the rubbish you speak about. 12 weeks to get graffiti may seem a long time to you and me, but some of our posters may think that filling pot holes has priority. The cycle way is in Lower Bullingham Parish Council area and I will also inform their Clerk about the graffiti. There should be no confusion amoung Councillors so if you contact yours, he/she should be able to help you. Quote
twowheelsgood Posted February 25, 2015 Report Posted February 25, 2015 12 weeks IS a long time when it is offensive - particularly when the Council's website states; "We aim to remove graffiti of a sexual, racial or offensive (contains expletives) nature within 24 hours." If I submit a report via the proper channel ie the Council website specific form page for such matters, I expect it to be dealt with. I do not expect to have to contact a dozen different bodies - there lies the route to madness and often they are outside my ward anyway. I honestly believe that 98% of all reports forwarded to BB by the Council are simply binned. Quote
megilleland Posted February 25, 2015 Report Posted February 25, 2015 Hereford Times News 25th February 2015 by Bill Tanner, Senior Reporter Up to £40 million may be stake in Herefordshire Council's "complex" legal dispute with former major contract partner Amey This morning (Wed) the Hereford Times revealed that both parties were at odds over a “high value and complex†dispute. Now, the Hereford Times understands that two disputed items alone could be worth up to £30 million. Other claims could take the total at stake to around £40 million. The disputes stem from a contract variation made in 2010. Amey broke off long-running negotiations with the council last month to take the dispute to Adjudication. As a result, the council is having to draw on its £3.5 million risk mitigation reserve to protect related rights and interests. A closed doors decision taken this week also allows for the council to appoint specialist professional, legal and technical support without going to tender. The council is not outlining the extent of issues or sums involved saying such information is exempt under the Local Government Act 1972 and could be subject of a claim to “legal professional privilegeâ€. At issue are the contracts the council had with Amey that ended in August 2013. Over 30 separate areas of dispute remain between the parties and have been under negotiation. In January, Amey broke off negotiations and referred four matters to Adjudication. Three of those referrals will be determined as a consolidated matter by one Adjudicator. A fourth, however, is of high value and complexity and has been referred to a different Adjudicator. The Hereford Times understands that Amey and the Council are very far apart in their respective views on the disputed issues. Council papers identify the need for “specialist barristers and technical experts†to present its case. It is still possible that further Adjudication Notices or other legal proceedings may be issued by either party. Advice from counsel and other technical experts is said to “strongly support†the stance taken by council officers in resisting Amey’s claims and the potential for successful counter claims. Behind the scenes, though, there is concern at the extent of resources needed to protect the council’s legal rights. But top council managers and senior political leaders have been warned of a “significant risk†that Amey’s claims could succeed by default without the deployment of appropriate resources. The release of funds from the risk mitigation reserve was signed off this week by Cllr Patricia Morgan, cabinet member for corporate services. This decision was taken without reference to a committee but could still be called in by scrutiny. With the decision comes an “overarching†exemption to the council’s contract procedure rules to appoint specialist professional, legal, and technical support without going to tender. A special project team has been set up to manage the disputes with Director for Economic, Communities and Corporate Geoff Hughes as Project Executive. Though the council is claiming exemption from disclosure of the financial resources required, it does say that the level is “considered appropriate†to ensure that the disputes are dealt with effectively. In 2013, the Hereford Times revealed that more than £3 million of “disputed items†remained to be resolved when the council ended its service provision contract with Amey. Then, the council was warned of the potential risk these disputed items presented to budget planning. Some of the impact, however, was identified for absorption within the 2013-14 budgets managed by Amey through the managing agent contract agreement formed out of two contracts renegotiated in 2009. In total, the council paid £38.5m to Amey Wye Valley over 2012-13 – up from £32m in 2011/12. Subsequent council budget papers revealed the disputed items risk. Following the adjudication of a sample of disputes earlier that year, talks were underway between the council and Amey to evaluate the impact of this ruling. Then, the council expected some £885,000 of income from Amey – for which provision had been made in the previous years’ outturns – and an additional expectation of £166,000 for the five months to that August. Earlier in 2013 Amey missed out on the council’s £200m public realm contract covering highways, parks, street cleaning and street lighting. The contract went to Balfour Beatty.Public realm was one of the council’s first private sector partnership initiatives. In 2003 the council entered into a contract with national construction and engineering firm Jarvis PLC for the provision of contract services worth around £13m a year over 10 years. The contract involved establishing a joint venture company called Herefordshire Jarvis Services (HJS) with staff transferred over from the council’s former commercial services arm. Just a year later Jarvis saw its share price plummet and started talking about breaking up the company to survive. A proposed sale of HJS that all parties came to rely on fell through and the council had to prepare contingency plans to keep key services running until Amey agreed to buy the 80 per cent share Jarvis had in HJS with the council keeping its 20 per cent. Amey Wye Valley took over the contract in August 2007 and soon had to cover much of the £2m plus HJS was found to owe sub-contractors, suppliers and other creditors, a debt that caused considerable tension within the county’s business community. In 2009 elements of the council’s two contracts with Amey – the other entered into after a company providing the council with technical services was taken over by Amey – were re-negotiated to form a single managing agent contract through which Amey Herefordshire would deliver highways, parks and public rights of way service plus a range of support services such as printing, catering and couriers. and * Herefordshire Council also has to draw on risk resources over a legal dispute relating to an adult residential care home contract. Though this dispute in smaller in scale and complexity, it is said to be of “significant†financial value and requiring input from specialist counsel. Not sure where to post this story. It could have gone under grass cutting, council incompetence, scrutiny, transparency, but it doesn't really matter as more money is cast to the wind. Is this why the council is appointing more financial wizards. Let's hope the Balfour Beatty contract is watertight! Quote
Ubique Posted February 25, 2015 Report Posted February 25, 2015 Megiland said .." Let's hope the Balfour Beatty contract is watertight! " Megiland is the best researcher on this Forum ..actually , I know that his remark is tongue in cheek . History reports that the designer of the Titanic made a similar statement . Once again , it's the Legal Profession that will make a bob or two out of this . Quote
dippyhippy Posted February 25, 2015 Report Posted February 25, 2015 What an absolute shambles. When are they going to hold up their hands and admit they have got this very wrong. Outsourcing has cost us millions, we aren't getting what we have paid through the nose for, and now there are going to be lengthy and expensive legal proceedings, to try to claw back a little of what is owed. Surely any fool can see that a direct workforce is far more effective? Quote
Ubique Posted February 25, 2015 Report Posted February 25, 2015 Dippy said ..........Surely any fool can see that a direct workforce is far more effective? Guess that I am a fool ! Quote
dippyhippy Posted February 25, 2015 Report Posted February 25, 2015 Me too mate! Did you know that the collective term for fools, is a forum of fools? It's not - I made that up.... but it should be! We can all see the obvious, why on earth can't they??? Quote
megilleland Posted February 27, 2015 Report Posted February 27, 2015 A few comments ago Dippy Hippy remarked on the litter on the side of the road as well as in the hedgerows on the A49 between the Starting Gate and Leominster , well I travelled from Wellington to the Starting Gate Roundabout ( where , by the way , they are still building ! The cycle path , has got to be over 3 months now ! ) and I can confirm , if conformation is needed that this is another disgrace for this County . The A49 is the main North / South road through the County and it just reflects the cokeyed priorities and lack of pride the elected members of this Council have . So sad. But what can we do other than fall into their trap and pick this litter etal up at no cost to the Council. Travelled to Ludlow yesterday and the A49 is one big litter trail. I reckon it would be imposible for BB to clean it up in the next month before it gets hidden again when the grass starts growing. If they cut the verges later the litter will just get shredded and scattered everywhere. Why is no-one on the council or at BB concerned? Quote
twowheelsgood Posted February 27, 2015 Report Posted February 27, 2015 Because they've realised they can take the money for a service and then not deliver it and no one in control is bothered? (Although the A49 is Highways Agency responsibility). Try the Hereford to Sutton road - unbelievable mess. The cross the border into Wales and you can go for miles without seeing a single piece of litter. Quote
greenknight Posted February 27, 2015 Report Posted February 27, 2015 Well I'm coming in very late on this thread however Mrs Knight and I moved into Hereford last year from a village just outside Leominster where the majority were retired but a small minority made a contribution from litter picking, village hall management etc,etc. The Lengthsman Scheme was working but more and more was being requested from the chap who in many cases can be a local farmer. The trouble today is that the could not give a sh###t attitude is alive and well living,working and retired in this great county. Litter is a problem for people because it's visible yet so preventable and for most if this problem was addressed they could retreat back into their sitting rooms comfortable in the knowledge that their view will not be spoiled when they go out for their drive to pick up those necessities or perhaps a bit of lunch at the garden centre. The cutbacks made by this council came from decisions made by individuals nestled away in their countryside idyll safe in the knowledge that their conservative vote will not change come May. So we either have to lump it or do something about it...Sadly I'm not seeing a lot of pre election anti council street rants only frustrations vented on this site. Where are the posters, why has no-one grabbed me on the street or knocked my door. Hopefully it might just be that there is going to be a monster swing to UKIP or IOC however the reality is that for most a resignation to another five years of detritus lies within our view. So unless the disgruntled voter puts actions against words please get ready see more topics of horror copied and pasted to this Forum!! Quote
megilleland Posted February 27, 2015 Report Posted February 27, 2015 Although the A49 is Highways Agency responsibility. Yes, but the council should be getting onto them. I wonder what Visit Herefordshire think about this - litter is hardly an attraction for visitors. I have just sent them an email and will let you know their response. Quote
megilleland Posted February 27, 2015 Report Posted February 27, 2015 I wonder what Visit Herefordshire think about this - litter is hardly an attraction for visitors. I have just sent them an email and will let you know their response. Sally Roberts Sally.Roberts@visitherefordshire.co.uk via hotmail.com 12:10 (32 minutes ago) Dear Mr Gilleland Thank you for your enquiry. Visit Herefordshire has not raised this issue with any of the authorities you mentioned regarding the litter in the city and verges around the county. Can I suggest that you contact Herefordshire Council and report this issue yourself, I will do the same, If enough of us report this issue maybe something will happen. Kind regards Sally-Ann Roberts Visit Herefordshire Limited King Street Hereford HR4 9BW Quote
twowheelsgood Posted February 27, 2015 Report Posted February 27, 2015 Maybe? Something? Hardly the response one would expect from a business charged with championing tourism in the county - particularly as she is the managing director. Their website says "Tourism is Herefordshire’s second biggest economy worth over £466 million in 2011, providing more than 8,500 FTE jobs within the county. With over 7,500,000 tourist days enjoyed within the county …" Quote
Ubique Posted February 27, 2015 Report Posted February 27, 2015 Sally Roberts from Visit Herefordshire has obversely got her finger on the pulse and .....No , with respect she hasn't Quote
greenknight Posted February 27, 2015 Report Posted February 27, 2015 Sally Roberts Sally.Roberts@visitherefordshire.co.uk via hotmail.com 12:10 (32 minutes ago) Dear Mr Gilleland Thank you for your enquiry. Visit Herefordshire has not raised this issue with any of the authorities you mentioned regarding the litter in the city and verges around the county. Can I suggest that you contact Herefordshire Council and report this issue yourself, I will do the same, If enough of us report this issue maybe something will happen. Kind regards Sally-Ann Roberts Visit Herefordshire Limited King Street Hereford HR4 9BW Sorry but again this is no surprise after all they would not want to rock the boat to much. I wonder if this company gets support funding from the Herefordshire Council? Quote
dippyhippy Posted February 27, 2015 Report Posted February 27, 2015 I would suggest that a group of us go and litter pick, then dump it outside Plough Lane! Perhaps a little direct action would have an effect......? Quote
Aylestone Voice Posted February 27, 2015 Report Posted February 27, 2015 Ah yes Green Knight - visit herefordshire are conspiring with Herefordshire Council about a road for which neither is responsible! Megilleland - whilst your investigative work is much valued why did you contact visit Herefordshire rather than the Highways Agency? That said yes the whole county is a litter strewn mess and until people take personal responsibility it is likely to remain so Quote
megilleland Posted February 27, 2015 Report Posted February 27, 2015 why did you contact visit Herefordshire rather than the Highways Agency? I would have thought that if there is one organisation that has an interest in the county being tidy, Visit Herefordshire must be the major one. Tourists move about the county and must surely see the same litter that I see in my everyday travels as a postman, a job that takes me to most parts of Herefordshire. I was also a hotel proprietor for 11 years in the north of the county and my guests were very aware of the natural beauty of our countryside returning each year. However since I sold the hotel in 1999, and taking up cycling, I have become very conscious of the worsening state of our surroundings and the lack of awareness of these problems by those entrusted to maintain appearances. Basically no one cares. However I will send the Highways Agency a note and report back on their reaction. They at least recognise litter is a problem on our roads - Highways Agency Litter Strategy (pub 2013). Oddly the A49 is shown on their map (p7) as being kept tidy by the local authorities it passes through. The A49 south of the city along the Callow to the Monmouth turn is also blighted. Quote
greenknight Posted February 27, 2015 Report Posted February 27, 2015 Ah yes Green Knight - visit herefordshire are conspiring with Herefordshire Council about a road for which neither is responsible! Megilleland - whilst your investigative work is much valued why did you contact visit Herefordshire rather than the Highways Agency? That said yes the whole county is a litter strewn mess and until people take personal responsibility it is likely to remain so No conspiracy theories here as I'm fully aware of who has responsibility for which class of road and it doesn't matter actually because the class A roads are just as bad as those B & C class types. No my question is a simple one ..as a Limited Company it needs business to survive so I guess unless it's totally voluntary who provides the finance to keep this marketing organisation going because if it's private enterprise I would be complaining that I'm not really getting my monies worth! It does not matter which road you drive into this County it's a disgrace..pot holes, absence of any white lines, missing signage, litter..tons of litter but don't worry because just on the borders you will see a sign "here you can" .... You see the thing is this...why should I have to pay for damage to a defibrillator in the back of my car which I self fund because of a huge unavoidable pothole. Then once pulling over at the nearest lay by I step out into ankle deep litter with that wonderfull smell of urine and visible human faeces. Quote
Aylestone Voice Posted February 28, 2015 Report Posted February 28, 2015 I do not know the details of the Balfour Beatty contract or the Highways agency in respect of litter but the other day there was a feature on, I think, Midlands Today about litter/fly tipping. A councillor from, I think, Coventry or Birmingham when asked about the mess said that as their income was severely reduced they had chosen to concentrate on services for children and old people rather than litter collection. These are the difficult choices that have to be made Quote
megilleland Posted March 4, 2015 Report Posted March 4, 2015 However I will send the Highways Agency a note and report back on their reaction. They at least recognise litter is a problem on our roads - Highways Agency Litter Strategy (pub 2013). Oddly the A49 is shown on their map (p7) as being kept tidy by the local authorities it passes through. The A49 south of the city along the Callow to the Monmouth turn is also blighted. Here is the HA reply: Lambert, Christopher Attachments01:54 (7 hours ago) Thank you for your e-mail to the Highways Agency Customer Contact Centre dated 02/03/2015 regarding litter on the A49. The Highways Agency is responsible for the maintenance and stewardship of motorways and trunk roads in England however the responsibility for litter collection on trunk roads falls with the local authority. Under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990: Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse, responsibility for keeping all-purpose trunk roads (APTR) free from litter falls to the local district and borough councils. There are a few lengths of trunk road on which the Highways Agency is responsible for litter collection and these are detailed in the attached extract from the Network Maintenance Manual. I have attached a PDF outlining the sections of the Strategic Network where the Highways Agency maintains responsibility for litter clearance. The Agency regularly monitors the cleanliness of its network and where it considers that the standards set by the Environment Protection Act are not being met, writes to the relevant local authority asking for swift action to be taken to cleanse the area of accumulated rubbish. On safety grounds, any material that is a hazard to traffic (i.e. debris in live lanes) is removed directly by the Agency as a matter of priority. The Agency hopes that by working with these district and borough councils we will be able to help resolve the issue of litter on the trunk road network. We also urge drivers to keep their rubbish with them and dispose of it safely and sensibly upon reaching their destination. The contact details for the appropriate local authority can be found using the Direct Gov website at http://mycouncil.direct.gov.uk/index.html. Local Authorities would have to comment on their individual processes but most LHA, (Local Highways Authorities) will have references on their own websites. I hope that this helps with your enquiry. If you have any further questions regarding this or any other Highways Agency issue please feel free to contact us on our 24 hour information line on 0300 123 5000. Alternatively please e-mail us at ha_info@highways.gsi.gov.uk or access our website where information on all Highways Agency policies and procedures can be found at http://www.highways.gov.uk Kind regards Christopher Highways Agency Customer Contact Centre Tel: 0300 123 5000 There are two maps referrred to in this email map p7 which shows All-Purpose Trunk Roads for which responsibility for clearing litter lies with local authorities and this map listing the maintenance areas. I rang the HA this morning and they confirmed that the A49 responsibility for clearing litter lies with Herefordshire Council and gave me their Highways telephone number 01432 261800. I rang this and failed to get through and was picked up by customer services who told me that the litter on the A49 is the Highways Agency responsibility. Balfour Beatty was mentioned by her in the conversation and I said I would send a liiter report and they can reply. Maybe a councillor can confirm whose job it is to pick up litter on Trunk Roads in Herefordshire? Quote
Ubique Posted March 4, 2015 Report Posted March 4, 2015 Well Done Megilland , interesting reply from both HA and HCC , it leads onto the fact that nobody will take responsibility for anything if they can pass the buck to somebody else . Rubbish ! Quote
flamboyant Posted March 4, 2015 Report Posted March 4, 2015 Ring the Parish Council, who will ring the localities officer who will ring the lengthsmen the localities officer will ring the Parish Councillor back who will ring you and tell you! For heavens sake people get with the program! It's simples! Quote
flamboyant Posted March 4, 2015 Report Posted March 4, 2015 Alternatively litter packs are available for those of you with additional time on your hands on a first come first serve basis. So you will need to be quick and only five of you! I'm a bit busy so happy for someone to take my place. Litter packs Please contact 01432 349504 to request a litter picking pack which includes: 5 litter picks Gloves High visibility vests 2 hoops and black bags On occasions, the litter packs can be in high demand and we would advise you to request a pack at least two weeks before you require them. Quote
megilleland Posted March 4, 2015 Report Posted March 4, 2015 If you click on the A49 using the Council's map you get this message: Maintenance of this particular road is the responsibility of the Highways Agency (not Herefordshire Council) The Highways Agency can be contacted on ha_info@highways.gsi.gov.uk Did you mean to click somewhere else? If so, click OK and try again. Maintenance maybe the responsibility of the Highways Agency, but litter is not - it is the responsibility of Council/Balfour Beatty. By coincidence Visit Hereford passed my initial email to Balfour Beatty - here is their reply: Liaison, Herefordshire via hotmail.com Attachments10:22 (3 hours ago) Dear Mr Gilleland, I am writing in response to an enquiry you have raised with Visit Herefordshire regarding litter throughout the county that has been passed to Balfour Beatty Living Places to respond. Following the need for Balfour Beatty(BB) to support Herefordshire Council(HC) manage their challenged resources, an agreed reduction in the street cleaning budget for the county took place in early 2014. This resulted in agreed changes being made to the street cleaning schedules. De-littering of highway verges within Herefordshire takes place in line with the schedules set out in the Annual Plan, an agreement set up between BBLP and HC to deliver the contractual requirements . The 2015/16 annual plan is currently under review and schedules are due to be finalised by Spring 2015. BBLP are contractually required to de-litter rural A and B roads twice a year, lay-bys are generally de-littered on an ad-hoc basis in response to requests received. If, however, a food outlet is present de-littering occurs once a week. If you would like to provide more specific detail as to locations that are of particular concern to you we can look into these areas Best wishes, Kelly. Kelly Himsworth Customer Resolution Assistant Balfour Beatty Living Places - Services Division Unit 3 | Thorn Business Park | Rotherwas | Herefordshire | HR2 6JT (01432) 349518 | 07815 709479 Quote
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