Issue - meetings

To consider a report on a new prioritisation system for responding to different categories of complaints on the public rights of way network.

The Council had statutory obligations under various sections of the Highways Act 1980 to deal with obstructions and other types of problems on the public rights of way network. 

Following the creation of Cheshire East Borough Council, the maintenance and enforcement team were currently managing around 100km of additional path each within their areas. This had resulted in stretching officers to the limit and meant that some problems reported were not being investigated for several weeks, and others such as minor, non statutory complaints not at all. 

Officers had been prioritising their own workload on a largely ‘common sense’ basis, with complaints with a possible impact on public safety being prioritised first, then obstructions and finally minor non-statutory matters.  Due to the budget shortfall facing the Council, it was unlikely that any extra staffing would be available.  

It was proposed that a system be introduced by which officers could prioritise different types of complaints.  Priority 1 would be for public safety issues, with and complaints being investigated/responded to in 24-72 hours from receipt of complaints.  Priority 2 would be for obstructions and statutory duties, with and complaints being investigated/responded to in 2-4 weeks from receipt of complaint.  Priority 3 would be for maintenance issues and minor compliance issues, with and complaints being investigated/responded to in 4-6 weeks from receipt of complaint.  Priority 4 would be for non-statutory requests/enquires and these would be dealt with at the discretion of the relevant officer.

The new system would be publicised on the Council’s website and through the Cheshire East Public Rights of Way Forum to make the public and user groups aware of the timescales in which reported problems will be investigated against.

RESOLVED:

That the prioritisation system for different categories of complaints on the public rights of way network be approved.