The purpose of this report is to seek approval to the proposed Highway Winter Service Operational Plan and arrangements for 2022/23.

Under Section 111 of the Railways and Transport Act 2003, the council, as local highway authority for Wirral, has a duty ‘to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that safe passage along a highway is not endangered by snow or ice’.

One of the key themes in the Wirral Plan 2021-26 is to provide safe and pleasant communities. By generally making roads safer for road users, this operational plan will contribute to a key theme set out within the current Wirral Plan.

This matter affects all Wards.

This matter does not require a Key Decision.

Resolved – That the Highway Winter Service Operational Plan for 2022/23 be approved.

The Highway Winter Service Operational Plan included at Appendix A to this report details proposals for the manner in which Wirral’s highway winter service operations will be carried out during the winter period 2022/23 for the treatment of carriageways, footways and other areas where required in order that the council can meet its statutory duty.

A fully externalised commissioned service was considered but this would not meet the council’s preferred overall highway service delivery model approved by the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee on 16 March 2021, and may not deliver best value at the present time.