UK councils should collaborate more and adopt a broader approach to salt supply to ensure the UK’s roads remain open during prolonged periods of snow and ice, according to a review into the severe weather last February.
The UK Roads Liaison Group (UKRLG) report was requested by the Department for Transport (DfT) after the most severe winter for 18 years left many councils running low on salt supplies in the face of relentless demand.
The report includes 19 recommendations based around four themes – maintaining service resilience, preparation for and operation of winter service, communications and procurement.
Recommendations for highways authorities include adopting a winter service resilience standard; collaboration and innovation in sharing salt depots and salt stocks, and in procurement; broadening the approach to salt supply by establishing framework contracts with more than one supplier; and preparing contingency winter service plans for severe weather conditions.
Matthew Lugg, chairman of the steering group from the UKRLG winter service review, said ‘resilience in the supply chain’ was crucial. ‘We’ve developed relationships where we’re dependent on a single supplier, but authorities need more than one,’ he told Surveyor.
The report cites Devon County Council’s framework contract, which specifies the supply of different types of salt from different suppliers in the UK and abroad, allowing Devon to access salt from any of the suppliers, depending on type of salt, timeframe and price.
In order to reduce the risk of uncertainty associated with salt purchases, the report recommends performance contracts as a more efficient form of procurement. The Illinois department of transportation in the US, for example, guarantees to purchase 80% of its estimated salt need, and the supplier guarantees to supply up to 120%, if required, after which prices are set by agreement.
The report says highway authorities and salt suppliers should treat the supply of salt as a service rather than a simple commodity purchase. ‘Commodity purchase arrangements do not necessarily embrace the service relationships between highway authorities and their salt suppliers which should lead to improved reliability, knowledge and anticipation through good communications.’
It also recommends the establishment of supplier user groups as a way of improving communications between suppliers and authorities.
The DfT, meanwhile, should make preparations to enable rapid relaxation of drivers’ hours regulations to facilitate the free movement of salt stocks during cold spells. On 6 February, for example, the department relaxed the regulations for drivers of lorries hauling salt in order to maintain supply, but it came too late in the day for the salt suppliers to arrange weekend deliveries.
Lugg added: ‘We believe the key lies in collaboration between authorities, clear minimum standards and close partnership with salt suppliers. There is a lot of good practice out there, and we will all gain if we share it.’ The recommendations, which will now be considered by the transport secretary, are intended to be updated in the UKRLC code of practice, Well-maintained highways, for winter 2010/11.
Lessons from the severe weather February 2009
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