►
Description
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council Special Council Meeting on Monday the 18th of September 2023 at 6.30pm. This is a hybrid meeting with Members and staff attending in the chamber and remotely using Zoom
A
Who
is
the
network
maintenance
manager,
and
this
is
in
light
of
the
letter
that
was
circulated
till
ourselves
back
in
August
members
requested
this
special
meeting
members
I
want
to
reiterate
to
you
tonight
that
we
are
not
deviating
away
from
tonight's
meeting.
It
is
to
do
with
winter
gridding
and
I
apologize
in
advance.
But
if
you
steer
down
a
different
avenue
I'm
going
to
cut
your
mic,
we
are
going
for
a
meeting
next
month
with
DFI
roads.
A
We
have
a
clinic
set
up
and
any
issues
that
we
raise
will
be
raised
then
so
I
do
hope.
You
appreciate
that
I'm
trying
to
keep
this
curtailed
to
what
the
meeting
is.
There's
41
of
us.
We
do
have
issues
as
we
all
do,
with
DFI,
I
wrote
and
I
want
to
curtail
for
what
tonight's
meeting
is
about.
So
with
that
in
mind,
I'm
going
to
hand
over,
is
it
Mark?
Are
you
taking
this
okay?
Thank
you.
B
B
At
the
outset,
I
would
like
to
explain
that
we
fully
appreciate
the
concerns
of
the
public,
who
use
the
more
likely
traffic
roads
which
are
not
on
the
Salted
Network,
and
the
impact
that
this
causes
to
them,
including
bus
routes
tonight,
gives
us
an
opportunity
to
give
a
little
more
detail
on
the.
Why
the
what
and
the
high
winter
service
delivered
and
when
sorry
and
then
to
explain
the
significant
budget
pressures
the
department
is
currently
facing.
B
B
B
B
Are
policy
sets
out
the
criteria
in
terms
of
what
we
sold.
This
results
in
approximately
7
000
kilometers,
equivalent
to
Belfast
to
Moscow
and
back
and
amounts
to
about
28
of
the
network
being
soldered,
which
carries
approximately
80
percent
of
the
traffic
because
of
the
significance
of
the
operation,
and
that
it
is
a
discretionary
function.
Our
policy
has
been
set
by
previous
ministers
and
and
an
executive.
B
B
The
role
of
the
four
divisions
is
to
deliver
the
operational
element
of
the
winter
service
policy
across
all
11
Council
areas.
We
really
do
understand
the
concerns
that
Council
has
raised
about
salting
the
rural
Network,
particularly
bus
routes,
and
the
impact
this
hat.
This
can
have
on
people's
decisions
to
travel
or
not
and
their
safety.
B
It
is
important
to
explain
that
for
salt
to
act
as
a
de-icer,
it
requires
a
considerable
amount
of
traffic
to
break
down
the
salt
particles
into
a
water
solution
before
becoming
effective.
We
know
this
from
scientific
data,
but
we
have
also
become
aware,
after
receiving
complaints
about
some
lower
traffic
roads
that
are
on
the
Salted
Network
and
that
have
unmelted
ice.
B
The
current
soldered
network
doesn't
trade
primary
public
transport
corridors,
these
being
the
highest
use
routes
to
include
all
bus
routes
such
as
other
TransLink,
buses,
school
buses,
Healthcare
buses
and
so
on
onto
the
assaulted
Network
would
be
a
significant
increase
on
top
of
the
current
routes,
regardless
of
having
little
benefit.
This
would
require
a
sizable
increase
in
our
Fleet
drivers
and
costs
to
deliver
the
size
of
the
operation
will
become
impractical,
unsustainable,
based
on
current
current
resourcing
levels.
B
It
takes
108
Critters
to
carry
out
one
salting
operation
across
Northern
Ireland,
which
takes
nearly
four
hours
to
complete
decision
making
and
timing
of
assaulting
action
is
critical
and
in
the
majority
of
cases
these
needs
done.
This
needs
done
during
the
early
hours
of
the
morning.
Sometimes
salting
actions
are
repeated
up
to
three
to
four
times
in
a
24-hour
period.
B
To
deliver
the
current
operation
and
to
ensure
rest
periods,
we
have
over
350
volunteer
staff
available
for
a
seven
month
period
during
the
winter
season.
They
also
require
specialist
training.
Our
volunteer
staff
give
up
their
time
when
the
public
are
in
bed.
I
would
thank
our
volunteers
who
do
an
incredible
job
during
the
Blick
early
hours
to
keep
our
economy
moving.
B
In
terms
of
our
current
budget
constraints,
it
would
be
remiss
of
me
not
to
highlight
the
serious
shortfall
in
resource
funding,
but
the
department
is
currently
facing.
The
department
has
167
million
of
resource
funding
pressure
this
year,
following
a
public
consultation
of
a
quality
impact
assessment,
to
assess
the
impacts
of
our
resource
spending
that
included
an
option
for
stopping
the
discretion
function
of
Sultan
with
the
road
Network,
as
well
as
the
potential
switching
off
street
lights
and
reducing
road
maintenance.
B
Further,
the
department
published
an
interim
consultation
report
in
July,
which
recognized
the
impact
of
reduction
of
winter
service
and
all
Road
users
and
the
impact
on
the
North
Mountain
economy.
It
is
also
recognized
that
making
such
decisions
is
not
within
the
power
to
take
under
the
executive
format.
B
To
summarize
again,
we
fully
understand
and
appreciate
the
concerns
of
those
who
use
roads
that
are
not
on
the
treated
Network.
However,
it
is
simply
not
practical
to
expand
the
social
network
Beyond
its
parameters
and,
in
fact,
with
current
resourcing
and
funding
challenges,
the
department
is
actually
looking
to
reduce
it.
B
A
Mark
thank
you
for
that
and
trying
to
keep
it
as
condensed
as
and
and
easy
to
understand,
as
possible
and
Mark
can
I
also
join
with
you
750
volunteers,
I.
Don't
know
that
I
did
not
realize
that
we
had
that
amount
of
people
across
the
area
helping
with
the
grabbing
process.
So
I
want
to
also
place
on
record
our
thanks
from
behalf
of
the
council
for
the
work
that
they
that
they
do
councilor
McClellan.
You
have
not
ceased
writing
since
Mark
started
speaking
so
I'm
reading.
What's
coming
off.
C
Thank
you,
I'm
certainly
welcome
to
Mark
and
Allen
I
would
say
whilst
we're
staying
on
the
Wonder
grading
issues
for
this
evening,
there'll
be
plenty
coming
up
next
week.
The
next
time
that
we
meet
you
guys
so
just
be
prepared,
be
warned
be
whatever.
But
anyway,
as
you,
as
you
probably
know,
the
Lagan
River,
we
a
is
probably
the
most
rural
of
all
of
the
Des
within
this
console
area
and
I.
Suppose,
yes,
Bridge,
which
which
in
Northern
Irish
weather
terms,
is
sometimes
described
as
the
coldest
one
might
be.
C
The
second
most
coldest
place
within
Northern
Ireland
is
in
the
Lagan
River
DEA,
which
I
suppose
brings
me
on
to
the
school
bus
route,
and
you
you
mentioned
school
bus
routes,
their
Mark
in
your
presentation
and
the
road
between
Keith's
bridge
and
Ken.
Allen
Not
only
has
one
secondary
school
bus
route,
but
it
is
too,
namely
drummer,
high
school
and
Banbridge
Academy.
C
You
know
it's.
It's
all
very
well
Mark
saying
that
you're
particularly
concerned
about
school
bus
routes,
but
that's
all
that's
all
very
well,
but
when
you,
when
you
picture
a
scenario
in
the
morning,
a
family
have
the
kids
ready
as
Frosty
on
an
on
credit
Road
and
the
school
bus
doesn't
appear
that
immediately
sends
that
or
has
the
potential
to
send
that
family
into
orbit
in
terms
of
having
to
change
the
routine.
It
can
sometimes
mean
that
that
the
kids
don't
make
school.
C
It
can
mean
that
the
parents
have
to
change
their
routines
and
so
on
in
terms
of
doing
the
school
run
and
then
going
on
to
work.
So
it's
all
very
well
saying
that
there's
particular
concern,
but
really
I'm,
not
sure,
even
that
any
of
us
realize
the
the
deep
deep
issues
that
a
school
bus
not
running
because
of
a
road
that
is
on
credit.
You
know,
I
I,
don't
think
that
any
of
us
really
understand
that
so
I
would
say
you
know.
Well,
I
would
ask
the
question.
C
C
C
There
are
literally
hundreds
of
families
that
are
affected
by
that
small
stretch
not
being
dreaded,
and
it
means
that
they
can't
get
up
on
the
Banbridge
Road
and
and
go
their
way
either
towards
lisburn
or
towards
bound
bridge
in
the
mornings,
a
very
s,
a
very
small
area
of
road.
That
would
make
a
huge,
huge
difference
to
a
lot
of
my
constituents
in
canalam
and
I.
Suppose
I
would
just
finish
off
by
saying
you
know,
I
would
ask
you
to
reflect
on
what
I've
said.
A
B
Thanks
counselor
Russell,
as
I've
said
it
in
my
presentation.
The
department
is
not
proposing
to
expand
its
gridded
or
change
its
policy.
In
fact,
the
department
isn't
able
to
change
its
policy
because
it's
set
by
previous
ministers
and
the
executive,
and
we
will
continue
to
try
and
put
in
place
the
criteria
of
the
policy,
but
the
Criterion
needs
to
be
met
until
the
route
for
the
route
to
become
part
of
and
the
greater
Network
I
will
believe.
The
network
currently
meets
the
criteria
in
terms
of
what's
been
done.
B
We
don't
believe
we
can
do
anything
and
more
than
what
we're
doing
already,
it's
extremely
difficult
to
expand
the
current
service
and
the
level
of
service
that
we're
providing.
It
is
extremely
complex
to
deliver
28
of
the
network,
to
expand
it
not
just
to
this
Castle
area,
but
to
10.
Others
would
mean
a
complete,
significant
increase
in
the
number
of
routes
that
need
salted.
B
B
B
So
at
the
moment,
we're
aiming
to
deliver
the
current
level
of
service
that
we
provided
in
the
past
for
many
years
and
we're
aiming
to
do
that
to
the
best
of
our
ability,
I'm,
hoping
that
our
people
are
available
to
drive
Critters,
not
just
throughout
the
night,
but
throughout
a
24-hour
period.
During
the
day.
B
We
will
continue
to
monitor
any
roads
that
are
that
may
need
to
come
onto
the
network
to
establish
whether
we
have
missed
one,
for
example,
but
I
think
that's
unlikely
and
your
second
question
I
believe
is:
do
we
expand
the
services?
I
think
I've
answered
it,
that
I
don't
think
it's
possible
to
expand
the
services.
Regrettably,.
A
C
E
E
Just
pick
up
on
one
thing
you
said
quickly
was
you
said
we
can't
change
the
policy
because
there's
no
minister
in
place,
but
in
your
initial
presentation
you
mentioned
looking
to
reduce
the
service
further,
but
if
we
can't
change
it,
how
can
we
reduce
it
and
then,
if
we
can
reduce
it,
how
will
that
be
decided?
What
threshold
will
you
know?
Who
will
make
that
decision?
If
there
isn't
a
minister?
What
will
the
threshold
you
know
essentially
change
to
what
roads
will
be
cut?
E
I
think
these
are
all
open
questions
that
need
to
be
answered,
but
you
know
it
would
be
good
to
understand.
Even
if
you
can't
give
us
the
answer
right
now
what
the
potential
process
might
be
on
the
on
gridded
road,
72
percent
of
Roads,
as
you
said,
are
ungraded.
Do
we
have
any
mitigating
actions
whatsoever
for
unsalted
roads?
Are
there
any
plans
in
place
to
improve
safety
on
those
roads
that
aren't
credited?
Are
there
alternates
to
salt
that
you
know
have
been
considered?
E
You
know
maybe
Lauren's
speed
limits
temporarily
things
like
that.
You
know
during
the
winter
I
don't
know,
I
mean
I'm,
not
an
expert,
unless
this
is
why
you're
here
answering
the
questions
but
I'm
just
trying
to
think
of
ways
that
on
72
of
the
root
network,
is
there
a
way
that
we
can
improve
the
safety
on
these.
You
know
on
these
roads
in
these
areas,
as
well
as
that
with
I
mean
Budget
constraints,
aren't
something
that
are
unique
to
DFA.
E
So
it's
really
just
about
trying
to
maximize
what
you
know
I
mean
essentially
what
you've
got
so
are
the
cost
saving
measures
that
are
being
put
in
place?
Are
there
things
that
we're
looking
at
to
try
and
improve
the
efficiency
of
the
service?
So
they're,
you
know
contingencies
being
set
aside
for
future
Seasons.
E
You
know
I'm
just
trying
to
think
of
creative
ways
that
DFI
could
potentially
save
money
in
the
long
run
by
being
smart,
with
the
way
that
they
deliver
the
service
as
opposed
to
just
sort
of
plodding
forward
with
kind
of
business
as
usual.
Those
will
be
the
three
points
I'd
like
to
raise.
Thank
you.
A
B
Firstly,
I
think,
there's
three
questions
and
the
process
to
reduce
in
the
letter
that
I
sent
out
in
the
9th
of
August
I
have
attempted
to
explain
the
process,
and
so
what
the
department
did
in
may
they
set
out
because
of
the
pressure
on
the
budget
and
set
out
an
EQ
IA
public
consultation
document,
with
the
possibility
of
reducing
winter
service
and
I
think,
and
it
was
about
converting
winter
service
to
normal
credit
routes
to
emergency
service.
Only
for
snow
clearance.
B
The
department
is
published
at
interim
consultation
report
based
on
that
feedback.
It
was
published
in
July
and
there's
a
link
in
the
letter
to
explain
that
process
and
it
also
part
of
that
consultation
I
not
gone
off
track.
It
was
about
the
top
of
the
possible
ability
of
switching
off
street
lights
and
reducing
further
or
road
maintenance
policy.
B
And
this
consultation
process
was
about
trying
to
seek
views
from
the
public
on
the
potential
of
reducing
services
to
try
and
meet
that
goal
of
no
I
made
a
very
good
point.
We
can't
change
the
policy
you're
right
can't
and
a
letter
explains
that
that
the
power
of
senior
officials
we
can't
we
can't
we
don't
have
the
the
power
under
the
northern
executive
forum
act
to
actually
make
that
change,
and
we
can't
lawfully
do
it
and
the
absence
of
appropriate
decision
makers.
B
That's
the
first
question:
unsoldered
roads,
I,
I,
you're,
right,
I,
didn't
I
touched
on
it.
Briefly
in
my
explanation:
the
department
does
produce
or
put
in
place
five
and
a
half
thousand
salt
bins,
and
we
have
50
hit
thousand
grip
piles
on
roads
that
qualify
under
the
criteria
of
the
policy
in
certain
conditions,
and
so
that's
that's
a
mitigating
measure
that
people
can
use
those
on
a
self-help
basis
that
to
help
salt,
the
public
road
Network
in
their
local
area.
B
No,
there
are
issues
with
that.
There's
an
awful
lot
of
replenishing
to
do
after
a
cool
snap,
many
salt,
piles,
many
salt
bins,
are
emptied
after
two
days
and
I.
Think
I
was
I'd,
be
here
a
couple
of
years
ago,
when
I
said
it
takes
eight
weeks,
it's
quality
it
weeks
to
replenish
the
division,
so
we
can't
go
out
the
next
day
and
just
replenish
everything
so
there's
significant
resource
challenges
on
our
site.
To
do
that.
B
B
B
So
that's
where
the
you
know
having
a
false
sense
of
security
of
a
road
that
is
gridded
and
actually
it
being
very,
very
low
traffic
when
in
fact
a
low
traffic
road
that
is
gridded
doesn't
necessarily
mean
it's
for
frost
or
ice
free,
and
that's
the
science
behind
it's
not
economical,
minimal
benefit
that
actually
begin
to
salt
more
than
rural
Network,
because
it's
it
effectively
is
an
effective
cost
savings
and
I'll
say
a
bit.
I'm
gonna
ask
Alan,
but
there
was
there's
con.
B
There's
very
technical
computer
equipment
in
each
of
the
lorries,
the
gridders
to
allow
to
ensure
to
ensure
that
the
actual
network
is
gridded
to
a
certain
point
and
that
there,
when
each
how'd
I
explain
this
I'll,
explain
it
better
than
me
to
make
sure
there's
no
patches
left
unsalted
on
the
grip
Network.
So
actually
the
fleet
actually
overlap
and
turn
back
at
themselves.
F
G
Yeah
well,
I
was
supposed
to
probably
pick
up
on
a
couple
of
points
there
you
asked.
Firstly,
you
know
what
what
are
we
doing
on
traded
roads
and
Mark
mentioned
there,
for
example,
salt
bands
and
grip
files,
but
we
also
undertake
what
we
call
second
regretting,
which
is
when
sort
of
the
condition
of
the
normal
solid
rate
is
assured.
We
will
send
the
gutters
out
to
do
other
routes,
for
example
Ridge
to
rural
skills.
G
What
what
else
could
we
do?
You
asked
a
bit
Alternatives.
There
are
alternatives,
you
know,
there's
things
like
potassium
acetate
or
urea,
but
there
well.
This
was
firstly
they're
chemicals.
Do
we
really
want
to
be
spreading
thousands
of
tons
of
chemicals,
but
not
only
that
you
know
the
The.
Cutting
Fleet
would
have
to
be
changed.
You
know
their
their
spreads
of
liquid
rather
than
dry
salt.
So,
yes,
there
are
alternatives.
G
H
Thank
you,
Lord
mer
for
that
man.
Yes,
just
as
really
possibly
an
overview,
but
I've
grown.
There
was
been
covered
with
George
gret
piles
on
our
some
of
our
roads.
It's
an
issue
where
we
get
all
the
time
whenever
the
the
winter
weather
heads
on
the
roads
are
bad,
that
one
Sam
capiles
have
been
exhausted.
I
G
Thank
you
for
the
for
the
question.
Look,
there's
no
doubt
to
say
that
I
think
in
the
mark
provided
a
figure
there,
55
000
grid
pays
within
Southern
division.
We
provide
I,
think
it's
somewhere
close
to
23
000
of
that
the
vast
Arabic
Source,
maybe
10
to
12.
000
of
them
are
in
our
Brown
bridge
and
Craig
Alvin,
and
it
is
a
considerable
exercise.
You
know
to
put
them
out
first
of
all
at
the
start
of
the
season,
but
then
to
try
and
replenish
them
during
the
season.
G
I
think
Mark
mentioned
it
can
take
up
to
it
can
be
exhausted
within
two
two
days,
maybe
less,
depending
on
the
circumstances,
but
then
because
of
our
limited
resources-
and
we
have
to
remember
to
see
him
people
who
are
driving
the
garage
that
we're
trying
to
use
to
replenish
good
piles
and
salt
boxes
and
all
these
sorts
of
things
you
know,
so
it
can
take
six
eight
weeks
after
the
cold
spell
to
replenish
them.
So
it
was
not
a
sample
matter.
I've
used
them
today
replaced
them
tomorrow.
G
It
just
simply
isn't
isn't
feasible
things,
you
know.
Yes,
we
can.
We
could
consider
increasing
the
size
in
the
number,
but
again
you
know
say
twelve
thousand
or
twenty
two
thousand
in
the
division
is
already
a
considerable
undertaking
and
to
consider
putting
it
out
more
again.
We're
only
really
add
to
the
burden
and
I
suppose
I
should
say
to
their
their
lapsulin
that
are
very
rarely
used
and
on
the
event
you
know
nobody
else,
not.
G
A
B
A
good
question:
if,
if
we
change,
if
we
review
and
change
any
policy,
it
would
need
to
go
to
the
minister,
because
all
our
policies
are
administered
needs
approval
of
this
particularly
significant
changes,
and
this
one
in
particular
will
need
these.
If
there's
a
change
to
it,
it
will
need
the
executives
to
give
approval
the
consideration
or
sorry.
The
the
need
for
this
assembly
to
come
back
would
only
be
needed
if
there
was
a
need
to
actually
put
in
place
and
push
the
button
to
see
a
moment.
D
B
K
K
K
B
B
B
Alan
is
at
the
core
of
that
and
I'm
involved,
and
so
are
other
the
other
three
divisional
rules,
managers
on
the
other,
equivalent
of
of
Alan
Plus
or
internal
1M
teams,
and
so
there's
probably
about
undirectors,
of
course,
they're
all
involved
in
that
decision
making
process.
If
we
have
industrial
action
to
make
conscious
decisions
to
provide
the
best
service,
we
can
for
the
public.
A
K
Yes,
thank
you
very
much.
Thank
you
for
letting
me
come
back
in
Lord
mayor.
We
appreciate
your
answer:
I
sort
of
covered.
What
I
was
looking
to
know
and
I
want
to
bring
you
back
something
you
said
earlier
on
about
I
think
it
was
a
statistic
that
most
serious
accidents
are
done
on
routes
at
our
greatest
I
guess.
What
you
said
is
that
something
to
look
at
from
a
DFA
perspective
coming
in
not
Nye,
obviously
probably
Juliet,
but
an
education
on
that
and
that
how
did
it?
A
B
We
can
I
only
learned
of
that
this
morning,
and
you
know
there
is
the
possibility
of
even
talking
to
our
press
office
and
trying
to
actually
give
media
messages
out,
and
we
do
I'll
actually
go
back
to
my
previous
answer.
We
we
do
provide
media
messages
during
strike,
action
and
risks
whatever,
but
maybe
there's
a
there's
something
that
we
could
do
with
our
press
office
to
try
and
put
more
tweets
out
to
add
media
out
about
trying
to
raise
the
awareness.
So
yes,
it's
a
good
idea.
L
Thank
you,
Lord
mer,
and
thank
you
both
for
your
presentation,
which
I
probably
wasn't
worth
at
all.
He'd
mentioned
that
once
the
roads
are
done
on
a
certain
level,
you
do
then
go
to
secondary
roads.
I
think
was
the
word.
You
call
it
maybe
in
schools,
but
trying
to
ask
a
question
that
I'll
is
there
anything
in
place
over
a
prolonged
period
of
a
cool
spell?
You
know
for
quite
a
few
areas
that
don't
directly
get
credit.
Is
there
something
place?
L
G
Thank
you,
yeah.
Well,
I.
Suppose.
Yes,
we
do
in
terms
of
the
rural
scooters.
You
know
we
would
based
on
the
forecast.
We
would
make
a
proactive
decision
that,
for
example,
you
know
there's
going
to
be
ice
on
the
the
minor
roads
tomorrow
morning,
where
we
would
treat
the
schools
sort
of
in
the
early
hours
of
the
morning,
along
with
the
rest
of
the
network,
so
that
at
least
whenever
the
school
opens
people
can
get
there.
We
also
have
I
suppose
lists
or
schedules
of
roads,
which
we
know
that
traditionally
create
problems.
G
That
are,
you
know
highly
in
nature,
for
example,
and
that
we
would
proactively
go
and
undo
those.
So
it's
not
an
extensive
list
and
it
depends
very
much
on
the
circumstances,
but
they
say
we
do.
You
know
we
do
know
from
previous
experience
the
rules
that
people
contact
us
about.
Looking
for
you
know,
assistance
on
a
regular
basis.
G
G
No,
it
doesn't
it's
not
based
on
time.
It's
based
purely
on
the
forecast
on
the
on
the
weather
conditions,
say
Obviously.
It
has
to
be
that
the
the
condition
of
the
main
sorting
schedule
is
is
sort
of
in
reasonable
condition
before
we
would
determine
to
go
elsewhere.
So
it
can
be
the
case,
for
example,
that
where
you
have,
you
know
long
periods
of
snow
or
freezing
rain
Etc
that
you
know,
we
simply
can't
leave
the
main
roads
to
go
to
these
other
routes.
M
M
Well,
that
include
your
primary
schools,
your
rural
schools
and
all
that
and
I
think
it
is
a
priority
that
these
routes
are
dumb.
So
there's
you
talk
about
being
reactive.
We
need
a
proactive
way
to
dealing
with
this
situation.
Reactive
is
dealing
with
someone.
That's
already
happened.
We
need
to
be
proactive
in
the
build
up
to
this
sort
of,
and
indeed
within
the
rural
communities,
but
Dairy
Farmers.
That
has
already
been
mentioned
here
tonight,
and
many
farmers
go
out
and
clear.
M
M
Yes,
you
have
limited
resources
which
I
appreciate
and
I
certainly
would
like
to
be
the
next
Minister
it'll
be
in,
but
that's
a
decision
for
a
higher
house
in
here,
sort
of
but
I,
think
restock
and
great
pays
and
grip
boxes
and
all
has
always
been
a
problem
and
whenever
you
get
into
it
for
a
sustained
period,
cold
spell
the
footpaths.
I
know
that
Council
can
grip
the
foot
Powers,
but
that
has
to
be
with
your
permission,
I
believe
if
I'm
right
well
us
well,
maybe
somebody
has
misled
me
or
not
there.
M
So
apologies
if
they
have
but
I
think
these
things
are
also
important,
because
that
keeps
the
economy
going,
but
I
think
it's
very
important
and
I
see
we
get
the
phone
calls
like
all
our
colleagues
in
the
area
about
the
state
of
the
railroads
and
access
to
the
schools
in
the
current.
The
people
that
care
for
those
within
the
rural
communities
suffer
greatly
so
that
I've
zeroed
at
all
ours
trying
to
help
and
protect
our
most
vulnerable
within
our
society.
So
I
suppose
you
have
a
duty
of
care
for
that
as
well
like.
A
G
We
have
a
memorandum
of
understanding
with
each
of
the
11
councils,
which
includes
a
schedule
of
busy,
so
it's
time
sander
for
pass
to
be
threaded
as
it
was.
You
made
the
comment
there
that
the
council
needs
our
permission.
I
feel
like
it's
not
so
much
that
that's
that
we
would
and
a
lot
of
cases
ask
the
council
for
assistance.
G
But
again
councils
like
ourselves
have
other
work
activities,
and
it's
not
always
the
case
that
the
H
Council
can
can
react
or
maybe
not
to
the
extent
that
we
are
indeed
the
public
would
expect.
But
we
do
keep.
You
know,
close
contact
with
Council
officials
and
we
do
say,
have
arrangements
and
contact
numbers
and
all
those
sorts
of
things
in
advance
of
the
season
so
that
if
there's
a
spell
of
weather
forecast
or
indeed
something
unforeseen
happens.
G
Well,
then
we
do
contact
our
contacts
in
the
council
and
that's
not
to
say
that
Council
officials
don't
come
to
us
as
well.
Looking
for
you
know,
if
you
could
Supply
Salt,
we
could
do
X,
Y
and
Z.
So
you
know
it
happens
both
ways
as
regards
Farmers.
We
have
arrangements
or
well
contacts,
isn't
the
right
word,
but
we
have
arrangements
with
Farmers
first
new
clearance,
for
example.
G
There
are
a
number
in
each
of
the
the
council
areas
and
say
we
use
those
as
and
when
we
also
have
I
suppose
informal
arrangements
with
some
Farmers
that
we
know,
for
example,
have
problems
with
getting
milk
deliveries
out
there
in
or
whatever
it
may
be.
We
do
provide
them
with
salt
and
grit
somewhere
where
they
can
use.
Certainly
they
can
spread
it
themselves.
So
you
know
there
are
informal
Arrangements
that
we
do
use
and
have
been
used
for
years
and
work
successfully.
G
M
Thank
you,
Lord
mer.
Let
me
back
in
and
yes
I
appreciate
that,
but
as
those
negotiations
are
those
conversations
happening
with
the
Farmers
Union
now
or
with
the
farmers,
because
you
talk
about
your
Western
days,
but
I
live
so
we're
in
the
division
here.
So
I.
Don't
really
worry
about
the
rest.
Like
you
know,
let's
be
honest.
G
I
want
the
conversation
to
happen,
probably
at
a
very
local
level.
You
know
the
local
staff,
the
local
section
office
staff
know
the
roads
that
give
problems.
They
know
the
farmers
are
not
just
Farmers,
but
people
who
be
on
every
winter.
Looking
for
assistance.
So,
yes,
you
know
those
arrangements
are
in
place,
but
in
terms
of
a
wider
scale
arrangement
we
don't
really
have
discussions
with
the
Farmers
Union
as
such,
but,
to
be
honest,
I'm
not
aware
that
there
have
been
any
in
the
past,
but
it
doesn't
mean
it's
not
something
we
wouldn't
explore.
N
N
You
know
their
parents
have
jobs
to
go
to
on.
The
heck
is
very
important
that
there
are
areas
are
protected
and
I'm
not
going
to
be
honest,
with
DFA
really
have
been
very
lucky
that
they've
been
blessed
with
mild
Winters.
There
was
only
the
real
bad
winter
recently,
but
it
doesn't
seem
to
make
any
difference
to
you
know
with
the
real
areas,
how
they're
being
protected
on
on
had
a
point
there
mentioned
about.
There's
a
regrets
being
left
on
it
isn't
being
so?
N
Is
there
no
way
you
can
go
under
your
report,
a
lot
where
it
is
being
used,
because
if
there's
grips
sitting
there
it
all
went
down,
it
doesn't
be
unused,
obviously
nobody's
needing
it.
You
know
so
that
would
be
one
point
I'd
like
to
make
second
point
would
be
kind
of
Alexander's
Point
earlier
the
reduced
cover
I
still
haven't,
really
got
an
explanation
where
that's
going
to
be
and
how
that's
going
to
hit.
K
G
You
for
the
questions,
I,
suppose,
first
of
all,
picking
up
you
know
that
on
the
grip
page
is
not
being
used.
You
know
we
do
uncount
from
our
plant
system.
We
can
run
reports
of
where
we
get
requests
for
replenishment.
I've
got
plans
through
the
season,
so
we
do
tend
to
Target
those
first
so
that
we
know
those
are
the
ones
are
being
used
and
we
proactively,
you
know,
try
and
keep.
G
The
area
is
particularly
to
sort
of
low-lying
areas
that
maybe
don't
use
grip
piles,
but
we
don't
tend
to
provide
them,
at
least
with
the
same
urgency.
If
you
like
in
terms
of
the
this
is
the
strike
action
cover.
I
guess
Mark
has
already
said
it
is
very
difficult
until
you
know
when
the
strike's
happening,
and
then
you
see
who
actually
turns
up
or
doesn't
turn
up
for
work.
But
you
know
there
are
suppose
if
you
like
contingency
Arrangement
someplace,
you
know,
for
example,
last
winter,
whenever
the
the
stake.
G
What
did
happen
instead
of
having
a
a
PM
getting
router
on
an
AM?
We
only
have
sufficient
staff
and
cover
to
do
one
action,
and
it
was
the
morning
that
you
know
we
were
able
to
provide
enough
people
for
the
morning
router
for
every
route,
but
you
know
as
I
say
it's
very
difficult
until
you
know
how
many
staff
you
have
and
and
unfortunately,
as
apart
from
that
it
doesn't
always
impact
every
area.
Equally,
you
know
some
areas
can
be
much
worse
affected
than
others.
A
F
Thank
you,
Lord
Marin.
Thank
you
both
for
your
attempts
tonight,
gentlemen.
I'm
sure.
It's
probably
as
depressing
for
you
to
deliver
a
downbeat
report
like
got
us.
It
is
for
us
to
hear
it,
but
that's
where
we
are,
can
I
just
the
elbow
and
to
you
made
reference
to
a
memorandum
of
understanding
with
Council
and
that
that's
of
interest
to
me
sort
of
how
does
that
Fern
relation
to
the
gritting
of
town
center
footpaths
and
a
frosty
spell-
and
we
have
been
very
fortunate
this
past
few
years
to
have
had
married
Weller.
F
But
if
we
get
a
prolonged
bad
spell,
people
have
got
to
get
out
and
about
in
the
town,
centers
and
the
footpaths
can
become
pretty
bad,
I
I'm
led
to
believe,
rightly
or
wrongly,
that
in
the
past
DFA
provided
grit
and
insurance
and
Council
provided
demand.
Park.
Does
that
still
happen
in
relation
to
Town
Center
footpaths.
G
F
G
Well,
you
know,
for,
for
example,
we
do
where
there
is
yes
and
whatnot.
We
do
pervades
a
plays
of
prep
on
salt
for
members
of
the
public
to
come
on
and
use
and
take
take
away
with
them
if
you
like
that,
doesn't
always
suit,
depending
on
the
amount
of
space
there
is
that
Dabo
gets
and
what
have
you?
But
you
know
we
do
things
like
that.
G
If
you
know
we
have
I
think
the
last
winter.
There
were
a
couple
of
occasions
where
we
were
approached
by
Council
officials
and
we
did
provide
good
piles
I
think
in
a
couple
of
the
car
parks
where
people
could
come
and
use.
So
you
know
there's
that
two-way
conversation
goes
on,
that
we
can,
if
the
demand's
there
good.
F
Thank
you
Lord
mayor
I
mean
that's
what
I
want
to
hear
that
there's
collaboration
between
our
Council
and
yourselves
and
the
Ulster
Farmers
Union,
or
whoever
else
out
there
to
try
that
if
we
get
a
bad
spell
here
that
everybody's
pulling
together
to
try
and
make
the
most
of
it
okay.
Thank
you
very
much.
A
D
A
reference
to
the
assembly
earlier
on
and
it
was
kind
of
skimmed
over
you
know.
If,
if
a
minister
was
there,
then
you
know
if
he
could
change
or
he
she
could
change
policy
and
that
but
surely,
if
a
minister
was
buried,
there
would
be
a
better
budget
or
maybe
I'm
wrong,
and
can
somebody
elaborate
in
that
please,
foreign.
B
The
minister,
if
there
was
a
minister
in
place,
an
executive
in
place,
I,
can
only
presume
that
they
would
be
able
to
provide
influence
to
that,
but
I'm,
not
certain
The.
Minister's
role
would
be
to
make
those
priority
decisions
as
to
where
the
money
the
department
receives
should
be
spent
or
allocated
in
terms
of
because
we
have
a
a
whole
series
of
complex
budget
lines
that
feed
in
to
provide
allocations
against
certain
measures.
Winter
service
actually
is
not
included
in
the
Baseline
budget
at
the
start
of
the
year.
B
We
have
to
bid
for
it
so
we're
in
the
process
of
bidding
for
funding.
Now
we
haven't
yet
got
it,
but
the
minister
would
be
there
to
split
the
funding
out.
Capital
funding
and
resource
and
the
difference
being
capital
is
the
money
that
we
would
spend
to
improve.
Asset
value
so
resurfacing,
for
example,
improves
the
asset
value
of
the
road,
so
it's
capital
a
new
improvement
work
such
as
Junctions
or
lights
or
Capital
monies.
B
So
the
amount
of
work
that
can
be
done
in
one
year
will
depend
on
how
much
money's
put
into
that
that
each
of
those
lines
and
the
same
with
resource
the
challenge
for
the
last
number
of
years
since
2015
is
actually
been
the
amount
of
resource
allocation
on
the
budget
line
for
maintenance
work.
And
then
we
just
call
it
potholes
and
since
2015
there's
been
a
limited
service
put
in
place
and
and
it's
those
eight
years
of
reduction
in
spending
and
to
to
to
fix
the
The
Mentalist
activities.
B
That
we've
said
that
in
media
messages
before
Mom
and
I
are
becoming
more
of
a
goal
on
that
than
having
a
minister
in
place.
Would
freshly
decide
if
more
money
could
be
made
towards
maintaining
our
current
asset
and
making
that
our
priority
and,
of
course
influence
the
budget
potentially
get
get
more
money
for
the
Department
and
to
improve
our
existing
Road
Network
I
hope
that
answers
yes.
A
D
A
I
Yes,
thank
you
very
much,
sir,
for
letting
me
in
there.
So
I
noticed
that
rural
is
a
common
thing
tonight
and
then
particular
schools
I
in
fact,
had
an
email
from
a
principal
today
of
a
rural
scale,
of
a
road
that
very
very
rarely
would
be
credited
on
quite
a
few
of
the
parents
that
spoke
to
me
about
this.
I
mean
they're
already
starting
to
worry.
I
So
my
question
really
is
because
I'd
like
to
be
able
to
go
back
to
the
these
principles
and
parents
that
are
contacting
me.
Heidi
prioritize
these
first
as
part
of
your
secondary
written
that
you
mentioned
that
was
available.
Obviously,
emergencies
like
accidents
and
stuff
and
to
your
system,
Emergency
Services,
must
be
prioritized,
and
what
would
you
advise?
I
G
In
fact,
at
the
time
not
every
school
responded,
there
was
a
questionnaire,
Sunday
and
I
suppose
in
an
intervening
period,
a
lot
of
those
schools
have
eventually
closed,
but
you
know
if
there
is
a
particular
school
that
you
know
is
experiencing
difficulties.
We
can
quite
happy
to
take
a
look
at
it
again
and
see.
G
If
there
is
anything
we
can
do
to
to
provide
a
service
but
I
suppose
I'd
also
take
you
back
to
the
point
that
Mark
made
earlier
that
you
know
if
you
provide
salt
or
grip
on
a
road
with
very
little
traffic
on
it
particularly
early
morning,
and
that
you
know
that's,
you
know
the
end
of
the
day.
The
school
traffic
is
sort
of
eight
o'clock
nine
o'clock
in
the
morning.
If
you
got
the
road
at
three
or
four
o'clock
in
the
morning
and
there's
no
traffic
on
it
until
seven,
maybe
eight
o'clock.
G
Well,
the
salt
I
think
probably
everybody
has
seen.
If
you
take
a
footpath
to
the
road,
has
been
granted
adjacent
to
it.
You'll
see
the
salt
green
sitting
on
the
footpath,
but
the
size,
your
thumbnail,
almost
there's
no
traffic
on
it.
That's
what
the
salt
does.
It
just
sits
on
the
road
on
all
this
traffic
and
there
are
examples
of
low
traffic
roads
and
the
same
thing
happens
around
Christmas
periods
or
holiday
periods
and
the
day
during
covert
when
there's
little
traffic.
G
The
paper
light
on
the
road
first
thing
in
the
morning,
for
example,
the
school
traffic,
the
school
bus,
whatever
the
salt
may
be
down,
but
it
isn't
effective
and
it
can
be
nine
ten
o'clock
in
the
morning
until
there's
a
reasonable
volume
of
traffic
before
that
becomes
effective.
So
new
in
theory,
you
could
provide
all
assault
in
the
world,
but
it
may
not
have
the
desired
effect
in
terms
of
getting
children
and
the
school
buses
to
the
school.
A
A
The
questions
were
not
repetitive.
They
were
all
very
genuine
concerns
and
I
think
Mark
and
Alan
for
coming
in
tonight
being
honest
with
us
and
trying
to
keep
it
as
understanding
as
we
can
and
I
would
imagine.
You
share
our
frustrations
and
I.
Do
appreciate
your
time
and
for
coming
in
tonight
for
this
just
this
special
meeting
and
members
again,
thank
you
for
your
time,
safe
home
on
the
roads,
and
we
will
that's
us
concluded
business.
Thank
you.