2:30pm Thursday 18th March 2010
By Rebecca Evans
After the worst snow in decades a council has insisted it “did all it could” to keep Brighton and Hove moving during the big freeze.
Brighton and Hove City Council set up a cross-party scrutiny panel to examine the authority’s response to the “unprecedented” weather conditions in December and January.
The council received nearly 4,000 complaints from residents after the heavy snow caused havoc on the city’s roads, highways and pavements, forcing schools and businesses to close.
The panel, which met yesterday, had encouraged residents to put forward their suggestions on how the council could improve services in the event of future heavy snow.
Suggestions ranged from handing out bags of grit where and when they were needed rather than just using grit bins, to giving council workers special shoes to help them in the snow and ice.
NHS and PCT bosses and the operations director of Brighton and Hove Bus Company also gave evidence at the meeting on what could be improved and how to make sure the city does not come to a standstill again.
Despite generally positive comments about the way it was handled, some of the residents at the meeting said proper contingency plans had still not been put in place.
However, Councillor Geoffrey Theobald, Brighton and Hove City Council’s cabinet member for the environment, defended the council’s actions during the snow and ice.
When asked if it did all it could, he said: “Absolutely. I know the staff were doing everything they possibly could do to try to continue in a very difficult set of circumstances.
“I understand people’s frustrations because some were confined to their homes for four to five days but when you explain to people fully they understand. I hope the scrutiny will be a positive exercise.”
He confirmed the council had pledged a further £100,000 a year to the city’s winter services budget.
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