Dropped kerb delays

Quite a few residents have been affected by long delays in the drop kerb installation service. Some have paid large sums of money and waited for months for nothing to happen. Jon Hunt tabled a written question on this last week and got the following answer:

CITY COUNCIL - 14 APRIL 2015

WRITTEN QUESTION TO  THE CABINET MEMBER FOR DEVELOPMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE ECONOMY FROM COUNCILLOR JON HUNT

“What action is taken when no service is provided”

 Question:

The local media recently reported the case of a resident who had waited in vain for many months for a dropped kerb to be installed in spite of having paid out a substantial sum of money.  A number of my constituents have reported similar problems, which appear to be linked to tree assessments and removals.  What action is being taken to resolve these problems or compensate residents who have had sums of well over £1,000 taken from them with no service being provided?

Answer:

I have investigated the reason behind recent delays in providing certain residents with footway crossings.  As you have already indicated, these have predominantly been in relation to tree assessments and removals.  There has been an issue with resources within Amey to process the necessary tree works, which has resulted in delays to implementation.

Performance of this service is being managed in line with the PFI contract. Highways staff are in discussion with Amey senior management, who have agreed to rectify the current position and remove the backlog of work, through the use of additional staff. All residents who have paid for their footway crossings that are part of this backlog, will be contacted and given an indication of when the work will be carried-out.

This unsatisfactory situation is temporary, but needs to be rectified, as soon as possible. I have been assured that the backlog will be cleared by the end of May.