Council spends £52k on gritter hire after delays

Redcar and Cleveland Council said the delays were "outside of its control"

A council has had to pay more than £52,000 to temporarily hire two gritters, after new vehicles it ordered failed to arrive on time.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council said the move was necessary in order to cover its winter gritting commitments.

The council ordered two permanent gritters, for £165,000 each, more than a year ago but delays mean they are not due to arrive until March or April.

The council said the delays were "outside of its control", the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

As a result of the delay, the council spent £52,416 on the hire of two vehicles for a six-month period, which also covered the cost of any maintenance.

The council, which is run by Labour as a minority administration, said six vehicles were required to grit main routes throughout the borough, which extends over 93 sq miles (242 sq km).

Without the temporary additions the council would have been down to just four gritters, which was an inadequate level of cover to meet statutory obligations, it said.

Councillor Carl Quartermain, the cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "We took the decision to hire two vehicles as public safety is paramount.

“These long delivery times are not uncommon for the industry since the pandemic and unfortunately the council has no control over this.”