RESIDENTS are being urged to tell a council probe what they think of this year’s gritting and pothole repairs – but are told its findings will not ‘apportion blame or criticism’.

The Buckinghamshire County Council committee is looking at how the authority performing during the two major cold snaps in December and January.

Gritting had to be rationed as supplies dwindled, leading many residents to complain they were ‘stranded’.

Now the authority is dealing with a surge in potholes opened up and created by what the council called the worst winter to hit the UK in 30 years’.

Yet Councillor Michael Edmonds, who will chair the probe, said: “The highways teams did a fantastic job this winter, working gruelling hours under treacherous weather conditions and I want to make it absolutely clear, the purpose of this review is not to apportion blame or criticism.

“It will be a constructive lesson-learning exercise, aimed at continuing to improve our service delivery to Buckinghamshire residents.”

The review, conducted under the overview and scrutiny commissioning committee, will begin in early April.

The council said it will ‘highlight what measures worked well, where improvements can be made and whether lessons can be learned from other local authorities’.

It said: “Further considerations will include whether BCC's current winter maintenance provides value for money and to identify major issues from a number of perspectives.

“A range of organisations, including district, town and parish councils, bus operators, NHS Buckinghamshire and the emergency services will be invited to participate.”

Give your views to scrutiny@buckscc.gov.uk or Scrutiny, Room 27, Old County Offices, Buckinghamshire County Council, Walton Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1UA.

It comes after BCC roads chief Councillor Valerie Letheren yesterday said she only had a ‘fraction’ of the cash needed to improve roads but said: “Every little helps”.

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