COUNCIL officers have reported that they are 13 drivers short of the minimum number required to deliver the full winter maintenance programme in Argyll and Bute.
Details have been published of the council’s plans to keep roads useable during winter 2026/27, with the programme set to start later this month and run through to April.
But driver availability could prove problematic, with available resources proposed to be prioritised on a risk basis in the event of low numbers or severe weather.
The details feature in a report to go before the authority’s environment, development and infrastructure committee at its meeting on Friday, October 9.
Executive director Kirsty Flanagan said: “The requirement to manage drivers’ hours within the delivery of all council services directly impacts on the retention of the council’s operator licence.
“Drivers from across the operational teams (grounds, waste, fleet, roads) deliver the pre-treatment service. In conjunction, an external contractor utilising their own vehicle and equipment is hired on the island of Jura.
“Due to limited numbers of available drivers in some depots, contract driver assistance is required to supplement the driver rotas to provide the minimum “one on – one off” weekly commitment.
“A minimum pool of 72 drivers is required to deliver the current portfolio of pre-treatment routes, on a two weekly shift rota.
“In extended periods of extreme winter conditions consideration will be given, at an operational level, to prioritising services to ensure that winter treatments can be delivered. This may result, for example, in refuse collections and other services being temporarily suspended in order to prioritise the clearing of ice and snow.
“Such measures are only likely in prolonged periods of extreme weather. Elected members and communities will be kept updated via the council’s website on any such service disruption.
“Steps are taken each year to strengthen the available winter standby pool by utilising other council drivers, including grounds and waste disposal operatives, and by seeking external contractor support on mainland and island routes where in-house coverage is limited.
“The age profile of the workforce and local recruitment challenges mean this position will continue to require active management as part of future winter planning.”
Ms Flanagan added: “A shortfall of 13 suitably licensed drivers against the minimum requirement of 72 for winter standby was identified at the end of July 2026.
“Additional training and contractor support are being progressed to reduce this gap and improve resilience ahead of the start of operations.
“Where driver availability or prolonged severe weather prevents normal policy delivery, the winter management team will escalate the position through roads and infrastructure services management arrangements, prioritise strategic, lifeline, emergency access, public transport and other higher priority routes, and consult the policy lead for roads, transport and amenity services at the earliest appropriate point where any material departure from normal policy delivery is anticipated.
“In that event, available resources may need to be deployed across more than one treatment route. During a single mobilisation, treatment times may be extended, and the three-hour treatment commitment may not always be achievable, particularly during sustained severe weather.
“This position will be considered fully as part of the wider winter policy review to be presented to the June 2027 [environment, development and infrastructure] committee.
“Where other priority tasks occur (such as responses to road traffic collisions, collapsed culverts, fallen trees etc), resources will be allocated based on a risk-based approach.
“Although local contractor support may provide some additional resilience, contractors are not held on standby and may need time to demobilise from their core work before they are available to assist.”
