How to: cut back vegetation - HTG01

Basic equipment required

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Equipment provided by OCC:

• Hi-Vis Jacket

Funding from OCC subject to availability for:

• Gloves

Suggested Tools (not provided by OCC)

• Secateurs
• Shears
• Trowel 
• Shovel

Insurance (provided by appointing body – usually the Town/Parish Council)

• £10m public liability

What needs doing?

Where vegetation is obscuring pavements or other areas of the public highways, this should be removed to ensure pedestrians and vehicles can navigate safely. This could be grass verge encroaching onto footways or cycleways, or it could be hedges and other overhanging vegetation e.g. ivy.

Health and safety standards

1. All works should be carried out from ground level and from the roadside verge or footway.  
2. Vegetation should only be cut back from unclassified roads with speed limit of 30mph or less. 
3. PPE to be worn.

Method statement

1. Carry out a risk assessment and take a ‘before’ photo. Set up warning cones if required.
2. Cut back any vegetation, using hand tools only, on land that forms part of the public highway.  No privately-owned hedges, etc. to be trimmed.
3. Record location/date/description of any work done and take ‘after’ photo.
4. No cutback work to take place alongside unclassified roads over 30mph. Report these on Fix My Street.
5. Please contact volunteercoordinationteam@oxfordshire.gov.uk for more information 

How to control weeds - HTG02

Basic equipment required

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Equipment provided by OCC:

• Hi-Vis Jacket

Funding from OCC subject to availability for:

• Gloves

Suggested Tools (not provided by OCC)

• Shovel
• Broom
• Hoe
• Wheelbarrow

Insurance (provided by appointing body – usually the Town/Parish Council)

• £10m public liability

What needs doing?

Weeds can get a hold at the back of footways, against walls or in the channel line against kerbs.  If left, they can break up the footway or carriageway surface.  Manually removing them is a good option.

Health and safety standards

1. All works should be carried out from ground level and from the roadside verge. 
2. Weeds should only be cleared on footways, and kerbside weeds on 30mph, or less, unclassified roads. 
3. PPE to be worn.

Method statement

1. Carry out risk assessment and take ‘before’ photo. Set up warning cones if required.
2. Cut and scrape weeds, leaves and soil build up.
3. Sweep surface clean and dispose of arisings in agreed way, e.g. home composting, local allotments, garden waste bin
4. Record location/date/description of any work done and take ‘after’ photo.
5. No work is to be carried out in the road, if this is required it should be reported on Fix My Street.
6. Please contact volunteercoordinationteam@oxfordshire.gov.uk for more information

How to clean signs - HTG03

Basic equipment required

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Equipment provided by OCC:

• Hi-Vis Jacket

Suggested Tools (not provided by OCC)

• Telescopic cleaning set 
• Pressurised Sprayer 5ltr
• Some equipment available to borrow from Volunteer Coordination Team

Insurance (provided by appointing body – usually the Town/Parish Council)

• £10m public liability

What needs doing?

Over time dirt, moss or algae can build up on road signs making them unsightly or even obscured.  Signs MUST be cleaned if they become illegible to motorists.  It is helpful to clean them before this happens.

Health and safety standards

1. All sign cleaning works should be carried out from ground level and from the roadside verge. 
2. Signs should only be cleaned alongside unclassified roads with a speed limit of 30mph or less.
3. PPE to be worn

Method statement

1. Risk assessment and take ‘before’ photo. Set up warning cones if required.
2. Wash sign faces from top-down with a biodegradable detergent or clean water only, using sponge, cloths, or mops.
3. Do not use a ladder, use a telescopic cleaning set if required.
4. Record location/date/description of any work done and take ‘after’ photo.
5. If necessary, cut back any vegetation using hand tools only e.g. secateurs
6. Defective signs alongside A and B roads, or unclassified roads over 30mph, should be reported on Fix My Street.
7. Please contact volunteercoordinationteam@Oxfordshire.gov.uk for more information

How to maintain public rights of way - HTG04

Basic equipment required

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Equipment provided by OCC:

• Boots (waterproof)
• Gloves

Suggested Tools (not provided by OCC)

• Secateurs
• Maps/GPS
• Digital camera

Insurance (provided by appointing body – usually the Town/Parish Council)

• £10m public liability

What needs doing?

We work with the local Ramblers to support the network of excellent Parish Path Wardens who check local paths and undertake minor work with hand tools. Find out more on the Ramblers’ website

Health and safety standards

1. Volunteers appointed as Parish Path Wardens receive training from the Ramblers and OCC Countryside Access Team
2. There are detailed guidelines and supplementary information available to PPWs from the Ramblers’ website.
3. PPWs are encouraged to contact their Parish/Town Council to let them know of their existence and the important role they undertake in helping to maintain the public right of way network.

Method statement

1. If a local council would like to get involved in Public Rights of Way work, the first step is to contact the Ramblers’ Coordinator (details on website above) to find out if your parish/town already has a PPW.
2. If there is a PPW you can be put in touch with them and work with them.
3. If there is a vacancy for a PPW in your area, the next step is to find someone suitable for the role.
4. Contact the Ramblers’ Coordinator again, with the name of your prospective PPW and start their training.

How to provide a school crossing patrol officer - HTG05

Please note – This service only needs to be included within a local council’s devolved services if there are schools that do not meet the criteria to have a crossing patrol, and the local council and school wish to provide one at their own cost.

Basic equipment required

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Equipment provided by OCC:

• Full Hi-Vis
• Gloves
• Hat(waterproof)

Basic tools

• Stop Sign (lollipop)
• Required Road Signs

Insurance (provided by Town/Parish Council)

• £10m public liability

Sites meeting the criteria

We have approximately 25 school crossing patrol officers ('lollipop' men and women) working around the county. They help to provide a safe crossing point for children on their way to and from school. New sites are assessed according to the national School Crossing Patrol Guidelines revised 2015.  Subject to funding availability, sites that meet the minimum criteria will be supported by OCC.

Health and safety standards

Sites not meeting the minimum criteria as recommended within the guidelines, where the school/parish wish to support their own School Crossing Patrol themselves, will be subject to site visits/audits for which there will be charges.  Please contact volunteercoordinationteam@oxfordshire.gov.uk for further information.

1. Correct PPE must be worn and stop signs used. 
2. Road signs must conform to the School Crossing Patrol Sign (England and Wales) Regulation 2006.
3. It is a requirement that OCC trains and audits non-criteria sites.

How to cut grass (urban and rural) - HTG06

Basic equipment required

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Equipment provided by OCC:

• Hi-Vis jacket

Basic tools

• No tools or equipment to be provided by OCC

Funding

• OCC will pay the local council an amount based on the meterage of verge to be cut

Insurance (provided by the Parish/Town Council for volunteers OR contractors own)

• £10m public liability

What needs doing?

• OCC cuts urban and rural grass verges once a year.  It is possible for the Town/Parish Council to take on this grass cutting, in order to improve the service.  OCC can provide funding based on meterage of cut verge and require two cuts per year to be carried out.

Health and safety standards

1. If a certified contractor is used, they will require minimum £10m public liability insurance.
2. If a volunteer is used, they will be covered by the insurance of the Parish/Town Council, who will also undertake a Risk Assessment, and the volunteer will be required to wear PPE.

Method statement

1. Contact the volunteercoordinationteam@oxfordshire.gov.uk for details and a quote.
2. Sign an Agreement with OCC to undertake the works.
3. The new agreement would begin in the following April. 
4. Payments are sent in April/May.
5. Record location/date/description of any work done.

How to manage salt bins - HTG07

Basic equipment required

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Equipment provided by OCC:

• Hi-Vis jacket

Basic tools - Funding from OCC subject to availability for

• Plastic Snow Shovel
• Grit Bins are available at cost of £250+VAT from OCC. (subject to assessment)

Other Tools (not provided by OCC)

• See Snow Guide

Insurance (provided by appointing body – usually the Town/Parish Council)

• £10m public liability

What needs doing?

OCC routinely spreads salt on defined routes on forecasts of ice or snow. The gritting route is available to view on the OCC website: OCC gritting routes.  Pavements only get very limited attention mainly in times of snow and generally only those heavily used i.e. town centres. Many local communities already help themselves and OCC can assist others by offering advice and supplying basic equipment as above. A Parish/Town Council may wish to appoint a volunteer snow warden to be responsible for the management of salt bins and coordination of snow clearance and gritting of roads, not on the gritting route, as well as pavements. 

Health and safety standards

1. PPE to be worn.
2. Work is to take place on unclassified roads with a speed limit of 30mph or less, and pavements only, during daylight hours only.
3. Use: OCC snow guide  and OCC Manual Handling Policy

Method statement

1. Carry out a Risk Assessment.
2. Apply salt to the surface when ice is forecast, especially of heavily used routes and routes used by the vulnerable.
3. Following snowfall clear snow on these routes, and others, according to the OCC Snow Guide, and re-apply salt
4. Record location/date/description of any work done and contact volunteercoordinationteam@oxfordshire.gov.uk

How to become a FMS super user - HTG08

Basic equipment required

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Equipment provided by OCC:

• Hi-Vis jacket

Basic tools - Equipment provided by OCC

• Spray paint
• Maps

Insurance (provided by appointing body – usually the Town/Parish Council)

• £10m public liability

What needs doing?

Our Highways Officers (HOs) inspect their areas regularly, but additional help from local people will increase the number of defects that can be repaired and will make the HOs more efficient.  

Health and Safety standards

1. All works should be carried out from the roadside verge. 
2. Defects can only be raised for unclassified roads with speed limit of 30mph or less.
3. PPE to be worn.

Method statement

1. Each SU receives initial training from an HO, then they are supervised by their local HO.
2. The SU will inspect reported defects and input found defects using HIAMS (OCC’s Highways Infrastructure Asset Management System)
3. The SU will be able to raise orders for Sweep and Fill (non-permanent pothole repairs), kerbing and drainage defects only. They will mark the defect up correctly and report it directly to Skanska to do the works.
4. Any defects on A and B roads, or unclassified roads over 30mph, can be reported on the public ‘Fix My Street’ system.
5. The SU should take ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos and report back to HO if required.
6. Please contact volunteercoordinationteam@Oxfordshire.gov.uk for more information

How to clear leaves - HTG11

Basic equipment required

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Equipment provided by OCC:

• Hi-Vis jacket

Traffic Management (equipment provided by OCC. subject to approval/availability)         

• 2 x cones

Basic tools - not provided by OCC

• Shovel/Broom/Rake
• Wheelbarrow

Insurance (provided by Town/Parish Council)

• £10m public liability

What needs doing?

Leaf clearing from well-used paths to prevent them from becoming an unpleasant, slippery mulch. 

Health and Safety standards

1. All works should be carried out on footways and pavements only.   
2. PPE to be worn.
3. Use warning cones only if required.

Method statement

1. Carry out Risk Assessment and take ‘before’ photo. Set up warning cones if required.
2. Carry out the work while leaves are dry, before they start to break down, to make it easier.
3. Sweep surface. Clean and dispose of waste in agreed way, eg. home composting, local allotments, garden waste bin
4. Record location/date/description of any work done and take ‘after’ photo.
5. It may be necessary to carry out clearance more than once over the autumn weeks.
6. No work is to be carried out in the road, if this is required it should be reported on Fix My Street.
7. Please contact volunteercoordinationteam@Oxfordshire.gov.uk for more information.

How to have a Community Spring Clean

Basic equipment required

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (provided by OCC if the District Council is unable to help)

• Hi-Vis jacket
• Gloves

Promotion - Tell everyone about your event.  Maybe get local businesses involved.

• Poster template

Basic tools - not provided by OCC

• Hand tools
• Litter pickers and bags may be provided by your district council

Insurance (provided by Town/Parish Council)

• £10m public liability

What needs doing?

As the weather warms up volunteers are more likely to be inclined to get out and about.  What better time to think about carrying out some of the tasks in this How-To-Guide?  Why not combine it with an annual litter pick? 

Health and Safety standards

1. All works should only be carried out on public rights of way, footways, cycleways, and pavements alongside unclassified roads with a speed limit of 30mph or less only.   
2. PPE to be worn.

Method statement

1. Arrange for litter pick equipment from District Council
2. Contact volunteercoordinationteam@oxfordshire.gov.uk for more information
3. Decide on activities and carry out Risk Assessments
4. Organize any additional equipment required eg. buckets, sponges, hand tools etc
5. On the day - Safety Talk
6. After the event - Make sure litter and equipment is collected by District Council/County Council 
7. Ensure anything is logged on Fix My Street/passed to Super User and report back to volunteercoordinationteam@oxfordshire.gov.uk

How to maintain cycleways - HTG13

Basic equipment required

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (provided by OCC)

• Hi-Vis jacket
• Cones (subject to approval/availability)

Suggested tools (not provided by OCC)

• Shovel
• Broom
• Hoe
• Secateurs
• Wheelbarrow

Insurance (provided by appointing body - usually the Town/Parish Council)

• £10m public liability

What needs doing?

Weeds can get a hold at the back or middle of cycleways or in the channel line against kerbs.  If left, they can break up the cycleway surface.  Manually removing them is a good option. Where vegetation is obscuring cycleways, this should be removed to ensure safety for all users.  This could be grass verge encroaching onto cycleways, or it could be hedges and other overhanging vegetation.  Private hedges must not be cut by volunteers but reported on Fix My Street

Health and Safety standards

1. All works should be carried out from ground level and from the cycleway or verge.  
2. Weeds should only be cleared on cycleways, and kerbside weeds on 30mph, or less, unclassified roads.  
3.  Work in pairs and use traffic cones when working on the cycleway to warn oncoming cyclists that you are there.
4. PPE to be worn.

Method statement

1. Carry out Risk Assessment and take ‘before’ photos. Set up warning cones if required.
2. Cut and scrape weeds, leaves, and soil build-up. Cut back any vegetation, using hand tools only, on land that forms part of the public highway.  No privately-owned hedges, etc. to be trimmed.
3. Sweep surface clean and dispose of arisings in agreed way, e.g. home composting, local allotments, garden waste bin 
4. Record location/date/description of any work done and take ‘after’ photos.
5. No work is to be carried out on the road, if this is required it should be reported on Fix My Street.