PLANS are being drawn up to reduce the number of streets in Galashiels which are currently prioritised for winter maintenance by Scottish Borders Council.

It follows the decision in 2013, ahead of one of the mildest winters on record, to cut the so-called primary network by 6% across the region and to create “secondary salting routes”.

Such subordinate roads – representing 67% of a regional network and stretching 1,841 miles - are only gritted once primary routes have been completed and “subject to available resources”.

A report to last week’s meeting of SBC’s environment and infrastructure committee stated: “In determining a secondary network for Galashiels, Hawick, Peebles, Selkirk, Kelso and Jedburgh, officers feel that local member and community input would be beneficial in the process to define each route.” A proposed secondary network for each of these towns will thus be drafted and presented to SBC ward members and community councils for their comments before being adopted.

This means these urban routes will remain prioritised until next winter - unlike the hundreds of rural roads deemed “secondary” and subject to potentially reduced treatment with immediate effect, in SBC’s new winter service plan. The report, written by head of infrastructure Colin Ovens, cautioned that the main financial risk posed by this winter “centres on the amount of overtime that will be required to deliver the service”.

Councillor Gavin Logan sought an assurance that overtime would not be cut “in relation to this crucial function of the council”.

The Tory opposition member for Tweeddale East cited the recent announcement by Councillor John Mitchell, depute leader (finance) that council management was “actively working to reduce the overall level of overtime in order the offset any additional costs”.

These extra costs relate to a recent legal ruling by an Employment Appeal Tribunal that UK employers will now have to reflect overtime payments in the calculation of their employees’ holiday pay.

Although claims for historical underpayments cannot be backdated, The Border Telegraph understands that satisfying this new obligation will cost SBC around £400,000 a year.

Responding to Mr Logan, Jenni Craig, SBC’s neighbourhood services director, said: “There will be no change in [winter maintenance] shift patterns and, while it is true the council is looking at other areas of overtime, this will not apply to winter maintenance this year.”