Snow Warden Scheme

The Snow Warden is the community coordinator during periods of extreme weather and will receive training directly from DCC. They are then responsible for training and managing local Snow Warden Volunteers as well as local salt/grit supplies and storage.

Snow Warden volunteers will be trained by, and carry out any necessary works under the direction of, the Snow Warden.

Snow Wardens are given safety training by Devon County Council. Snow Wardens will be provided with a fluorescent jacket to ensure visibility when working.

Training will:

• outline DCC’s winter maintenance role
• discuss the benefits of a voluntary self help scheme
• consider the legal implications
• consider a model for setting up a voluntary self help scheme
• consider how voluntary work should be carried out in a safe and responsible manner
• consider the purchase, storage and use of salt supplies and winter maintenance equipment
• empower the designated Snow Warden to be able to set up a voluntary self help scheme and to recruit, register and deliver training to community volunteers
• consider when a self help scheme should be implemented

Snow Wardens and volunteers carry out snow clearance at their own risk, but as long as snow clearance is carried out responsibly and within the guidelines of the scheme, a third party public liability claim would be covered by the County Council’s public liability insurance.

We would like to encourage parish and town councils to agree to:

• Identify an individual to act as the parish/town contact point for these matters who will be accountable to the local community through the parish/town council.
• Determine what the local priorities are in severe weather and how they will be delivered locally, and be accountable to the local community for them. Priorities should be confirmed with County Council Neighbourhood teams prior to winter.
• Take responsibility for delivering local self help and where possible refilling the grit bins and salt bags within their parish in a way which fits in with the local priorities for example to arrange for local grit bins to be refilled using local resources.
• Demonstrate that suitable arrangements are in place to store and manage the salt responsibly, and be accountable to the local community for the way in which salt is managed.
• To use the salt during severe weather on the public highway only (including footways and footpaths), but not areas treated by the county council as part of the defined salting network.
• Encourage responsible local use of the grit bin facility and help to minimise abuse, such as people taking salt for use on private driveways.

In the unlikely event of a claim, DCC will cover the public liability aspect of insurance for voluntary work on the public highway or footway, providing it is undertaken in a safe manner according to DCC advice. This, for example, would cover any claims by a third party as a result of the snow clearance and the county council would defend.

DCC will not provide any other form of insurance cover for this activity which must be undertaken at the volunteers own risk. So, for example, any damage to one’s own person, property or vehicle would not be covered. If vehicles are to be used (for example farmers) then they must ensure that the vehicle is suitably insured for any activity undertaken – if in doubt, owners should check with the vehicle’s insurer.

If a local council decide to employ a contractor to undertake any winter operation for them then the County Council’s public liability insurance will not apply – it only applies to volunteers under this scheme.

DCC is pledging to provide up to five tonnes of salt free of charge to parishes that sign up to the scheme. Those who register are asked to identify an individual to act as a point of contact during winter and demonstrate that they have arrangements in place to store and manage salt. Parish and town councils must have suitable, dry storage areas for the salt, protected from watercourses.

Only Parish and Town Councils, who are signed up to the scheme, can request their free supply of salt by completing our online salt ordering form.