PLANS to bring in snow ploughs to cover for another possibly crippling winter have been rubbished by a Tory cabinet member.

A scrutiny and overview group last week presented back a report on Barnet Council's response to the severe snow which fell in the borough between December and January, and outlined a series of suggestions to help the borough better cope if similar conditions hit again.

The cross party group was asked to consider the level of gritting and the availability of grit to the community, as well as the cost in trying to keep transport routes clear.

Speaking at the Cabinet meeting last week, chairman of the five councillor group, Councillor Dean Cohen, said a greater degree of community involvement could take some of the burden off the council.

He suggested installing more bins around the borough and naming residents in certain areas as “community keepers” who would be in control of managing the bins and distributing the grit. He claimed the move could stop a repetition of the levels of theft seen last winter as the material became a money making commodity.

The bins would be padlocked and people would be encouraged to come out and grit the pavements in their area, rather than just their own driveways.

Cllr Cohen also suggested fitting ploughs to the fleet of council vehicles which usually sit idle during heavy snow to help clear roads.

Councillor Brian Coleman, cabinet member for environment, said he was “relaxed” about installing extra grit bins where councillors know of problems and would explore some of the options to involve the community more.

But he laughed off suggestions ploughs could be used, claiming the borough's roads were not wide enough and there was a likelihood of serious damage being caused to other vehicles.

He said the council also had to be careful with how the winter budget was spent and insisted investment in snow ploughs would be too great.

The finish group was formed, on the request of full council, to review the response to the freezing conditions which made for treacherous roads, brought public transport to a standstill and forced the disruption of council services.

Contingencies are already in place for this winter, according to councillors, to help cope with another sustained period of freezing weather.

Council bosses said they plan to have increased grit stock to around 2,500 tonnes by the beginning of the season, with a further 1,500 tonnes on order for delivery by early January 2011.

The report said officers had investigated the cost of organising extra salt barns but concluded it would be the equivalent to half the winter maintenance budget and was not considered a “viable option.”