Agenda and minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 28 January 2016

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 28 January 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Ralph Kemp - Corporate Manager Waste and Environment Service

Paul Reeves - Flood Risk Manager

George Broughton Parks Development Manager

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To provide an opportunity for Members to declare the existence of a party whip in relation to any item on the agenda

There were no declarations of the existence of a party whip.

A total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to make a statement(s) on any matter that falls within the remit of the Committee.

Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes, but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned, where there are a number of speakers.

Note: In order for officers to undertake any background research, it would be helpful if members of the public contacted the Scrutiny officer listed at the foot of the agenda, at least one working day before the meeting to provide brief details of the matter to be covered.

There were no members of the public present who wished to speak.

To receive a presentation on the progress made in 2014/15 and key activities and challenges for 2016/2017.

Paul Reeves, Flood Risk Manager attended the meeting and gave a presentation on flood risk management in Cheshire East.

Paul explained the background to the responsibilities to monitor the Councils flood risk arrangements which emanated form the Pitt report into flooding in England in 2007.

The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 had added additional responsibilities for Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs) including new principal duties

Relating to requirements to maintain an Asset Register

Consent and Enforcement Powers:

Whilst the Environment Agency to continued to have responsibilities for main rivers and the sea, LLFAs now had responsibilities for all other  water sources including ordinary watercourses, surface water and groundwater . In summary the act specified:

·         Powers to Designate Features/Make byelaws

·         Duty to Investigate Significant Flood Incidents

·         Delivery of Local Flood Risk Management Strategy

·         Sustainable Drainage Systems (revised LLFA statutory consultee arrangements from April 2015)

During 2015 /16, drainage Improvement Schemes had been carried out at:

·         Chelford Roundabout Phase 1 completed

·         Chelford Phase 2 imminent

·         Mill Lane Elworth - 2 Phases nearing completion

·         A50 Dog Lane Brereton - 2 Phases of work completed

·         Bradfield Green Scheme Phase 1 completed

In addition, the team had established liaison with arrangements with Planning Officers as Statutory Consultee with effect from April 2015, and since that date had been consulted on 242 planning applications.

In response to a question about which body was responsible for enforcing matters affecting the flow of water in river courses, Paul explained that the Highways agency targeted known risks in urban areas which under the current inspection regime meant that inspections were carried out annually on main rivers. Although the responsibility lay with the Environment agency, matters of concern could be reported to the Council and they would be forwarded to the Environment agency.

It was noted that there were 3 vacancies within the flood risk management section and bearing in mind the pressures on the Council in terms of residential development, Members expressed concern that the vacancies should be filled as soon as possible.

RESOLVED

(a)          That the presentation be received;

(b)          That the Chairman be requested to write to the Highways and Infrastructure portfolio holder seeking his assurance that every effort will be made to fill the current vacancies in the flood risk management section as soon as possible;

(c)          That a copy of the draft flood risk strategy be circulated to Members of the Committee outside of the meeting for comment.

To give consideration to the parks strategy prior to Cabinet on 12 April 2016

The Committee considered a report of the Ralph Kemp, Corporate Manager Waste and Environmental Services providing background and strategic context to the delivery of the Cheshire East parks strategy, which supported the Greenspace Strategy and the Stronger Communities element of the Local Plan.

 The strategy provided guiding principles for managing and developing the Council’s parks in the future to ensure that they met user needs and aspirations for delivering good quality parks and open spaces.

The strategy was due to be submitted to Cabinet on 12 April 2016.

In response to a comment about the strategy needing to be more specific in respect of its objectives, Ralph acknowledged that specific points within the strategy could be re-drafted to provide highlights.

RESOLVED – That the draft parks strategy be noted.

To give consideration to the third quarter reports for Ansa and Orbitas

The committee considered a report of the Corporate Manager Commissioning – Waste and Environmental Services relating to the quarter 3 performance reports for ANSA and Orbitas.

Ansa was maintaining its high standards across the breadth of services that they delivered. A key factor in this quarter was the need to reduce the levels of contamination within the recycling (silver bin) stream. The work to reduce contamination resulted in more bins being unemptied and thus the levels of reported missed bins increasing. The campaign had succeeded in reducing levels of contamination significantly; a key factor in ensuring the recycling reprocessor accepted all the Council's loads.

The construction of the Environmental Hub had stalled pending the outcome of a legal ruling as to whether the decision to grant planning permission on the site in Middlewich could be subject to judicial review.

Approximately £0.1m of the potential pressure related to a forecast shortfall in Markets income. This continued the trend of a gradual decrease in income over the last few years, specifically in Macclesfield, where low rents of vacant shops and a major trader leaving had contributed to the shortfall. Negotiations over the projected transfer of Crewe Markets to Crewe Town Council were continuing.

Bereavement Services projected a potential budget pressure of £0.2m based on the Third Quarter Review income forecast against a net income budget of £1.3m. This related to a realignment of the original proposed income growth over a period of five years to gradually build market share.

Within year, core bereavement income was currently reporting a £0.1m shortfall against a £2.4m income target. The shortfall was due to a reduced service as a result of the contract refurbishment at Crewe Crematorium between July and December 2015.

Orbitas was also forecasting a £173,000 shortfall in Core Bereavement Income due to the disruption to service resulting from the ongoing refurbishment works at Crewe Crematorium.

However, to counter balance this lost income being experienced at Crewe whilst works are ongoing, Macclesfield Crematorium had increased performance by 12% compared to 2014/15 contributing an additional income of £77,000.

The handyman’s service had forecast asurplus (£24k) due to holding vacancies in the service and a forecast reduction in the minor adaptations spend.

To give consideration to the areas of the forward plan which fall within the remit of the Committee.

The Committee considered the forward plan.

RESOLVED

That the forward plan be received

To give consideration to the work programme

The Committee reviewed its work programme.

RESOLVED –

That items relating to TSSL and Bus Service Routes be considered at the informal meeting to be held on 23 June 2016.