Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M Hardy, M Parsons and A Martin.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2016

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2016.

RESOLVED

That the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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 whipping declarations.

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 wishing to speak.

To give consideration to the draft on street parking guidance

Consideration was given to the revised On Street Parking Strategy incorporating Members comments made at the last meeting of the Committee. The strategy for On Street Parking Restrictions had been developed to support the Councils outcomes and other community driven policies and strategies such as the Sustainable Community Strategy and Local Transport Plan.

It was noted that the strategy still needed to include context at the beginning and that discussions would take place with the portfolio holder on making representations to central government on the enforcement of obstructions.

It was suggested that monies received through the breach of Traffic Regulation Orders should be ring fenced to cover minor highway works and that enforcement outside town centres should be increased so that traffic could flow more freely.

RESOLVED

That the relevant portfolio holder be requested:

·         To make representations to the Council on the enforcement of obstruction

·         To ring fence monies from the breach of Traffic Regulation Orders to fund minor highway works.

·         To increase enforcement outside of the town centres to enable traffic to flow more freely. 

To give consideration to the second quarter reports

Orbitas report – to follow

Consideration was given to the second quarter reports for Ansa Environmental Services Limited and Orbitas Bereavement Services Limited.

Ansa continued to meet their performance targets across all their areas of work. There was a forecasted shortfall in markets income for the year of £61,000, which primarily related to a continued reduction in trader occupancy levels in Macclesfield. Some mitigation may be possible by way of small 'invest to save' works to refresh vacant units and reduced start up rent for newcomers.

With regard to Orbitas, there had been a 7.64% increase in units recorded compared to Quarter 1 in 2015/16. This was largely attributable to Crewe Crematorium being fully operational from May 2016 after an extensive refurbishment programme. Within Bereavement Services there was currently a forecasted income shortfall of £116,000 for the year. This took into account a number of variants throughout the year; the Crewe Crematorium refurbishment programme was offset by a period of down time at Macclesfield Crematorium due to emergency replacement of the lining. 

Members suggested that there had been a decline in  parks maintenance and questioned whether or not the funding or programme of works had been reduced. It was also suggested that lighting should be upgraded to LED as a matter of priority as this would assist with tackling anti social behaviour.

With regard to refuse collections and wheelie bins, Members highlighted that all new bins issued should display the address of the property it belongs to, in some cases this appeared to not be happening. The Commissioning Manager agreed to investigate the reason for this.

RESOLVED

1.    That the quarterly reports be received.

2.    That consideration be given to  improving the lighting in parks.

3.    That the reasons for new street bins not displaying the address of the property it belongs to, be investigated.

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

Consideration was given to the areas of the forward plan which fell within the remit of the Committee.

RESOLVED

That the forward plan be received.

To give consideration to the work programme

Consideration was given to the work programme. It was agreed that due to the new Overview and Scrutiny Committee structure, the informal meeting would be removed from the calendar of meetings and that the chairman would meet with officers to draft a revised work programme which would be brought back to the next scheduled meeting of the committee.

RESOLVED

1.    That all informal meetings be removed from the work programme.

2.    That the Chairman meet with officers to draft a revised work programme.