Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors C Browne, P Groves and N Mannion.

To give consideration to the minutes of the meeting held on 15 October 2018

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 15 October 2018.

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. 

Ms H Faddes attended the meeting to speak about the bus routes review and its impact on the little bus service. She highlighted that to withdraw the service would have a negative impact on the elderly’s mental health, the Council needed to fully understand the impact of a reduced service and should look at all options including sponsorship from local businesses.

To give consideration to a report on the review of household waste and recycling centres.

Consideration was given to an update on the implementation of the changes to the household waste recycling centre provision in line with the authority’s waste strategy. The proposals that were introduced included:

·         Closure of Arclid household waste recycling centre in September 2017 – the closure of the smallest and least used site.  This proposal had been delivered with very few incidents of waste being abandoned at the closed site and no queueing issues at other sites

·         Introduction of rubble/construction waste charging – rolled out in January 2018, the amount of material through this waste stream had dropped significantly (over 80%) with no measured impact on rubble fly tipping rates. 

·         Reduction of opening hours at all sites – introduced in November 2017, this proposal had seen the sites open from 8.30-4pm in the winter and 8.30-5pm in the summer.

·         Enabling rubble trade waste to be accepted – this provided a new outlet for very small scale rubble trade waste, one of the sources of rural fly tipping.

It was noted that more time would be needed to fully analyse the impact of the changes and that a brakedown of the data by ward would be circulated to the committee.

RESOLVED

That a brakedown of the data by ward be circulated to the Committee.

To give consideration to the annual report – Report to follow

The Committee received an update on the review of the Council’s 2018 Annual Status Report (ASR) prior to its submission to DEFRA, which provided an overview of air quality in Cheshire East 2017. The ASR is a requirement setting out the results of monitoring, strategies employed by the Council to improve air quality and any progress in regard to actions contained in the Council’s AQAP.

It was noted that two further air quality management areas had been declared for a small area of Chelford Road, Knutsford and part of Lewin Street, Middlewich.

Members made the following comments and observations:

·         The Councils departments need to work together to ensure that strategies did not conflict with each other.

·         Weather conditions can affect the readings in air quality management areas.

·         Most of the problems within Cheshire East relate to traffic flow.

·         Middlewich railway line should be re-opened.

·         Crewe should be reviewed to ensure that no further air quality management areas are required.

·         Any future growth resulting from HS2 would require infrastructure improvements.

  RESOLVED

That the Portfolio Holder give consideration to the comments highlighted above.

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 the visit to the Environmental Hub in Middlewich would be held on 24 January 2019.

RESOLVED

That the visit to the Environmental Hub in Middlewich be held on 24 January 2019.