Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor T Dean.

To give consideration to the minutes of the meetings held on 18 March 2019 and 17 June 2019.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 March 2019 be received and the minutes of the meeting held on 17 June 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman subject to the inclusion of the following points raised at the meeting which related to Minute No. 69 ‘Economic Strategy’;

(a)  ‘Objective 5 - Action 2 simply stated "effective management of the highway network".  This was vague with no metrics or way of measuring whether it had been done.

(b)  Objective 11 - There was no reference about proactively identifying additional opportunities for visitor attractions that could be developed e.g. Lindow Moss.

Subject to the following point from Minute No. 71 ‘Updates on A500 Dual Carriageway and Middlewich Eastern Bypass including the following comment’:-

(c)  ‘Whether or not the latent defect could be a systematic error and therefore could be present elsewhere thus posing a risk for other projects or requiring remedial action to address defects elsewhere’.

And subject to the inclusion of the letter ‘K’ in Councillor K Parkinson’s name in the list of those present.

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

In respect of agenda item 8-Supported Local Bus Service Review-Proposals for Little Bus Service, Councillor L Crane declared a pecuniary interest by virtue of the fact that she was a Director of Transport Service Solutions and therefore in accordance with the Code of Conduct she would leave the room prior to consideration of the item.

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

No declarations of a party whip were received.

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. 

Councillor H Faddes and Phoenix Morrissey attended the meeting and spoke in respect of the proposals for the Little Bus Service.

Carol Jones attended the meeting and spoke in respect of matters relating to the health and safety of Crewe bus station.

To receive a presentation on the draft Environment Strategy currently under development.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services attended the meeting and gave a presentation on the Council’s draft Environment Strategy.

Highlighted within the presentation was information on the following:-

·         Why the Strategy was important;

·         The Strategic Goals;

·         Priority Actions including those relating to air quality, transport and travel, new development and enhancement of the local environment; and

·         Measuring Progress made.

Members made comments/asked questions in respect of the following:-

·         Possibility of adopting a plastic free policy and how this could be part of a joined up approach by working more closely with schools;

·         Include within the policy the introduction of wild planting on road side verges;

·         Possibility of establishing an education programme for schools and the Council to look at decreasing consumption;

·         Possibility of composting dog waste;

·         Possibility of offering a discount on better composting bins;

·         Possibility of introducing better recycling opportunities for residents living in flats;

·         Possibility of introducing of key performance indicators in respect of those people using bus services.  It was felt increasing numbers of bus users could help to eliminate carbon;

·         What was being done to improve the air quality management area in Congleton;

·         The Local Plan was taking plots of land out of the green belt and the next Local Plan would have an even greater impact and how would this be addressed;

·         The role of HS2 in the Local Plan; and

·         Consultation with local environment groups in order to assist in producing a list of how carbon could be reduced.

RESOLVED

That the presentation be noted.

To consider a briefing note on the Well Managed Highway Infrastructure.

Consideration was given to a report outlining the reasons behind moving to a risk based approach to delivering highways services alongside an update on the revisions to the Highways Policy and Winter Service Policy along with their supporting documents following the public consultation representations.

Further to this Officers gave a presentation to Members which provided information on the following:-

·         The Council’s role in maintaining the highway;

·         Information on Industry Guidance;

·         Legislation guidance and local documents;

·         Polices and Codes;

·         Definition of a risk based approach;

·         The consultation process;

·         Network hierarchy footways and carriageways;

·         Highway Safety Inspection Policy & Code of Practice;

·         Winter and Adverse Weather Policy and Plan;

·         Hill Farmer Routes; and

·         Next Steps.

Members made the following questions/comments:-

·         Speed limits and when they would be reviewed;

·         Were verges and cycle paths included in shared spaces?

·         Could temporary highways repairs be sprayed with a ‘T’?

·         What other forms of social media did the Council use besides Twitter?

·         What could residents do to self help?

·         Consultation questions were worded in a way which didn’t allow for detailed responses to given;

·         Who policied the activities of the service?

·         There was nothing in the plan in respect of footways and footpaths;

·         Reduction in spending on highways meant some pot holes were repaired and others were left, how did the new rules risk assess what would or would not be repaired;

·         Important to know which area would be treated in the Winter; and

·         Gritting on cycle paths was not joined up.

RESOLVED

That the report and presentation be noted.

To consider a report on the proposals for the Little Bus Service.

Members gave consideration to a report setting out proposals for the Little Bus service to be operated by the Council through its contract with Transport Service Solutions Ltd.

Included within the presentation was information on the bus service review, including the background to the changes, the challenges, the consultation process, the Cabinet resolution, information on the Implementation Plan, passengers using the service, the staff involved, the vehicles and branding and how the FlexiLink system would work.

Comments were made in respect of the following:-

·         Central Government should be encouraged to provide funding for the service;

·         The possibility of working collaboratively with other local authorities and whether or not this been investigated further;

·         The time the bus service operated to and from should not be reduced. 

In addition to this further comments were made in respect of what the criteria was for being able to access the service, the lack of flexibility within the service as a result of the reduction in hours, the fact that less than 1% of people were using the service to access.  A further comment was made in respect of public health matters and the lack of publicity surrounding the service.

RESOLVED

(1)  That the report be noted.

(2)  That the Deputy Leader be invited to consider any further measures that may be necessary to mitigate the impacts of reducing Little Bus operational hours on  service users. 

(3)  That the Deputy Leader be invited to consider a more effective way of marketing the Little Bus Service.

(4)  That the comments made by the Committee and as outlined above be reported to the Deputy Leader for information.

To consider a report on the development of a Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) for Macclesfield town centre.

Consideration of this item was deferred to the September meeting.

To give consideration to the performance scorecard for quarter 4.

Due to the meeting over running it was agreed that should Members have any questions or comments on the performance scorecard they should email the Performance Strategy & Reporting Manager directly.

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 noted.

To give consideration to the work programme.

Consideration was given to the work programme.

It was agreed that the Macclesfield Town Centre Regeneration - Strategic Framework and Future Programme be deferred to the meeting in September. 

It was further agreed that dates for future items be agreed by Officers in consultation with the Chairman and Vice Chairman.

RESOLVED

(1)  That the Macclesfield Town Centre Regeneration - Strategic Framework and Future Programme be deferred to the meeting in September and that dates for future items to be considered by the Committee be agreed by Officers in consultation with the Chairman and Vice Chairman.

(2)  That the dates regarding when future items should be considered by the Committee should be agreed by Officers in consultation with the Chairman and Vice Chairman.