Agenda and minutes

None.

To give consideration to the minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2018

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2018.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2018 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman subject to the replacement of the word ‘contract’ with the word ‘contact’ in the last sentence of Minute No.35.

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. 

Sue Helliwell attended the meeting to speak in respect of minute 7.  She felt that the Council should be charging developers for bins supplied to residents occupying properties in recently built housing developments.

To receive a presentation regarding the move to delivering highway services in accordance with the new national code of practice Well Managed Highway Infrastructure. The new code sees a change in the way that the highway is inspected and subsequent defect repairs are actioned along with a change in the way winter services are provided.

Paul Traynor, the Strategic Commissioning Manager – Highways, gave a presentation to Members on Compliance with the Well Managed Highway Infrastructure Code of Practice.  Highlighted within the presentation was information on Legislation Guidance and Local Documents, Maintaining the Highway, Industry Guidance, A Risk Based Approach, Policies and Codes, Claims, Consultation process and Timetable.

Members queried if the use of the word ’you’ referred to employees of the Council not just Members.  In addition it was considered useful to know the number of claims rather than just the amount claims had cost the Council.

Further queries were raised in respect of the consultation and why couldn’t it have been included as part of the Local Transport Plan Process, what would the inspection regime entail, would older roads have the same level of investment under the new system, when was the Cheshire Highways Improvement Programme for 2018-19 going to be updated on the website and

what in the new system would improve the state of the currents roads when compared to the current system.

RESOLVED

(1) That the presentation be noted.

(2) That a copy of the presentation be circulated to Members of the Committee.

(3). That a special meeting of the Committee take place in October to consider the final proposals regarding changes to the Council’s highways policies and codes of practice.

To receive a report on the findings of a final consultation of the 2018-19 budget introducing a charge for the supply of new and replacement waste and recycling bins prior to a portfolio decision to confirm the introduction of the charge.

Ralf Kemp, the Corporate Manager for the Waste and Environment Service attended the meeting and presented to the Committee the results of the survey regarding the Council’s proposal to implement a bin supply charge for new and replacement bins.

The Portfolio Holder for Environment who was in attendance stated that residents in the North of the Borough were less likely to agree to the charges than those residents living in the South. 

Councillor N Mannion felt that the Portfolio Holder for Environment should defer making a decision on whether or not to charge for new and replacement bins until the ‘Fly-tipping’ Task and Finish Group had finished their work.  This recommendation was voted on but was lost.

Members made the following observations:-

(i) Increases in ‘fly tipping’ could occur if charges were issued;

(ii) If bins were stolen within a specific timeframe then a charge should not be made;

(iii) Residents should not be charged at all;

(iv) Developers should provide bins where new housing developments are taking place and should form part of a planning condition when granted planning permission;

(v) Residents may seek to source there own bins at a lower cost;

(vi) There should be a special approach where there were areas with specific issues;

(vii) Useful to receive a breakdown of the reasons for bins being replaced;

RESOLVED

(1) That the findings of the consultation be noted.

(2) That the Portfolio Holder for Environment give consideration to the following recommendations put forward by the Committee:-

(i) That developers be expected to pay for the provision of wheelie bins in new housing developments;

(ii) That developers/landlords inform the Council once the properties on new developments have started to become occupied;

(iii) Stolen bins will be replaced at no charge in urban areas or Wards where there are historic waste issues;

(iv) That residents are not charged for replacement bins.

To receive the Place Performance Scorecard 2017/18.

Consideration was given to the Performance Scorecard 2017/18.

Members made comments in respect of the Council’s performance relating to the following indicators:-

(i) PPS003-Average Planning applications per case officer;

(ii) PPS007-Planning Appeals allowed;

(iii) PPS011 (FS3)-The % of Food Safety E rated premises that receive intervention activity;

(iv) PIH001% Variance of Capital Expenditure from Approved Capital Expenditure (Cumulative performance)

(v) PIH005-Insurance Claims-Target a reduction in insurance claims against Highways;

(vi) PCO002-Average speed to answer (telephone) (Cumulative performance)

RESOLVED

That the Scorecard be reviewed and noted for information.

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 Well Managed Highway Infrastructure Code of Practice be considered at a special meeting of the Committee in October.

It was agreed that an update on the bus routes review should be added to the work programme for the November meeting as this had been omitted from the work programme previously.

It was agreed that there would be a progress report on the parking strategy and that a visit to the Middlewich Waste Transfer Hub be arranged.

Councillor S Pochin requested that the Committee undertake a review of the licensing of vehicles, licences issued and the sub contractors used.  Councillor S Pochin was advised that in the first instance the Chairman of the Licensing Committee should be contacted in order to ensure that there was not a duplication of work between Committees, however the Committee were advised it could be included on the work programme as a possible future item to be considered.

RESOLVED

That the work programme be amended as outlined above.