Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from:

·       Councillor Charles McGrath

It was further noted that Councillor Stewart Palmen was substituting for the vacancy from the Liberal Democrat Party.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Environment Select Committee meeting held on 7 November 2023.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 November 2023 were considered. Following which, it was:

Resolved:

The Committee approved and signed the minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 November 2023 as a true and correct record.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

The Chairman paid tribute to Councillor Tony Trotman and Councillor Bob Jones MBE who had both sadly passed away since the last meeting of the Committee.

Councillor Tony Trotman was a Member for Wiltshire County Council and North Wiltshire District Council, and had represented Calne, Chilvester, and Abberd on Wiltshire Council since 2009. He had rejoined the Environment Select Committee in March 2023.

Councillor Bob Jones MBE had been the Vice-Chairman of the Environment Select Committee since 2017 and had represented Cricklade and Latton since 2013.

On behalf of the Committee, the Chairman sent condolences to both Cllr Trotman and Jones’ families and friends.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.

Statements

If you would like to make a statement at this meeting on any item on this agenda, please register to do so at least 10 minutes prior to the meeting. Up to 3 speakers are permitted to speak for up to 3 minutes each on any agenda item. Please contact the officer named on the front of the agenda for any further clarification.

Questions

To receive any questions from members of the public or members of the Council received in accordance with the constitution.

Those wishing to ask questions are required to give notice of any such questions in writing to the officer named on the front of this agenda no later than 5pm on Thursday 4 January 2024 in order to be guaranteed of a written response. In order to receive a verbal response, questions must be submitted no later than 5pm on Monday 8 January 2024. Please contact the officer named on the front of this agenda for further advice. Questions may be asked without notice if the Chairman decides that the matter is urgent.

Details of any questions received will be circulated to Committee members prior to the meeting and made available at the meeting and on the Council’s website.

There were no statements or questions submitted.

The issue of speed limit assessments was raised and discussed at Overview & Scrutiny Management Committee on 15 November 2023 and was referred to the Environment Select Committee. The Committee will receive a verbal update regarding speed limit assessments.

Councillor Caroline Thomas, Cabinet Member for Transport, Street Scene, and Flooding, alongside Samantha Howell, Director of Highways and Transport, presented a verbal update regarding speed limit assessments as a result of a referral from the Overview & Scrutiny Management Committee meeting held on 15 November 2023.

It was noted that officers along with the Cllr Thomas, had been reviewing speed limit assessments with regard to the gap between public perception and public understanding of the process. Within this review, speed limit assessment reports had been compared with the Department of Transport (DfT) guidelines on a wider basis which had identified areas of improvement.

Officers emphasised that road safety was a priority within Wiltshire Council and the speed limit assessment process was one of the tools available under the Wiltshire and Swindon Road Safety Partnership to ensure that any incidents on the network were reducing. Reference was made to the DfT Circular 01/2006 which the Council adhered to from 2009, however it was highlighted that this was superseded in 2013, and Wiltshire Council had endorsed the subsequent DfT approach for setting local speed limits since. One of the key changes of the most recent guidance was the ability to consider introducing 20 mph speed limits and zones in urban areas, therefore officers had evaluated all A and B roads within Wiltshire to determine appropriate speed restrictions and to ensure consistency across the network.

Officers confirmed that the relevant policies were all regularly reviewed, and it was highlighted that out of the 47 speed limit requests received in 2023, 25 had resulted in a change to the speed limit and 12 had not being recommended for a variety of reasons. Further recent changes were noted as including greater weight being paid to local concerns and improving report templates to highlight where these had been considered. Officers had also focussed on improving engagement with residents, and colleagues with Wiltshire Police in circumstances where there was a choice of appropriate speed limits, but where officers felt that drivers would not respect a speed limit reduction. Furthermore, officers had received assurance from Wiltshire Police as to their ability to enforce any implemented reductions, and it was highlighted that they were also statutory consultees when undertaking Traffic Regulation Orders.

Finally, officers noted that there were a number of ongoing pilot initiatives, and that the Council was in a better position with partners at National Highways in terms of assessing data relating to the strategic road network. It was stated that officers were intending to provide an update to the Committee in September 2024 with a set of recommendations.

During the discussion, points included:

·       Members expressed concerns when considering vulnerable road users such as children walking to school, active travel routes, and increased traffic passing through village communities, and queried how much consideration was given to these aspects when undertaking any assessments. In response, it was highlighted that it was key that officers worked with schools through the travel planning process but noted that wider solutions would also  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

This report provides the Select Committee with an update on the outcomes of the public consultation that took place between October and November 2023 on the draft revised public transport policy. The consultation focused specifically on Wiltshire’s bus policy and the supported bus network.

Councillor Caroline Thomas, Cabinet Member for Transport, Street Scene, and Flooding, alongside Samantha Howell, Director of Highways and Transport, and Jason Salter, Head of Service Passenger Transport, updated the Committee on the outcomes of the public consultation that took place between October and November 2023 on the draft revised Public Transport Policy.

It was explained that the consultation focussed specifically on Wiltshire’s Bus Policy and the supported bus network due to the changes in travel patterns post Covid. The list of policies being consulted on were detailed in Paragraph 6 of Appendix 1 and it was noted that there was more of a focus on decarbonisation, which when combined with emerging transport technologies, could lead to advantages that could be tied into the procurement of services in the future.

Officers explained that review was a rigorous process that included data analysis through the creation of a modelling tool to assist with the assessment of investment priorities for supportive services, and stakeholder analysis centring on bus companies and other transport groups, which in turn, led to the refinement of the draft policies. It was highlighted that the industry was operating within severe financial constraints such as wage increases, fuel prices, driver shortages, and reduced patronage. As such, notwithstanding the benefits of recent enhancements in funding, it was important that the relevant Council policies supported and facilitated bus services in the face of those pressures. Therefore, it was a priority to maintain bus services to the highest level and consider shifting from traditional deliveries of bus services to increase vital patronage, support residents, and assist in achieving the Council’s environmental objectives.

It was noted that there had been more responses than previous consultations and officers felt that there was a good representation of Wilshire’s bus users from frequent to less frequent patrons, with the majority supportive of the main policy objectives. Officers highlighted that if the policy was adopted in the February meeting of Cabinet, a network review would be implemented to reflect the revised policy. Finally, officers noted that they were looking to expand Wiltshire’s Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) services using funding received through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

During the discussion, points included:

·       DRT was raised and Members suggested utilising other vehicle options such as taxis, private and community vehicles. Members also commended officers on their hard work in the introduction and management of the scheme, but it was emphasised that DRT should be used to complement rather than replace traditional bus services.

·       Paragraph 3.4 of the report was referenced, and Members acknowledged the reasonings detailed, but felt that DRT in particular was a good piece of policy that added community and social value. Members then asked how officers were ensuring that the wider community of Wiltshire understood the different schemes in place. Officers noted that the feedback was useful in determining where improvements could be made, but also highlighted that there had been a very positive response for DRT in the relevant areas that were benefitting from the initiative.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To receive the Executive Response to the Report of the Housing Allocations Policy Task Group.

Please note that the supporting papers will follow in an Agenda Supplement.

Councillor Nick Holder, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change introduced the item on behalf of Councillor Phil Alford, Cabinet Member for Housing, Strategic Assets, and Asset Transfer. Nicole Smith, Head of Housing Migration and Resettlement, alongside Emma Legg, Director of Adult Social Care, James Barrah, Director of Assets, and Councillor Jonathon Seed, Chairman of the Housing Allocations Policy Task Group, were also in attendance to present the executive response to the final report of the Housing Allocations Policy Task Group.

The Task Group were thanked for their assistance and hard work in reviewing the Housing Allocations Policy and for their thorough and robust recommendations as detailed within their final report. Officers confirmed that each of the core recommendations had been accepted and that they would be used to support the development of any formal consultations and future Cabinet and Full Council reports.

Cllr Seed, as the Chairman of the Task Group, along with other present Task Group Members, highlighted the benefits of having a varied Membership and felt that it was a well-coordinated exercise between officers and Members with a good outcome which they believed reflected the quality of the process.

There being no questions or comments, it was then:

Resolved:

The Committee noted the Executive response to the final report from the Housing Allocations Policy Task Group.

A report updating the Select Committee regarding the activities of Wiltshire Council’s Housing Board between October 2022 and November 2023.

This report will go to Cabinet in February 2024.

Councillor Nick Holder, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change introduced the item on behalf of Councillor Phil Alford, Cabinet Member for Housing, Strategic Assets, and Asset Transfer. James Barrah, Director of Assets, alongside Nick Darbyshire, Head of Strategic Assets & FM, and Mike Dawson, Head of Estate and Development, presented a report updating the Committee regarding the activities of Wiltshire Council’s Housing Board (WCHB) between October 2022 and November 2023.

The background and brief overview of the report was detailed including a breakdown of the Membership of the Board, meeting activity, attendance, and reflections, achievements, and thoughts regarding future priorities for the upcoming year. It was confirmed that the report was also circulated to tenants and lease holders which contained specific examples of the work undertaken within the service.

The Council House Build Programme was highlighted, and Members were reassured that it was progressing well despite considerable financial pressures as a result of challenges such as increased build costs to meet higher environmental standards, inflation increases, and fluctuating labour costs. Consequently, it was noted that these financial strains had impacted on the Council’s Business Plan as the initial scoping of the programme cost had increased significantly. As such, officers were working hard to devise solutions to alleviate that substantial expenditure over the life of the Business Plan.

Paragraph 13b of the report was referenced and it was explained that the results of the Regulator of Social Housing’s Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSM) survey had shown that service satisfaction had extensively declined across a range of indicators. As such, Members were reassured that an improvement action plan had been developed to address the areas of concern and increase tenant satisfaction levels. However, it was highlighted that the wider social housing sector had seen a similar decline of 5% across those measures. Furthermore, it was explained that Board Members had discussed in detail budget and rent setting activities and the impacts on individuals when balancing cost of living pressures on tenants and rent affordability with the financial viability of the service.

Finally, officers explained that from April 2024 the service would be subject to a renewed regulatory focus with greater scrutiny and as such, there was a lot of work being undertaken by officers to bolster all governance and assurance processes. Further priorities were highlighted as reviewing the policy framework which was an important foundation stone to the service, and maximising opportunities for resident involvement and engagement in different levels of decision making.

During the discussion, points included:

·       The two properties that had been fitted with an air source heat pump and infrared panels respectively were raised, and Members asked for an update on the progress of the project. Officers highlighted that it was still too early to come to any conclusions, however it was confirmed that officers were receiving a lot of data that would be analysed and brought back to the Committee in due course. The importance of maintaining a good dialogue with those tenants was emphasised, as achieving a general  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To receive any updates on recent activity for active Task Groups and from Members of the Environment Select Committee who have been appointed as Overview and Scrutiny representatives on Programme Boards.

An update from the Climate Emergency Task Group is attached.

Councillor Graham Wright, Chairman of the Climate Emergency Task Group, presented an update on the Task Group since 11 November 2023.

The recent activities of the Task Group were detailed, namely:

·       A meeting held on 28 November 2023 where the Task Group’s Forward Work Plan was considered alongside the following:

o   Air quality, monitoring, and action planning.

o   The Local Transport Plan, with a particular focus upon bus travel and the use of alternative fuels in public transport.

o   Carbon audits and their wider application, particularly within small businesses.

o   Engagement with the wider community.

Appendix 1, the Forward Work Plan, was briefly detailed and it was noted that the Task Group were meeting with See Through Carbon on 16 January 2024, with the other meetings being held throughout early 2024. As such, Members were reassured that a further report detailing these meetings would be brought to the next meeting of the Committee.

The Members of the Task Group and Simon Bennett, Senior Scrutiny Officer, were thanked for their hard work.

Following which, it was:

Resolved:

1.      The Committee noted the update on the Task Group activity provided.

2.      The Committee noted the Climate Emergency Task Group’s Forward Work Plan in Appendix 1.

To note and receive updates on the progress of items on the Forward Work Programme.

Under the revised Overview and Scrutiny (OS) arrangements there is now a single OS work programme controlled by the OS Management Committee, linked to priorities in the Business Plan.

Therefore, it should be noted that, whilst any matters added by Members are welcome, they will be referred to the OS Management Committee for approval before formal inclusion in the work programme for the Environment Select Committee.

A copy of the Overview and Scrutiny Forward Work Programme for the Environment Select Committee is attached for reference.

The Committee received the Forward Work Programme for consideration.

There being no questions or comments, it was:

Resolved:

The Committee approved the Forward Work Programme.

Any other items of business which the Chairman agrees to consider as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items.

To confirm the date of the next scheduled meeting as 6 March 2024.

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 6 March 2024.