Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

There were no apologies for absence.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Environment Select Committee meeting held on 27 October 2015.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Environment Select Committee meeting held on 12 January 2016.

It was noted that the minutes of the meeting held on 12 January 2016 be amended to include attendees.

Resolved:

To confirm as a true and accurate record the minutes of the meeting held on 27 October 2015

To confirm as a true and accurate record the minutes of the meeting held on 12 January 2016. Subject to the inclusion of attendees.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive the following announcements through the Chairman:

• Hydrocarbon Exploration – attached with the agenda
• Waste Contract – attached with the agenda
• A 303 Stonehenge Improvement – a verbal announcement to be provided
• Housing Board Annual Report – a verbal announcement to be provided

Respect was paid to Cllr Jeff Osborn and his contribution to the Environment Select Committee, both as a member and a substitute in 2010/2011 and since 2014. Cllr Osborn’s role as Chairman of the Balfour Beatty Task Group was also highlighted and members of the Committee were advised that a Condolence Book was available for them to sign.

Cllr Killane, Chairman of Scrutiny, was then invited to speak. He drew attention to the outstanding service that Cllr Osborn had provided to scrutiny; outlining that Cllr Osborn’s efforts had helped shape scrutiny into its current representation. It was noted that Cllr Osborn’s contribution to Wiltshire Council would be sorely missed and sympathies were sent to Cllr Osborn’s wife, Helen.

The Committee then held a minute’s silence for Cllr Osborn.

The Chairman then made the following announcements and drew the committee’s attention to the information contained in the agenda:

·       A303 Stonehenge Improvement

The Chairman highlighted that a report detailing the Development Consent Order (DCO) had been considered by Cabinet on 15 March. She outlined that, although Highways England was the promoter, there would be a high demand on Council resources and this was likely to be a controversial project. Further reports would be taken to Cabinet, at those times further updates will be provided to the committee.

·       Housing Board Annual Report

The Chairman explained that this report, to update on the activities of Wiltshire Council’s Housing Board between December 2014 and November 2015, had been considered by Cabinet on 15 March.

Cllr Seed, Cabinet Member for Housing, Leisure, Libraries and Flooding, updated that the Wholly Owned Subsidiary report would soon be brought to scrutiny. In addition, he informed the meeting that there had been a difference in the way that Wiltshire Council was encouraging developers to build and that affordable housing did not necessarily equate to social housing. He further explained that Wiltshire Council was seeking to widen the open market element of the housing register; because there was a desire to encourage low-cost ownership, as largely, Wiltshire residents did not qualify for social housing. It was stressed that Wiltshire Council was keen for tenant engagement in this planning process.

The Chairman thanked Cllr Seed for his contribution and reminded the committee that at 30 August meeting, the topic of housing would be explored in greater depth. The Chairman invited members of the committee to send any questions relating to housing to Natalie Heritage (Democratic Services Officer) ahead of the meeting, so they could be compiled to ensure responses could be provided at the meeting.

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 above 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 above no later than 5pm on 5 April 2016.  Please contact the officer named on the first page 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.

The Committee noted the rules on public participation and that there had been no questions submitted.

In May 2015 Cabinet approved that leisure be moved to be incorporated as a part of public health and, following this approval, the decision was made for community campuses to be established; where health, wellbeing, library and leisure facilities could be encompassed under one roof for the community.

A presentation on Leisure and the new structure, as well as the on-going plans for the future of the service, will be received at the meeting.

John Goodall, Consultant in Public Health, was in attendance to present on Leisure Services and outlined that from January 2014 leisure had been incorporated as a wider part of public health and this move had been deemed beneficial; as leisure contributed directly to the health and wellbeing of the population.

Mr Goodall outlined that the overall health of the Wiltshire population was classed as ‘good’, especially in comparison to the national average and that deprivation in Wiltshire was lower than the national average too. He explained that the vision for leisure services was to help to improve the life expectancy of Wiltshire residents and to ensure that the population were well informed; in order to be able to make improved lifestyle choices.

Mr Goodall detailed that there were a range and diversity of clubs and activities, which accommodated for a wide range of ages and abilities within Wilshire Council’s leisure services. For example, there were groups and activities targeted at all ages; such as, walking football for older people or street dance for younger people. Indeed, he commented that young people targeted schemes often had an anti-bullying component added to them. Mr Goodall noted that there were approximately 3.5 million visits recorded per annum to Wiltshire Council leisure centres, yet that this figure was likely to be higher, as such a statistic was inevitably difficult to measure.

Attention was drawn to the Cabinet decision made in December 2015, which would ensure that ‘Places for People’ leisure centres would become in-house centres; it was highlighted that this would allow Wiltshire Council to have greater flexibility in delivering its current services.

Cllr Seed added that GPs had raised interest in becoming a part of the Health and Wellbeing centres and that nearly 4000 GP referrals were made to Wiltshire Council leisure centres, under the programme known as ‘Active Health’. Cllr Seed highlighted that such an example showed a clear and proper integration of services and this was in line with the Council’s aim. It was confirmed that the financing of the ‘Active Health’ referral programme was financed by central government and that, occasionally, participating individuals would have to pay a fee; however, it was stated that Public Health also provided a grant to help fund the ‘Active Health’ scheme.

There were a number of questions raised by committee members regarding the leisure provision for areas where it was unlikely there would be a Health and Wellbeing Centre. It was confirmed that the leisure provision was countywide and open to all Wiltshire residents and activities were, and would be, offered in existing leisure centres, as well as Health and Wellbeing Centres.

The Committee congratulated Leisure Services on the range and diversity of activities available to Wiltshire residents and welcomed Leisure Services’ move to public health; as this change could be seen as positive, due to the greater offer of activities and the increased engagement with the public that this service was offering. It was highlighted that Walking Football was over-subscribed for retirees in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

During the past year the library service has successfully remodelled mobile library services. This year it is developing a new community hub model at Calne Library; to increase access to the building and to enable more community use for events, activities and access to information, services and advice.  If this new model is successful, it is intended to create the hub model at other suitable libraries across the county.

An update on the Library Service is attached for information and Officers will be present at the meeting, to answer any questions on the topic.

Cllr Seed, Cabinet Member for Housing, Leisure, Libraries and Flooding, introduced the report. He outlined that Wiltshire Council had the same number of static libraries (31) that it had had in 2009. A review of mobile library services took place in 2015 as part of delivering corporate savings targets, and following extensive consultation with local communities; the number of public mobile libraries was reduced from 4 to 2. New timetables were introduced that retained 90% of the original stops. Joan Davis, Head of Libraries, Heritage and Arts, stated that the timetables would be reviewed in October 2016. It was explained that a mobile library stop needed to have at least 3 people per stop, for the stop to be maintained as a part of the mobile library service.

Cllr Seed informed that book lending had decreased by 5% and that Wiltshire Council’s aim was to allow its communities to be involved in the libraries as much as possible. Cllr Seed drew attention to the Corsham Library, housed at the Springfield Community Campus, and highlighted that this library was unstaffed outside library operating times and therefore, had had its opening hours extended for the past 18 months. He reported that the Corsham Library had been operating well for the community; indeed, it was stressed that since the Corsham library had been opened at the Springfield Campus, theft had decreased.

Laurie Bell, Associate Director Communities and Communications, commented that Wiltshire libraries should not be under-estimated in their power to help and improve health and wellbeing. She noted that Wiltshire’s libraries had been helping older people with digital literacy and that there were a range of activities run out of the libraries; which helped to ensure that all individuals in the community could feel included.

It was explained that the Library Service needed to save 25% of its current budget and this was aiming to be achieved through a management restructure, back office reductions and the year’s book stock fund. The stock fund was detailed as being used to purchase not only new books for loan, but also a range of other materials and services related to library provision; such as DVDs for income generation, newspapers, online information services, catalogue data and RFID self-service tags, as well as inter-lending service subscriptions. It was hoped that in the following year money would be able to be placed back into the book stock fund, in order to ensure that the fund would be sustainable. 

Cllr Seed noted his admiration for how Wiltshire Council Libraries had approached such a wholesale reorganisation and commended the 750 volunteers of Wiltshire’s libraries.

Following the identification of a discrepancy between the budget book and the report with regards to the Book Fund, it was confirmed that the report presented to committee was accurate and that the Book Fund would be reduced by 50%; as it had been felt that any further reductions to the fund would be inappropriate. It was highlighted that the total figure for Library Service savings, as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

Wiltshire Council is undertaking a major programme of investment in highway maintenance over six years, which is delivering a significant improvement in the condition of the county’s highway network.

The programme is just reaching the end of its second year, and the report summarises the progress being made as well as proposals for 2016/17.

The following information has been included with the report:

Appendix 1 – Road Conditions by Area Board

Appendix 2 – Resilient Road Network

Appendix 3 – Outcome of HMEP Peer Review

Appendix 4 – Potholes and Carriageway Defects

Cllr Whitehead, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, was in attendance to introduce the report on the Local Highways Investment Fund 2014-2020. He highlighted that a resilient road network was being identified for Wiltshire and that the report demonstrated that Wiltshire Council had been making progress in this respect.

Cllr Whitehead outlined that the report detailed the definition of a pothole and he drew attention to the fact that Wiltshire had received an additional £866,000 for 2016/17; in order to fund the repairing of potholes within the county. It was noted that all work on Wiltshire’s highways was based on prioritisation and members were encouraged to use the Wiltshire Council App. Cllr Whitehead commented that, by having improved transport routes in Wiltshire, this would help to reduce the number of HGVs travelling through Wiltshire towns and villages.

In response to questions, it was confirmed that residential areas were the current priority of the Highways Team. It was highlighted that, overall, towns and city centres were in good condition and that footways would be focused upon, once residential roads had been improved. It was outlined that a report would be brought to the Committee’s October meeting; which would detail road collision data and those present were informed that this information would also be placed on the Council’s website and circulated to the Area Boards.

The Chairman and Cllr Whitehead both thanked Officers for their diligent work, especially so in the transition to the new highways contract.

Resolved:

That the Committee note:

       i.          the work completed so far in connection with the ‘Local highways Investment Fund 2014 – 2020’, and the progress being made in improving the county’s roads;

     ii.          the proposed ‘Wiltshire Resilient Road Network’;

   iii.          the positive results of the recent HMEP Peer Review, and that progress on implementing its recommendations will be reported to a future meeting of this Committee

That the following information be included in the report to be presented to the Environment Select Committee on 25 October:

       i.          data on road collision;

     ii.          road conditions in the county, and work carried out in each Area Board

The Committee is invited to consider the budget set for 2016/17 for the service areas within its remit (as detailed in the attached documents).

The Committee is requested to agree the way it wishes to monitor progress in delivering identified savings in these service areas, bearing in mind the work already undertaken by the Financial Planning Task Group.

The Committee was invited to consider the budget set for 2016/17 for the service areas within its remit and to agree how it wished to consider this information at further meetings to monitor, throughout the financial year, the implementation of savings and generation of income where appropriate, alongside considering customer satisfaction and the impact on service areas.

Resolved:

       i.          That the ‘Budget 2016/17’ be maintained as a standard item on the Environment Select Committee’s agenda and that any reports provided to the Committee by Officers, be considered alongside the relevant extract from the Budget Papers to enable members of the committee to effectively scrutinise the implementation of savings and generation of income, where appropriate, alongside customer satisfaction and the impact on service areas;

     ii.          That members of the committee would inform the chairman, ahead of meetings, of any areas of the budget relating to the Environment Select Committee they would specifically welcome further information on, to enable inclusion of these in the forward work programme for the committee.

On 1 September 2015 Environment Select Committee received a briefing note on changes to the council’s approach to resident participation and scrutiny arrangements. This followed a review of how well resident engagement and tenant-led scrutiny worked in practice, and whether the main residents’ groups were achieving their objectives and demonstrating value for money. As a result, the Environment Select Committee established the Resident Engagement Task Group.

The Task Group has explored how well residents of Wiltshire have been able to engage with the Council to identify means of best practice.

The Committee is requested to consider the report of the Resident Engagement Task Group and endorse its recommendations.

Cllr Britton, Chairman of the Resident Engagement task group, was in attendance to introduce the report of the task group. He explained that the overall aim of the task group was to investigate how Housing Associations engaged their residents and whether there was a learning opportunity for Wiltshire Council. Cllr Britton highlighted that he was appreciative of the time Housing Associations had given to the task group.

It was outlined that three objectives had been decided; the first related to how residents were engaged, the second centred on regarding tenants as a valuable resource and the third focused on how one could increase tenant satisfaction. It was relayed that it was important that Housing Associations promoted themselves as an organisation with an ethos of resident engagement and that tenants were given the widest opportunity possible to contribute, however, Housing Associations needed to be mindful that only the smallest amount of individuals would be most likely to engage. It was noted that Wiltshire’s Housing Associations had a focused approach to resident engagement and this should be applauded.

Cllr Britton congratulated Adam Brown, Senior Scrutiny Officer, for his sterling service to the task group and the high quality of the task group’s report.

In response to questions, Cllr Britton confirmed that, often, residents had a desire to engage with their housing estate, but not with their Housing Association as a whole and therefore, this was an area where a resident community group would be beneficial. It was stressed that tenants were encouraged to fully use IT; as this would allow them to engage further through the process of surveys.

Some members of the Committee expressed their appreciation for the report and commended the task group for its comprehensive work in a relatively short period of time. It was noted that the role and work of Housing Panels was important in helping to further engage residents.

Cllr Seed, Cabinet Member for Housing, Leisure, Libraries and Flooding, welcomed the detailed report and signalled that a further update and report on resident engagement would be provided to the Committee in 12 months’ time.

Resolved:

That

       i.          The Committee endorsed the report of the task group and the 11 recommendations within it;

     ii.          The response from the Cabinet Member for Housing, Leisure, Libraries and Flooding would be provided at the next meeting of the Environment Select Committee;

   iii.          A further update and report on resident engagement would be provided to the Environment Select Committee in a year’s time.

Written updates on Environment Select Committee Task Group activity are attached, further verbal updates may be provided at the meeting by the Chair of Task Groups.

The Committee is requested to note the Task Group updates and consider any recommendations arising.

The Chairman drew attention to the reports contained in the agenda pack. It was highlighted that another member would be selected to join the Highways and Streetscene Task Group.

Cllr Evans explained that the task group would meet to review the outcome of the consultation on 20 April 2016 and that, at that meeting, the task group would also consider how best to engage with members of the public and the different groups who had actively engaged with the consultation.

Cllr Green updated that the Waste Service Changes’ task group visit to HRCs had gone well. It was also noted that it was important for members to communicate and publicise that fly-tipping was an illegal activity. Cllr Green also took the opportunity to thank all the officers and witnesses that had engaged with the task group for their outstanding contributions.

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.

No comments were received on 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 7 June 2016.

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 7 June 2016.