Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillor Peter Doyle.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 20 December 2012.

The minutes of the meeting held on 20 December 2012 were presented for consideration.

It was,

Resolved:

That subject to the inclusion of Councillor Chris Cochrane among the list of apologies, to APPROVE as a true and correct record and sign the minutes.

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

There were no declarations.

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

The Chairman made the following series of announcements:

1)    Thanks - To thank the members of the Committee for their efforts over the past few years, and also to thank the officers who supported the Committee for their assistance.

2)    Scrutiny Dates - To confirm that from the next meeting of the Committee, 11 June 2013, all Overview and Scrutiny Meetings would take place on Tuesdays unless otherwise stated.

3)    Energy Efficient Homes - It was noted that the Rapid Scrutiny Exercise that had been requested with regards this item would not take place, as the guidance to be scrutinized had not been issued.

4)    Low Carbon and Renewable energy - It was confirmed that owing to lack of expressions of interest from Members, the proposed Task Group had not taken place, and it was suggested an officer update be presented to the first meeting of the new Council’s Environment Select Committee, and for them to determine any further action.

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 1700 on Tuesday 26 March 2013. 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.

There were no questions or statements submitted.

a)    To receive the report of the Waste Task Group and consider its recommendations;

b)    To receive an update on the development of the Waste Contract.

On 30 August 2012, the Environment Select Committee established the Waste Task Group to consider the future options for the delivery of the waste services.  This was endorsed by the Overview and Scrutiny Management on 6 September 2012. The Committee had determined to receive a report from the Task Group to pass on recommendations to any future Environment Select Committee following the May 2013 Local Elections, as well an update from the Waste Service.

Councillor Alan Hill presented the report of the Waste Task Group to the Committee, stating that the Task Group had met on four occasions since inception, and thanked the Task Group members for their efforts.

Councillor Hill detailed the investigatory work of the Task Group regarding the forthcoming waste contract terminations in the next several years, and efforts to identify opportunities to scrutinize Waste Service delivery as this progressed, with officers keen for further Scrutiny involvement in what is a very publicly visible and popular service. Councillor Hill praised the leadership of officers in assisting the Task Group.

Councillor Hill stressed the recommendations of the Task Group to a future Committee were a potential selection of issues from which deeper scrutiny exercises could be conducted, should that Committee determine to do so.

The Service Director (Waste Management Services) and the Cabinet Member for Waste, Property, Environment and Development Control Services then updated the Committee on early preparations for future Waste contracts, including consultations with contractors, with business cases for options to be prepared for June 2013.

The Committee then debated the Task Group Report and update from the Service Director (Waste Management Services). Details were sought on increasing the range of plastics recycling, and it was stated that any increase would need to be financially viable. It was also confirmed that due to the phased rollout of the new Green Waste service, there was not currently 12 months of data to examine for the whole service. The Committee were informed officers were happy to report back regarding the commissioning process for the Mechanical Biological Treatment Plant in Westbury.

At the conclusion of debate,

Resolved:

That the Committee thank the Task Group for their report and make the following recommendations:

1)    That the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee agree to the Environment Select Committee within the newly-elected Wiltshire Council establishing a Waste Task Group for 18 months to action the recommendations below.

2)    The Waste Task Group should seek assurance that the Waste Management Services team has sought and considered advice from independent advisors regarding waste management strategy; in particular, to review the performance of the current contractor in managing Wiltshire’s waste and identifying potential improvement areas.

3)    The Waste Task Group should seek assurance that the Waste Management Services team has taken the proximity principle into account in the development of its waste strategy.  The Task Group believes that the creation of the site at Porte Marsh Industrial Estate in Calne has demonstrated good practice in materials recycling, embracing the proximity principle, and forms a good  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53.

a)    To receive the report of the CIL Task Group and consider its recommendations;

b)    To receive an update on the development of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) in Wiltshire.

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a proposed new charge that local authorities can choose to impose on development in their area. It will contribute towards bridging the funding gap between the total cost of infrastructure necessary to deliver new development and the amount of funding available from other sources. 

Cabinet and the Corporate Leadership Team identified the introduction of CIL as one of its corporate priorities and were supported by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee. The CIL Task Group was established by the Environment Select Committee, endorsed by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee and held its inaugural meeting on 24 September 2012. The Committee had determined to receive a report from the Task Group to pass on recommendations to any future Environment Select Committee following the May 2013 Local Elections, as well an update from Development Services.

Councillor Tony Trotman introduced the report of the CIL Task Group, and thanked its members and the officers who supported its work. The Task Group met on five occasions, which involved the questioning of witnesses, including major and more minor developers. It was noted that national guidance on CIL had been altered, requiring the Task Group to be continually updated, with much additional work still needed as a result, and that any members with further comments should contact the Task Group should it be recreated by the future Environment Select Committee.

The Team Leader (Minerals and Waste Policy, Spatial Planning) then updated the Committee and confirmed a CIL item would be going before the Cabinet in June 2012.

A debate followed, where the extent of administration costs in implementing the CIL was discussed, along with implications of CIL on the aims of the Wiltshire Core Strategy and infrastructure plans. It was suggested by some that comparisons with similar authorities and their CIL implementation would be useful, and that Scrutiny would need to be kept informed of the information being taken to Cabinet.

At the conclusion of debate, it was,

Resolved:

In the light of evolving guidance and the requirement for further statutory consultation, that the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee agree to the Environment Select Committee, within the newly-elected Wiltshire Council, establishing a CIL Task Group to undertake further work considering possible new guidance coming forward, consultation results and other relevant evidence, and any information to be presented to Cabinet.

To receive the report of the Air Quality Joint Task Group and consider its recommendations.

The Environment Select Committee has held a longstanding interest in the development of the Council’s Air Quality Strategy and considered drafts in the run up to its adoption in July 2010 and 2011 and November 2011. Wiltshire Council adopted its Air Quality Strategy in December 2011.

At its meeting on the 17July 2012, it was agreed by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee that air quality should be a part of its forward work programme, and a Task Group reporting jointly to the Environment Select Committee and Health Select Committees was established in February 2013.

Councillor Alan Hill presented the report of the Air Quality Joint Task Group, thanking the members and assisting officers, explaining that it had met formally on two occasions to identify Scrutiny potential for a future Committee or Task Group to consider. The legislative framework regarding air quality was also noted, as well as the general high quality of air in Wiltshire.

A debate followed, where the equipment to monitor air quality assessment and their use across the county was discussed, and the scope of any future Task Group to monitor and scrutinise Air Quality was discussed. It was also suggested that the new council should be reminded that membership of Task Groups was open to all non-executive members

Resolved:

1)    That the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee agree to the Environment Select Committee within the newly-elected Wiltshire Council establishing an Air Quality Joint Task Group with the Health Select Committee to action the recommendations below.

2)    Oversight of the monitoring regime and the equipment be undertaken to ensure it is fit for purpose.

3)    The Task Group believes that, whilst Wiltshire Council is not legally obliged to achieve national air quality objectives, we are required to work towards the objectives by drawing up action plans setting out the measures we intend to take in pursuit of them. It is incumbent upon us as a responsible Authority to attempt to reduce the exceedances to below recommended levels.

4)    That Air Quality Alliances review all the Council, school and business travel plans in their area.

The Overview & Scrutiny Management Committee at its meeting held on 28 February agreed that each Select Committee should prepare a report at its last meeting identifying key items that they feel should be kept on the Forward Work Programme for consideration by Councillors post election in May.

Due to the limited timeframe between the Management Committee and the Environment Select Committee, it is proposed that the items identified at the meeting be compiled into an appropriate report that will be approved by the Chairman and Vice Chairman and subsequently circulated to the Environment Select Committee members before it is submitted to the Management Committee at its final meeting to be held on 11 April 2013.

Items proposed include:

Waste Task Group

CIL Task Group

Air Quality Task Group (joint with Health Select Committee)

Members may have other items for discussions.

The Committee discussed the proposed Work Programme for the Environment Select Committee. In addition to the three Task Group recommendations from Minutes 53-55, the Committee discussed other potential Scrutiny topics to be forwarded to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee for approval, including Lorry Watch schemes and Development Control.

After debate, it was,

Resolved:

That the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee agree to the Environment Select Committee, within the newly election Wiltshire Council, establishing a Task Group to look at issues around Development Control and timely delivery of adoptable estates.

The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled for 11 June 2013 at 10:30am in Committee Rooms B and C, Monkton Park, Chippenham, SN15 1ER.

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Tuesday 11 June 2013.

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

There were no urgent items.