Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies were received from Cllr Evans, Cllr McLennan and Cllr Drewett.

Cllr Evans was substituted by Cllr Whalley and Cllr Drewett was substituted by Cllr Chivers.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Environment  Select Committee meeting held on 18 February 2014.

Minutes of the previous meeting held on 18 February 2014 were presented. It was;

Resolved:

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 of interest.

To receive any announcements through the Chair.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

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 8 April 2014.  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 rules on public participation were noted. There was no public participation.

a)    Report from the Rapid Scrutiny Group

To receive a report in respect of the work of the Rapid Scrutiny Group and consider the proposals submitted.

b)    Highways operational performance over winter

At its meeting in November 2013 the O & S Management Committee agreed that a progress report would be presented to the Environment Select Committee after the winter, addressing operational performance.

a)    Report from the Rapid Scrutiny Group

At its meeting in November 2013 the O & S Management Committee agreed that a rapid scrutiny exercise should be undertaken on the content of the report submitted to it by the Cabinet member for Highways and Streetscene. Following the rapid scrutiny exercise in December a report was compiled and presented to the Management Committee in January. A subsequent meeting took place and a second report was produced and presented to the Environment Select Committee.

A successful Balfour Beatty community team event had occurred in Trowbridge, which provided important information regarding the relationship between Balfour Beatty and Wiltshire Council. Meetings for other community areas would begin in May 2014. Concerns were raised regarding the effectiveness of communication between Parish and Town Councils, Wiltshire Council officers and Balfour Beatty. 

It was resolved;

That, having completed its work as directed by the Management Committee the existing members of the Rapid Scrutiny group, enhanced by two additional backbench members, form a Task Group to ensure that outstanding issues area addressed and to monitor the performance of the Highways and Streetscene Contract, including the report to be produced after the first full year of operation.

To recommend endorsement of this proposal by the Management committee and adjustment to the O & S Work Programme accordingly.

b)    Highways operational performance over winter

At its meeting in November 2013 the O & S Management Committee agreed that a progress report would be presented to the Environment Select Committee after the winter, addressing operational performance and an amended report was contained within the agenda pack.

The Balfour Beatty Living Places contract was the largest contract procured by Wiltshire Council and had a value of £24 million, to which an additional £8.5 million had been added through the highways investment fund. Balfour Beatty were developing data to inform local communities when they could expect grass in their area to be cut and by whom. 

Wiltshire Council was adopting a longer term approach to maintaining roads, by scheduling improvement works rather than focusing on reactionary repair work. This had been particularly difficult in areas where Network Rail was carrying out work, which had resulted in the deterioration of minor roads following their use as diversion routes. The Council was consulting with central Government to determine who should pay for this repair work.

Advertisements had been placed for three desk-based apprentices, and 12 Prince’s Trust road-based positions, which would be reduced to six road based apprentices. The highways team were working hard to repair road damage following flooding, they had completed 50 salt runs and cleared over 400 trees. The council was considering adopting a 10 month highways programme each year, to allow for two months when they might not be able to carry out works due to extreme weather

In response to members questions, Cllr Whitehead confirmed that Atkins check the quality of the work completed by Balfour Beatty and the highways team to ensure that it is of a high standard. When a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

The Committee has a duty to scrutinise the Flood Plan.  Following the extensive flooding this winter, the Flood Plan is being significantly reviewed and revised.  An update on progress is provided for the Committee to note, in advance of the new Plan being presented to the Committee later in the year.

The flood plan, which was due to be reviewed in 2013, sets out Wiltshire Council’s flood management arrangements and takes into account the Council’s responsibilities under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 and Reservoirs Act 1975. The flood plan details the coordinated response that would be required from Wiltshire Council in the event of severe flooding in the County.

The Committee praised the efficient and well coordinated response to the extreme winter weather. The ESC was advised that the lessons learnt during the period of extreme weather could be incorporated into the plan, following which a draft plan would be presented to the Committee later this year.

It was resolved to;

Note the interim report.

The CIL Task Group presented its final report to Cabinet in December 2013. 

The Task Group recommended that the Council should adopt several rates on their charging schedule for CIL, based on the viability of those rates within specific settlement categories. They also advised that student housing should be included in the residential rates as it was considered a lucrative market and could withstand the higher charges.

The Task Group agreed that strategic sites contributed significantly to on-site infrastructure, schools and strategic transport through section 106, and so considered that these sites should be charged at 50% of residential sites.

The original Executive Report to Cabinet had recommended a single, flat rate of CIL for residential properties. It was welcomed that a split rate was now being recommended, although it did not go as far as the Task Group had recommended. Rapidly changing CIL legislation had impacted on the work of officers and the Task Group throughout this exercise.

Cllr Toby Sturgis, Cabinet member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Property, Waste will be in attendance to provide a verbal response.

Cllr Toby Sturgis gave an executive response to the CIL Task Group.

Cabinet had originally decided to utilise a single levy across all of Wiltshire. The Task Group had recommended CIL rates for all four settlement categories. It would have been a very difficult exercise to determine the boundaries for each settlement category and entail a great deal of work. Cabinet had decided to have two CIL rates. This approach had been assessed as a workable compromise had been submitted to the Inspector.

Many changes to the CIL concept had been announced by Central Government at different times. The changes would be incorporated into the draft CIL proposal which would then proceed to consultation. Although Cabinet had not accepted all of the Task Group’s recommendations, Cllr Sturgis confirmed that they had adopted the recommendations they felt able to.

It was resolved to;

Continue the work of the CIL Task Group.

The final report of the Air Quality Task Group recommended that:

·         The ‘template’ created by the Calne Area Board to stage their Environment Event should be made available to other interested Area Boards;

·         A mechanism/process should be developed to allow Area Boards to share examples of good practice/templates for other successful activities.

The Executive welcomed the recommendations of the Task Group and confirmed that the Calne Area Board Environment Event was on the agenda of the next Area Board Chairs’ meeting.

It was also confirmed that the Area Board Chairs’ meetings were the mechanism whereby examples of good practice could be disseminated.

With the agreement of the Chairman, the Committee were permitted to ask questions of Cllr Toby Sturgis regarding the withdrawal of mini recycling facilities and he confirmed that this had occurred as part of the budget decision. Although use of the mini recycling centres had reduced considerably, the cost of maintaining them remained the same.

Cllr Sturgis was asked about the progress of the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document. He confirmed that the Planning Inspector had challenged some of the evidence presented.

It was resolved to;

Note the executive response.

The Police and Crime Panel (PCP) is currently running a Task Group looking at Voluntary Schemes, which includes Community Speedwatch.  This topic also features on the Forward Work Plan of the Committee.  To avoid duplication of effort, it has been agreed that the PCP will undertake this piece of work and the Committee will receive a copy of the PCP’s final report.  Members of the Committee are provided with an opportunity to feed into the work being undertaken by the PCP.  A short paper (attached) lists some potential areas of interest.

The Police and Crime Panel (PCP) was running a Task Group to examine Voluntary Schemes, including Community Speedwatch. The main function of the PCP was to hold the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) to account for the delivery of the Police and Crime Plan. Although the Police and Crime Plan made no specific commitments to Speedwatch, it sought to help communities do more for themselves to improve safety. Cllr Richard Britton, Chair of the PCP addressed the Committee. He confirmed that there would not be a detailed examination of Speedwatch as part of the Voluntary Schemes Task Group and the Panel was not in a position to consider many of the issues raised by the Committee. However, from his background knowledge, Cllr Britton was able to assist members regarding Speedwatch issues.

In order to develop a Speedwatch scheme, a metro count must be installed which identifies a speeding issue in the community. A risk assessment then takes place and if there is sufficient interest in the community, a Speedwatch training day is arranged.

Some members noted difficulty in accessing Speedwatch training for the members of their local community, whilst other members praised the support and training provided by the PCC’s office. There were two members of staff running the Speedwatch scheme in the PCC office.

The Committee noted that resourcing problems were likely to occur as the Speedwatch scheme became more popular. A suggestion that volunteers could assist with office work was dismissed due to data protection issues. The panel considered that to minimise the number of interfaces and points of contact, the PCP should be the first point of contact for the Committee, should it wish to raise further issues.

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.

It was resolved to;

Note the Forward Work Programme.

To receive verbal updates on the work of the Task Groups.

a)    Adoptable Estates Task Group

Cllr Edge advised the Committee that a meeting had taken place with the representatives of developers. It was expected that two further meetings would take place before the work of the Task Group was complete.

b)   Parking Review Task Group

Cllr Wayman advised that two meetings had taken place and the Task Group were in the process of gathering information.

c)    20 mph Policy Task Group

Cllr Edge confirmed that the Task Group had met with Cllr John Thomson and the Traffic Engineering Manager. The group were arranging a meeting with 20’s Plenty and other interested groups.

d)   Waste Task Group

Cllr Green advised the Committee that the Task Group had not met recently and were awaiting a report on the Affordable Plan from the waste service. Tracey Carter will be meeting with Dr Peter Alberry on 30 April 2014 to discuss his presentation.

e)    CIL Task Group

No update was given as the subject had been covered by the Cabinet Member under the earlier agenda item on the executive response to the CIL.

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 Tuesday 10 June 2014.

The next meeting of the Environment Select Committee would take place on Tuesday 10 June 2014.