Agenda and minutes

The Committee is asked to appoint its Chairman for the ensuing year.

Cllr Molie Groom was appointed Chairman of the Committee.

The Committee is asked to appoint its Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.

Cllr Nigel Carter was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Committee.

Apologies were received from Cllr Chuck Berry and Cllr Peter Colmer.

Cllr Trevor Carbin substituted for Cllr Peter Colmer.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Environment Select Committee meeting held on 11 May 2010.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 11 May 2010 were signed and approved as a correct record.

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

Cllr Peter Doyle declared a personal interest in Item 8 – Housing PFI Scheme - as a non Executive director of Sarsen Housing Association.

Cllr Rosemary Brown declared a personal interest in Item 9 – Real Time Passenger Information - as an employee of BLB solicitors who represented Trapeze.

The recruitment of the Empty Homes Officer had moved forward with the job now regraded to a more attractive salary and the post advertised on the intranet.

The Council was consulting on the future waste collection service.  A request for an update on the outcomes of the consultation exercise would be requested for the next meeting of the Committee.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public.

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.  The Chairman will, however, exercise his/her discretion in order to ensure that members of the public have the opportunity to contribute. 

Members of the public wishing to ask a question should give written notice (including details of any question) to the officer named above by 12:00 noon on Friday 2 July 2010.

There was no public participation at the meeting.

In response to the committee’s ongoing interest in the proposed west Wiltshire Housing PFI, and as agreed at its last meeting, councillors will receive an oral update on progress towards finalising the contract.

The committee will recall that at its meeting in May the agreement had been referred to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) with an anticipated response to be received in July. The PFI Project Manager will summarise the key developments since the referral.

Recommendation

The Committee is asked to consider the update and decide if it wishes to make any representation to the cabinet member with responsibility for Housing.

At its previous meeting held May 2010 the Committee was informed that contractual negotiations with Silbury Housing Limited had been extended and were anticipated to be finalised in July 2010.  The Committee duly requested an update on progress made towards finalising the PFI contract at it’s next meeting.  The Housing PFI Project Manager, Chris Trowell, attended the meeting to provide the update and answer any questions.

Clarification was provided that negotiations had  been completed, with Cabinet approval granted on 17 June 2010  to enter into the PFI.

Although the project had received Cabinet approval, the Project Manager had recently attended a meeting in London with Homes for Community Agency and CLG which indicated that value for money of the project would be coming under much heavier scrutiny by central government.  As a result the PFI project could again be delayed although it was understood that there was a desire to drive the project through.  The Project Manager would be seeking further clarity on funding deadlines within the next couple of days and welcomed any support the Committee could provide.

Cllr John Brady – Cabinet member for Housing, and Cllr Howard Greenman – Portfolio Holder for Housing, had confirmed their support in progressing the Scheme.

Resolved:

To ask the Leader and Cabinet Member to reaffirm their commitment to the PFI Project and to work with ministers in central government to ensure delivery.

The Committee considered a report from the Corporate Director for Transport, Environment and Leisure at its meeting in November which provided an overview of the delivery of Real Time Passenger Information in parts of Wiltshire.  This was in response to an historic scrutiny interest in this topic which had resulted in the appointment of a Project Manager to oversee the system.

At this meeting the Committee requested a 6 month progress update and in response a report is attached from the Corporate Director for Neighbourhood and Planning.

Recommendation:

The Committee is asked to consider the report and assess whether it would like to send any recommendations/commentary to the cabinet member with responsibility for transport in relation to the future of RTPI in Wiltshire.

A report from the Corporate Director – Transport, Environment and Leisure, was received by the Committee at its meeting in November 2009 and provided an overview of the delivery of Real Time Passenger Information.  The Committee resolved to request a further 6 month progress update.  Accordingly a report was submitted to this Committee from the Corporate Director - Neighbourhood and Planning.

Cllr Richard Gamble, Ian White – Passenger Transport Co-Ordination Manager and Liz Douglas – Real Time Passenger Information Manager were in attendance to present the report and answer questions.

The RTPI Manager confirmed that the real time system was underperforming but that work continued with the supplier to resolve the issues; this included converting a key bus route to GPRS which was being monitored and was working effectively.

Information gathering was still taking place but initial indications showed a likely save of £125k over a 5 year period.  Continued negotiating with the supplier was expected to reduce the price further, although an initial estimated capital investment of £42k would be required to further implement the GPRS system fully.

Wiltshire Council had a 15 year contract with Trapeze Group (UK) Ltd (who supplied and maintained the system), which would run until 2018. 

Cllr Richard Gamble confirmed that original costs of the project were in the region of £2.5m, which included substantial grant funding from central government to encourage use of public transport.  No contingency funding was currently in place, although the officers would continue to bid for any available funding.

[The meeting was temporarily adjourned for approximately 30 minutes due to a fire drill]

Ensuing discussion by members of the Committee on the ongoing effectiveness of the system included, concern over the length of time taken to rectify the system problems, and that further spend would be required by the Council to remedy the problems.  Members also discussed the contract with Trapeze Group (UK) Ltd and were informed that a summary of the contract was available for consideration.

Members also requested clarification on why a target of 83% had been set on new GPRS routes and requested further clarification on the costs for converting the Warminster to Salisbury route to GPRS.

Resolved:

1)         To note the progress made towards improving the performance of the RTPI.

2)         To request a further report to the September meeting of the committee outlining in more detail the financial analysis/context to enable councillors to decide if they support the proposal to switch to GPRS.      

Cabinet will be asked to approve an Air Quality Strategy for Wiltshire at its meeting in September.  In advance of this decision the Cabinet member with responsibility for Air Quality has agreed to provide the Committee with an overview of the work undertaken to date in the development of the strategy.

Recommendation:

The Committee is asked to consider the information presented and recommend/comment as it feels appropriate towards the development of the final Air Quality Strategy for Wiltshire.

The Committee was asked to consider the Air Quality Strategy ahead of its submission to Cabinet in September 2010.  The Cabinet member for Health and Wellbeing submitted a summary report providing an overview on progress to date.

Cllr Keith Humphries – Cabinet member for Health and Wellbeing, Mandy Bradley – Service Director Public Protection and Gary Tomsett – Specialist Environmental Protection Manager attended the meeting to present the report and answer questions.

Clarification was provided that the Strategy was one of a series of harmonisations taking place which had proven difficult to pull together as the previous district councils each had different strategies in place pre Unitary.  A Strategic Framework was now being developed for Wiltshire Council and was designed to be open and provide clear guidance on air quality. 

The authority had a duty to monitor air quality as set by central government policy and the EU.  The Air Quality team was working with the Climate Change team to investigate ways of working together in future to maximise resources available.

The Air Quality team currently consisted of 4 staff who were working to influence policies and procedures and tackling problems highlighted in known areas, such as Bradford on Avon and Salisbury.

The figures detailed within the report were provided by the Central Government Environment Select Committee, which were not specific to Wiltshire and therefore difficult to break down further. 

Ensuing discussion included what work, if any, had taken place following historic recommendations made by former district councillors previously and the need for a greater emphasis on planning management, which was likely to be the only areas to which Wiltshire Council could assist in the reduction of pollutants.  Sight of the deliverables, objectives and commitment to targets was also requested for inclusion within the report.

Resolved:

To note the report and request that the Cabinet member consider the comments made by the Committee when finalising the strategy.

In March the Head of Climate Change agreed to return to the Committee with an update on the development of the authority’s Climate Change Strategy.  A summary of the current progress is now attached in response, together with a report considered by Cabinet on 22 June.

The Head of Climate Change will be in attendance to give a short presentation on key developments within her Service.

Recommendation:

The Committee is invited to consider the development of the Climate Change Strategy and progress made against climate change objectives and make recommendations as appropriate.

The Committee considered a report at its meeting in March 2010.  The report provided an update on the developments of the authority’s Climate Change Strategy.  The Committee resolved that a further update would be presented to the Committee’s meeting in July. 

A report by the Service Director, Economy and Enterprise, which was also submitted to Cabinet on 22 June 2010, was duly circulated to members for consideration.

Ariane Crampton – Head of Climate Change, attended the meeting to present the report and answer questions.  The Senior Climate Change Officers, recently appointed, were also in attendance.

The Cabinet member for Environment was unable to attend the meeting.

The following points were raised:

·        In advance of reporting to cabinet all reports were now screened for environmental implications and carbon footprint impact.

·        Research had been undertaken on best practice nationally.  The London Borough of Merton Climate Change Strategy was highlighted as a good example.

·        A draft strategy was planned for consultation September/October with a planned adoption date of December.

·        The Climate Change Strategy would include the framework strategy and full action plan and which would consider the carbon management plan (inc carbon trading strategy), adaptation plan, county carbon reduction plan and renewable energy action plan.

·        The aim of the Strategy was to highlight, inform and articulate details of the environment policy frameworks, how the Council dealt with carbon change and how it could change carbon emission levels.

·        The Climate Change Adaptation Plan was expected to be in place for February 2011 (in line with LAA target).

·        The framework strategy and climate change plans would be submitted to the Committee in September prior to being submitted to the Climate Change Board. 

Thanks were given to the Head of Climate Change and her team for the work undertaken although members of the Committee wished for the minutes to reflect their disappointment that the strategy had not been completed to date, whilst noting that the staffing structure had just been populated because of the delays in finalising the budget.

Ensuing discussion included the need for a strong message from Cabinet in support of and financial commitment to deliver the strategy on carbon change.  Consideration should be given by the Portfolio Holder - Environment on where the environmental strategy and policy sat within the current structure.

The Committee also felt that the strategy should be a risk based strategy which should highlight the main areas to be addressed with a list of prioritisation rather than range of activities as currently provided.  This should include details of the issues the Council could influence.

Further consideration should be given on ways to encourage climate change responsibility following the Committee’s recommendation to Cabinet to include climate change responsibilities within job descriptions although  acknowledgement was made that work was being undertaken to recruit ‘green champions’ as a way to encourage climate change awareness with staff across the organisation. 

The increase in carbon emissions for 2010/11 was higher as estimated figures were included in 2009/10 and took into account the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86.

The Committee appointed Councillors Ricky Rogers and Ian McLennan at its meeting in May to represent scrutiny on the Salisbury Housing Commission. The Commission was formed in response to a recent audit commission review of the Council’s management of the Salisbury Housing stock.

The Committee will receive an update on the scrutiny activity undertaken to date.

Recommendation

The Committee is asked to consider the update and decide if it feels it necessary to make any representation to the Housing Commission.

Cllr Ian McLennan as an appointed member of the scrutiny committee on the Salisbury Housing Commission provided an update on the scrutiny work undertaken to date.

Two meetings had been held, the first of which Cllr McLennan was unable to attend due to his recent appointment as representative.  The second meeting followed a visit to Salisbury to consider the housing stock and receive details on the processes undertaken from someone vacating a property to what needed to be done thereafter to make the property habitable. 

The Board’s main objective was to move into the top quartile of housing providers by 2012 and therefore the Service Director for Housing was now spending approximately 60% of his time in Salisbury in order to ensure this was achieved.

The Committee considered whether the results of the Audit Commission review on the Council’s management of the Salisbury housing stock, would be affected due to the cessation of the Audit Committee and what work had been done with the management of housing stock to date.

Resolved:

That recognising the inspection regime that the Housing Commission was responding to was no longer in place; the Scrutiny Officer would investigate any repercussions.

A copy of the draft Forward Work Programme is attached for consideration.

Resolved:

To note the updates provided.

7 September 2010.

7 September 2010. Members requested a special meeting to allow the committee to consider the Climate Change Strategies in detail.

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

Cllr Alan Hill raised a planning concern based on the directive from Minister Eric Pickles to delete the Regional Spatial Strategy and whether this could be used as planning legislation. There was concern that the chief inspector had directed his appeals inspectors that the RSS was enshrined in primary legislation and without new laws passed it could not be deleted from statute.

Resoved:

That the scrutiny officer would contact the Service Director - Development to provide clarity on legislation surrounding the Regional Spatial Strategy and update the Committee.