Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillors Derek Walters, James Sheppard, Ian Mclennan, Charles McGrath, and Mel Jacob.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Environment  Select Committee meeting held on 13 July 2022.

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 July 2022 were presented for consideration, and it was,

Resolved:

To approve and sign the minutes as a true and correct record.

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 provided detail of meetings attended on behalf of the Committee, including briefings on waste collection service and rights of way.

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 12 September 2022 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 14 September 2022. 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.

No questions or statements were submitted.

The committee to receive a further update on progress resolving the continuing issues with the kerbside collection service, as agreed at ESC on 13 July 2022.

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste, Streetscene, and Flooding, presented a report in respect of waste management. This provided an overview of recent disruption to waste and recycling services, and updated on actions taken by the council and its contractor to address the situation.

Details were provided of impacts from staffing shortages from April 2022 which affected operations. Notice of serious breach of service was provided by the Council in June 2022. The report set out details of meetings with the contractors, development of a remediation plan, and the measures proposed and undertaken to restore normal operations. The Cabinet Member confirmed he received daily updates on the service, and that service had returned to normal in August 2022.

The Committee discussed the report and update. Clarity was sought on the level of drivers and loaders required for the new residual waste collection rounds implemented from 28 February 2022. Details were also sought on the remediation plan from the contractors, the addressing of risks, and if there were any financial penalties as part of the contract. It was stated the contract included a performance framework, and that the provider had been accountable for additional overtime incurred as part of the remediation plan.

At the conclusion of discussion, it was,

Resolved:

That the committee:

1)    Notes the content of the report and actions taken to improve the situation;

2)    Notes the actions that will be taken forward to attempt to mitigate future staff resourcing issues affecting the council’s waste contracts;

3)    Is invited to visit, at a convenient time, the Materials Recycling Facility (MFR) at Calne (as resolved 8 March 2022).

As resolved at the ESC meeting on 12 January 2022, the select committee will receive an update report on the Streetscene contract.

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste, Streetscene, and Flooding, presented a report in relation the successful tender of the Council’s Streetscene and Grounds Maintenance contract, to commence on 1 December 2022.

The Cabinet Member explained the contract would aim for year on year carbon emissions reduction through such measures as electrification of tools and use of different fuels, and that the contract delivered savings, enhanced transparency and real time update and performance.

The Committee discussed the report and update. Details were sought on the contract’s data reporting into the Highways team, and how this would interact with the front facing MyWilts system. Comments were received on individual reporting into MyWilts and the need to log back in to find updates on the matter reported, with it being stated that this would still be the case but it was considered real time feedback would be improved with the new contract arrangements. Clarity was also sought on social value outcomes in the report, with it being open to the contractor to identify where they could utilise measures such as apprenticeships.

There was discussion of grass cutting and rewilding, and the process for parishes to identify areas and where the council or contractor itself suggested areas. It was stated about 10% of the areas of the contract were considered wildflower. In response to queries it was stated local areas often disagreed strongly on appropriate areas, and the need to engage with the communities.

There were also comments noting the savings achieved under the new contract, the challenges dealing with urban verges, and the contract being outcomes based, so it being up to the contractor to resource as they needed to deliver.

At the conclusion of discussion, it was,

Resolved:

That the committee:

1)    Notes the award of the Streetscene and Grounds Maintenance Tender to Idverde and the outcomes detailed;

2)    Receives an update on the delivery and outcomes of the contract in 12 months times.

As discussed at the ESC-Executive meeting on 14 September 2021 on the spatial planning portfolio, the select committee is receiving an update on Local Plan progress and timescales.

The update will be in the form of a presentation.

Cllr Nick Botterill, Cabinet Member for Finance, Development Management, and Strategic Planning, provided a verbal update on the review of the Local Plan..

It was explained that the work was very complex, and the next stage of the process on the Local Plan Review which had been scheduled for the third quarter of 2022 would be delayed until at least the second quarter of 2023. It was noted that with the recent change of Prime Minister it was possible that policy requirements could face significant change, but until any proposals were implemented the current plan system approach would need to be progressed.

Details were provided by Georgina Clampitt-Dix, Head of Spatial Planning, on the two plans in preparation (the Local Plan Review and Gypsies and Travellers Plan), the plan preparation stages to gather evidence, reporting to Cabinet and Council ahead of public consultation, before formal submission and examination, which would test the soundness of the plan before a government appointed Inspector. The intention was to publish a revised local development scheme in October 2022.

The Committee discussed the update, seeking details on the timeline, consideration of representations, and being consistent with national framework policies. Comments were made on coordination with the council’s Climate Strategy, and on progress with the Local Transport Plan alongside the Local Plan.

Appropriate consultation was discussed, it was explained that timescales for different stages meant there could not be rolling open consultation as representations needed to be assessed to prepare the draft plan.

At the conclusion of discussion, it was,

Resolved:

That the Committee:

1)    Note the progress to date;

2)    Receives a further update in 8 months’ time (June 2023) including timescales.

A report to Cabinet (13 September 2022) on the latest corporate scorecard and progress toward the council’s business plan outcomes. The select committee will consider areas relevant to its remit.

Councillor Richard Clewer, Leader of the Council, presented a report updating on performance against the stated missions in the Council’s Business Plan 2022-32, its strategic risks and proposed future developments.

The Leader emphasised that targets needed to be meaningful and achievable, with metrics likely to evolve over time, and noted the extent of reporting information sitting behind the overview report being presented. Attention was drawn to the risk register, and progress achieved in identifying mitigation measures.

The Committee discussed the report. Comments were received on climate change risk, with a response that climate impacts upon a variety of other risks and performance measures, with the chart ranked by highest risks.

Other subjects raised included neighbourhood plan referendum turnout, residual waste and the housing register.

At the conclusion of discussion, it was,

Resolved:

That the Committee:

1)    Notes the reports;

2)    Agrees to receive the Q2 monitoring report in due course.

To receive an update from the task group on its work since June 2022.

Councillor Graham Wright, Chairman of the Climate Emergency Task Group, provided a report and update on the work of the Task Group.

Councillor Wright stated it was important to ensure the climate team was able to operate as a top priority, and that the Task Group was looking to focus on delivery and execution of plans made to date in order to ensure targets were met, as well as looking at measures beyond Wiltshire Council where possible.

It was then,

Resolved:

That the Committee:

1)    Notes the update on the Task Group activity provided;

2)    Notes the Task Group’s draft forward work plan at Appendix 1 of the report.

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 Chairman confirmed he and the Vice-Chairman would review the programme and make any further amendments as appropriate.

Resolved:

To approve the Forward Work Programme.

To confirm the date of the next scheduled meeting as Tuesday 8 November 2022.

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 8 November 2022.

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

There were no urgent items.