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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Kennet Room - County Hall, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge, BA14 8JN. View directions

Contact: Edmund Blick 

Items
No. Item

16.

Election of Chairman

To elect a Chairman for the forthcoming year.

Minutes:

The meeting was introduced by Edmund Blick- Democratic Services Officer, who called for nominations for the position of Chairman.

 

Cllr Matthew Dean was proposed by Cllr Peter Evans, which was seconded by Cllr Sue Evans. There were no further nominations.

 

Resolved:

Cllr Matthew Dean elected as Chairman by unanimous vote.

17.

Election of a Vice-Chairman

To elect a Vice-Chairman for the forthcoming year.

Minutes:

The Chairman thanked the Committee for their support in his election and he called for nominations for the position of Vice Chairman.

 

Cllr Bob Jones MBE was proposed by Cllr Stephen Oldrieve, which was seconded by Cllr Nick Murry. There were no other nominations.

 

Resolved:

Cllr Bob Jones elected as Vice- Chairman by unanimous vote.

18.

Apologies

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Minutes:

Apologies were received from; Cllr Peter Fuller who was substituted by Cllr Sue Evans, Cllr Tony Jackson who was substituted by Cllr Jose Green and Cllr Derek Brown who was substituted by Cllr Mollie Groom.

 

19.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

To approve and sign the minutes of the Environment Select Committee meeting held on Wednesday 22 February 2017.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Resolved:

The minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2017 were agreed and signed as a true and accurate record.

20.

Declarations of Interest

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

 

Minutes:

There were no declarations.

21.

Chairman's Announcements

To receive any announcements through the Chairman.

Minutes:

The Chairman announced that Agenda Item 9 - Procurement of Housing Repairs & Maintenance Service, had been deferred, as it was no longer being discussed by Cabinet on Tuesday 20 June 2017. The Chairman signalled that this item would return to the Committee, prior to its consideration at Cabinet. 

 

It was also announced that Agenda Item 11 - Forward Work Plan and the Agenda Supplement - Notice of Motion: Single-use Plastics, would be moved forward in the agenda, so that the appropriate Senior Officers could be present.

 

22.

Public Participation

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 Tuesday 6 June 2017 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 Thursday 8June 2017.  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.

Minutes:

There were no public questions or speakers.

23.

Forward Work Programme

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.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman introduced the Forward Work Programme, explaining that it contained the recommendations of Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee under the last Council. These recommendations were formed following a “legacy process”, which included a councillor workshop event in January, ‘end of term’ style reports to the select committees in the Spring, and, finally discussion and agreement by Management Committee at its final meeting on 28th March. 

 

Attention was also drawn to the Municipal Waste Management Strategy listed on page 28 of the agenda pack.  The Chairman raised the proposition of the Waste Management Team, that they would like to arrange a seminar, to which all Members would be invited, to help inform a wider consultation with the public.

 

A verbal update was given by Tracy Carter- Associate Director for Waste and Environment, who explained that the purpose of the seminar would to notify members of the current service and ask a series of questions; the responses to which would help to inform a wider consultation through area boards and direct with residents.

 

Several Members expressed the view that it was important that the Scrutiny Committee was involved throughout the process, and that scrutiny should look at the implementation of existing contracts, along with future arrangements. Tracy Carter, assured Members that the process would be open and transparent and that there would be an opportunity for the proposed strategy to be scrutinised at all levels.

 

The Chairman also drew attention to an amendment made by the Management Committee in regards to the ‘planning’ item, where it was felt this was a governance issue within their remit, rather than that of the Environment Select Committee.

 

The Chairman explained that the proposal was to support the establishment of a task group, headed by Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee, to review the council’s planning committee system, of which Environment Select Committee Members would be invited, with the Chairman and Vice-chairman authorised to bring detailed proposals back to a future meeting.

 

The point was raised that there could be an opportunity for scrutiny involvement in regard to outcomes and delivery around the planning process In the debate that followed, it was confirmed that there was a distinction between the issues relating to ‘planning process’; such as the administrative procedures (which would be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee task group),and the issues of outcomes and delivery; such as poor planning and provision of infrastructure, to accommodate large numbers of new homes.  Members expressed a willingness to approve the proposals in regards to the Management Committee’s ‘planning process’ task group, but they voiced an interest in addressing the other substantive issue in ‘planning outcomes and delivery’.

 

Resolved:

  1. To support the arrangement of a seminar, to inform all Members of the work of the Waste Management Service and allow them to ask questions and make proposals for a new strategy, prior to a wider public consultation.

 

  1. To:

a.    Support Management Committee’s establishment of the Planning Committee System Task Group on 6 June 2017, with its  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

24.

Notice of Motion: Single-use Plastics

It was resolved at Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee on 6 June 2017 that, following consideration of a Notice of Motion referred by Full Council on Single-use plastics, to support scrutiny work looking at waste plastic management in Wiltshire, the Environment Select Committee will be considering the attached Notice of Motion, at its meeting on 13 June, as a supplementary item.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

 

The Chairman introduced this Supplementary Item, which asked Members to review the Notice of Motion and decide whether input from scrutiny could be beneficial.

 

Tracy Carter - Associate Director for Waste and Environment gave a brief overview as to the Council’s current approach to recycling plastics and some of the options that were being considered.

 

Members spoke about the issue of single use plastics being a global issue, as opposed to a local one. Councillors were clear in offering their approval to an improved strategy in this area, but were keen to have the opportunity of considering all the relevant information, prior to passing judgement.

 

The Chairman explained that the options available to the Committee regarding scrutinising this item were as follows:

 

·        A report at the next meeting of the Committee

·        A rapid scrutiny exercise

·        Await the outcome of the Waste Management Team’s seminar before considering the best approach for scrutiny

 

Resolved:

The Committee resolved to await the Councillors’ seminar on the Waste Management Strategy before considering scrutiny of waste plastics management and to ask the service to include a question on single use plastic at the seminar to inform the development of proposals.

 

25.

Wiltshire Council's Resident Engagement Strategy

Wiltshire Council aims to ‘ensure that there is an adequate supply of good quality housing of all types and of all tenures, delivered to address the needs of people in Wiltshire’. The council owns over 5,000 properties, mainly in the Salisbury and South Wiltshire area, which are rented to tenants. The Council is keen to listen and engage with residents on a number of key issues, such as housing; in order to further improve service delivery and help to build stronger communities.

 

On 12 April 2016 the Environment Select Committee received a report on the findings and recommendations of the Resident Engagement Task Group and resolved to present the recommendations to the relevant Cabinet Member.

This annual report is aimed at providing the Environment Select Committee with a yearly update on the outcome of the resident engagement strategy and its progress since 2016.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman introduced the Item, explaining that it was an update report on the progress of Wiltshire Council’s Resident Engagement Strategy and its outcome, it having been agreed during 6 June 2016 meeting to provide a further update to Committee after 12 months.

 

James Cawley - Associate Director Adult Care Commissioning & Housing provided an update, stating that no decisions had yet been made and that all options were still on the table. He referred Members to the details of the report. He explained that the strategy would be brought to the Committee for approval, once it had been formulated.

 

Cllr Chuck Berry - Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Housing was present and gave his support to the representations made by James Cawley.

 

Members were asked to note the update report.

 

Resolved:

To note the update on the Wiltshire Resident Engagement Strategy.

26.

Procurement of Housing Repairs & Maintenance Service

Wiltshire Council owns some 5,786 properties, mostly in the old Salisbury District Council area, along with garages, unadopted roads, land and communal spaces and the majority of the contracts for the upkeep of these come to an end or up for potential extension in March 2018.

 

The Committee will receive a presentation on the Repairs and Maintenance Service prior to consideration by Cabinet at their meeting on Tuesday 20 June 2017.

Minutes:

As mentioned in the Chairman’s Announcements, this item was deferred.

 

Resolved:

For the Committee to note that this item will come to a future meeting of the Environment Select Committee, prior to consideration at a future Cabinet meeting.

27.

Re-commissioning of Housing Service Support Contracts Rapid Scrutiny Final Report

The Housing Service is currently reviewing all housing related support contracts; with a view to re-commissioning Housing Service Support contracts early in 2017; to ensure new arrangements are in place by April 2018. The current value of the Housing Service Support contracts is estimated at £1.9 million per annum.

 

At the 22 February 2017 Environment Select Committee meeting, it was resolved to establish a further meeting of the Re-Commissioning of Housing Service Support Contracts rapid scrutiny exercise.

 

The Committee will receive the report of the second meeting of the rapid scrutiny exercise which took place on 9 March 2017.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman introduced the report and invited James Cawley - Associate Director of Adult Care Commissioning & Housing to provide additional comments. 

 

Cllr Bridget Wayman - Lead Member for the rapid scrutiny exercise and Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Waste also spoke in regards to the Final Report.

 

A question was asked as to the potential role of Environment Select Committee in monitoring the on-going work of the Housing Service Support Contracts, in addition to the work already done under the rapid scrutiny project. It was discussed that whilst the role of the Committee was primarily in scrutiny, there could be some scope for future monitoring.

 

Members also asked questions regarding the likely implementation of the 7 recommendations listed in the report proposals. James Cawley - Associate Director of Adult Care Commissioning and Housing, confirmed that there was no objection to any of the proposals and the Housing Team would look at implementing them all.

 

The Chairman proposed that the Committee approved the recommendations of the Rapid Scrutiny Report.

 

Resolved:

That Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Housing note the following recommendations when considering the development of the re-commissioning of Housing Service Support contracts:

1.    To implement a system of monitoring and management of housing related support contracts.

2.    To investigate offering contractors suitable incentives to move people on from the Housing Service Support process once they are ready.

3.    To regularly review resource demands on the service to ensure that the service is meeting up-to-date needs and reacting to any changes in demand.

4.    To retain the current high-level offender locations in Wiltshire.

5.    To recommission high-risk offender services separately to other support services.

6.    To reduce the amount of temporary accommodation with support attached from 44 units to 38.

7.    To recommission the domestic abuse services together with public health outreach services.

 

Also, that the Environment Select Committee:

1.    Continues scrutiny engagement in some form with the recommission of the Housing Service Support contracts process up to 1st April 2018.

 

 

28.

Urgent Items

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

Minutes:

There were no urgent items.

29.

Date of Next Meeting

To confirm the date of the next scheduled meeting as Tuesday 19 September 2017.

Minutes:

The date of the next meeting was set as Tuesday 19 September 2017.