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Agenda and minutes

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

Contact: Stuart Figini  Email: stuart.figini@wiltshire.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

45.

Election of Chairman 2019/20

To elect a chairman for the municipal year 2019/20.

Minutes:

Nominations were sought for the position of Chairman for the municipal year 2019/20. Cllr Derek Brown OBE, seconded by Cllr Peter Evans, moved that Cllr John Smale be elected as Chairman.

 

On there being no other nominations, it was

 

Resolved:

To elect Cllr John Smale as chairman of the Environment Select Committee for the municipal year 2019/20.

 

 

46.

Election of Vice-Chairman 2019/20

To elect a vice-chairman for the municipal year 2019/20.

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 Mike Hewitt, which was seconded by Cllr Brian Mathew. There were no other nominations.

 

Resolved:

Cllr Bob Jones MBE elected as Vice- Chairman of the Environment Select Committee for the municipal year 2019/20.

 

 

47.

Apologies

To receive any apologies or substitutions for the meeting.

Minutes:

The Committee noted that Cllr Clare Cape had been replaced as a member of the Committee by Cllr Brian Mathew.

 

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Steve Oldrieve and Ian McLennan.

 

Cllr Oldrieve was substituted by Cllr Stewart Palmen.

 

 

48.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

To approve and sign the minutes of the Environment  Select Committee meeting held on 23 April 2019.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 April 2019 were approved as an accurate record.

 

 

49.

Declarations of Interest

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

 

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

 

 

50.

Chairman's Announcements

To receive the following announcements:

 

·         ‘Western Gateway’ Sub-National Transport Body

·         Killed and Seriously Injured: Motorbike and Cyclist data

·         Public transport Review

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman made the following announcements:

 

·         Meeting Room Arrangements

The Committee noted the arrangements for a meeting to be held in the Kennet Room following the Environment Select Committee.

·         Western Gateway’ Sub-National Transport Body

The Committee received an update on the decision by Cabinet at their meeting held on 27 March 2018, to support ongoing discussions with neighbouring authorities in the South West, in relation to the Western Gateway’ Sub-National Transport Body.

·         Motorbike and Cyclists Killed and Seriously Injured

The Committee received an update on the Committee’s request at its previous meeting for data collected by Wiltshire police on motorbike and cyclists killed and seriously injured incidences in the county.

·         Public Transport Review

The Committee noted that consideration of the Public Transport Review update would be deferred until the outcome of the Judicial Review was known.

·         Late-Night Taxi Fares Task Group

The Committee were reminded that the Licensing Committee had established a Working Group to further consider the report of the Late-Night Taxi Fares Task Group, and as the appropriate body, were now taking ownership of the task. It was noted that the Executive response to the matter would be deferred until the Environment Select Committee meeting to be held on 5 November 2019, when it was anticipated that the Licensing Committee would have concluded their work and drafted their report. 

 

 

51.

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 11 June 2019 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 13 June 2019. 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.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman explained the rules of public participation and invited Bill Jarvis representing Extinction Rebellion Wiltshire to ask his questions:

 

Mr Jarvis confirmed that he had submitted a number of questions about the progress being made by the Global Warming and Climate Emergency Task Group established by the Environment Select Committee on 23 April 2019. Responses to the questions had been provided to Mr Jarvis and published on the Council’s website.

 

Mr Jarvis then asked a couple of supplementary questions about a carbon/renewables audit and how the Council proposed to engage with citizens of Wiltshire in relation to the Climate Change Task Group.  The Chairman responded to the supplementary questions at the meeting.  

 

 

52.

Rapid Scrutiny: Plastic Waste in Wiltshire's Roads - Final Report

To receive the final report of the rapid scrutiny exercise. This report will be added as a supplementary item to the agenda.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Chairman of the Rapid Scrutiny Exercise, Cllr Brian Mathew, which presented the findings and recommendations of the Rapid Scrutiny Exercise about using plastic waste as part of the Council’s Road Maintenance Programme.

 

Cllr Mathew introduced the report which detailed the evidence received over two meetings; the witnesses who provided information and responses to questions from the members; a summary of their deliberations; issues for the attention of the Environment Select Committee and recommendations from the Exercise.

 

In response to the recommendations detailed in the report, Cllr Wayman, Cabinet member for Highways, Transport and Waste, indicated that she generally welcomed the recommendations from the Rapid Scrutiny Exercise, although it was probably more appropriate to continue to monitor existing trials rather than establish a new trial incurring additional expenses, as suggested by the Rapid Scrutiny Exercise at Recommendation 2.

 

Resolved:

 

1.    That the Environment Select Committee endorses the report and recommendations, apart from recommendation 2, of the Rapid Scrutiny Exercise and refers it to the Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Waste for response at the next meeting on 3 September 2019.

 

2.    That recommendations 6, 7 and 8 as detailed in the report of the Rapid Scrutiny Exercise, be referred to the Global Warming and Climate Emergency Task Group for action.

 

 

53.

Dog Excrement

To receive a briefing paper on the impact that dog fouling in the countryside has on livestock, as requested by this Committee at its meeting held on 8 January 2019.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a briefing note of the Director for Highways and Environment on Dog Excrement and the impact that it has on Wiltshire’s countryside and livestock.

 

Cllr Bridget Wayman, Cabinet member for Highways, Transport and Waste commented on the briefing note and explained that dog fouling was regarded as a national problem and one that required further public awareness about the need for dog waste to be removed by the dog’s owner.

 

Cllr Lay explained that dog excrement can spread infections and diseases, such as Toxocariasis, and contains parasites that can harm farm animals, especially cows and sheep.

 

Cllr Wayman suggested that information about the need for dog owners to clear up their dog waste could be included in her public awareness campaign on fly tipping and removal of litter.  

 

Resolved:

1.    That the Environment Select Committee supports the Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Waste’s plan to run a public relations campaign on the importance of clearing up dog mess in Wiltshire.

 

2.    That the Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Waste to consider circulating this Briefing Note, or a similar Briefing Note to all Members, as well as to the Town and Parish Councils in Wiltshire.

 

 

 

54.

Updates from task groups and representatives on programme boards

To receive any updates on recent activity for active task groups and from members of the Environment Select Committee who have been appointed as overview and scrutiny representatives on programme boards.

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received updates from Cllr Wright, Chairman of the Homelessness Strategy Task Group and the Global Warming and Climate Emergency Task Group, on recent activity for the Task Groups:

 

i) Homelessness Strategy Task Group

The Committee noted that the Task Group had met on a number of occasions and had discussed (i) their findings following independent interviews with private sector agents and landlords ’s; (ii) how the Council provided a service to both those facing homelessness, or those who have been made homeless; and (iii) interviewing the Council’s Rough Sleeper Outreach Team.

 

ii) Climate Change Task Group

The Committee noted that the Task Group had received an introductory presentation about the topic of climate change and had started to scope their future investigations. Cllr Wright confirmed the key officers and Councillors that the Task Group is hoping to speak with; to help with its information gathering and advice.  He also indicated that the Task Group would be considering changing its name to include the word ‘Emergency’* in the title and he would discuss how the Task Groups reports could become more available to the public, with the Vice Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee

 

*The minutes of this meeting have been updated to reflect the change to the Task Group’s name, which was agreed after 18 June Environment Select Committee.

 

 

55.

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 drew the Committee’s attention to the Forward Work Programme and asked for confirmation about how to progress a number of items.

 

The Chairman also provided an update on the Plan item ‘Provision for Gypsies and Travellers’.  He indicated that the sale of the Gypsy and Travellers Sites are due to be completed at the end of June 2019, and in consultation with the Vice-Chairman, the item had been removed from the Forward Work plan.  

 

Resolved:

1.    That the following items be moved to the Committee’s meeting to be held on 5 November 2019:

 

·         Highways Annual Review of Service

·         HIAMS: Streetworks

·         Salisbury Recovery

 

2.    That the Forward Work Programme be updated to reflect the changes detailed above.

 

56.

Urgent Items

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

Minutes:

There were no urgent items.

57.

Date of Next Meeting

To confirm the date of the next scheduled meeting as 3 September 2019.

Minutes:

The next meeting is scheduled for 3 September 2019 at 10.30am.