Minutes for Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Environmental Services) meeting, Feb 2 2010, 6.30PM official page

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Pearson.

Members and Officers are requested to give notice of any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the relevant Code of Conduct.

The following declarations of interest were received:-

Member

Minute No.

Reason

Action

Councillor Cluskey

55 and 61

Personal Interest – he is a Council appointed Member (and Chair) of Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority

Took part in the consideration of the items and voted thereon;

Councillor Weavers

54

Personal Interest – he is a Member of Sefton Chamber of Commerce and Industry and his business is involved in environmental issues

Took part in the consideration of the item and voted thereon.

Minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2009.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2009, be confirmed as a correct record.

Following discussion at the November meeting (Minute No. 50 refers) the Assistant Director Environmental Protection and the Assistant Director Regeneration will attend the meeting to discuss the Development of Low Carbon Economy in response to Climate Change. A copy of the report presented to Cabinet Member – Environmental, Cabinet Member – Technical Services, Cabinet Member – Regeneration and Cabinet during November 2009 is attached for information and background.

Further to Minute No 50 of 24 November 2009 Mr D. Morecroft, Director of Economic Development – The Mersey Partnership, gave a presentation dealing with the creation of a low carbon economy for the Liverpool City Region.

In order to progress this area of work a report had been commissioned by The Mersey Partnership, Liverpool City Council and 5 additional funding partners which had resulted in :-

(i)         A primary initial evidence base to consider the economic impacts of climate change on the City Region;

The report had also identified the following focus areas for the City Region:-

(i)         Renewable Energy Capacity;

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

The Committee considered the report of the Planning & Economic Regeneration Director outlining progress on the preparation of the joint Merseyside Waste Development Plan Document (DPD) and seeking approval and endorsement of the Preferred Options Report, which would include consultation on specific sites that had the potential to accommodate the additional waste management facilities that would be required in the future.

The report was submitted in accordance with a decision of City Region Cabinet that all the authorities participating in the preparation of the joint plan should receive a common report to explain and recommend approval of the Preferred Options Report.

Members were requested to both approve and endorse the Preferred Options Report.  This was a significant shift in emphasis, as it required Members to endorse the technical content of the report, including the proposed policies and proposed site allocations in advance of a six week period of public consultation.

Four sites were identified in total within Sefton, together with the types of waste uses which were considered suitable for these sites:-

(i)         Sub regional site:-

            EMR (Metal Recycling) site at Alexandra Dock, Bootle.

(ii)            District level sites:-

(a)            1-2 Acorn Way, Bootle;

(b)            site off Grange Road, Dunnings Bridge Road, Bootle; and

(c)            55 Crowland Street, Southport.

The consultation required the approval of all six participating authorities and it was anticipated that, subject to these approvals, the public consultation period would commence on 18^th February 2010.

The responses from the Public Consultation would be used to feed into the final development of the Waste DPD which was scheduled to be submitted to the Secretary of State for approval in March 2011.

Mr. A. Wallis Planning & Economic Regeneration Director, Dr A. Jemmett, Director Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service and Mr C. Beer, Director of Waste Disposal – Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority attended the meeting, gave evidence and answered Members questions in relation to the report.

Members discussed he report and its implications for Sefton in detail and made particular reference to the following:-

·                    The identification of sites in excess of 8 hectares;

·                    The identification of “energy from waste” sites;

·                    The rationalisation for identifying the sites contained within the report;

·                    The identification of sites outside of the Merseyside area;

·                    The proposed new “energy from waste” facility at Alexandra Dock Bootle;

·                    The requirements of the MWDA in terms of sites for disposal;

·                    The timetable for the MWDA’s procurement process;

·                    The principle of waste being dealt with in close proximity to where it is produced;

·                    F0726: 1-2 Acorn Way Bootle: Proposed Distrcit Site Allocation;

·                    F1029: Site off Grange Road, Dunnings Bridge Road Bootle: Proposed District Site Allocation;

·                    F2333: 55 Crowland Street, Southport: Proposed District Site Allocation;

·                    The proposed public consultation process.

RESOLVED: That the Council be recommended to agree to the following:-

(1)       That the Waste DPD Preferred Options Report be noted;

(2)       That the commencement of a six-week public consultation process on the Waste DPD Preferred Options Report during 2010 be agreed;

(3)       At this stage Sefton MBC invite the Planning Inspectorate to advise the Council on the soundness of the Waste DPD Preferred Options Report;

(4)       That Site F1029: Site off Grange Road, Dunnings Bridge Road Bootle: Proposed District Site Allocation be removed from the Waste DPD Preferred Options Report; and

(5)       That a further report on the outcomes of the Preferred Options consultation be submitted to this Committee in due course.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

The Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director of Regeneration reminding Members that the Council operated a winter service policy which had been originally approved by the Council in 2004 and was reviewed annually.

The report set out details of the existing policy and suggested a number of issues for discussion regarding the future provision of the service.

The Chair referred to the excellent performance of the Service over the recent spell of severe weather and expressed thanks to all staff involved.

Members made reference to a number of specific areas of concern and it was suggested that these be taken up directly with the appropriate Department with a view to them being addressed in the annual review of the winter service policy.

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the report be received;

(2)       the staff involved in operating and carrying out the winter gritting service be congratulated on their excellent work over the recent spell of severe weather; and

(3)            Members be requested to contact the Network Manager with any areas which they wish to be addressed in the annual review of the winter service policy.

Report of the Environmental Protection Director and the Finance and Information Services Director.

Further to Minute No. 66 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Environmental held on 18 November 2009, the Committee considered the joint report of the Environmental Protection Director and the Finance and Information Services Director on the quarterly forecast position, based on information as at 30 September 2009, in relation to the Portfolio’s 2009/10 Revenue Budget and Capital Programme; and indicating that a decision on this matter was required in accordance with the corporate performance management framework.

Annex A to the report detailed the Portfolio’s budgets that were monitored and reported on the risk-assessed basis; whilst Annex B detailed the Portfolio’s schemes within the Capital Programme 2009/10 - 2012/13.

The report concluded by requesting whether any comments about the overall performance of the Revenue Budget or Capital Programme schemes should be referred to the Cabinet.

RESOLVED: 

That the report be received and no comments be made at present to the Cabinet regarding the overall performance of the revenue budget and the schemes within the capital programme.

Report of the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director

Further to Minute No. 68 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Environmental held on 23 November 2009, the Committee considered the joint report of the Environmental Protection Director and the Finance and Information Services Director on the quarterly forecast position, based on information as at 30 September 2009, in relation to the Portfolio’s 2009/10 Revenue Budget and Capital Programme; and indicating that a decision on this matter was required in accordance with the corporate performance management framework.

Annex A to the report detailed the Portfolio’s budgets that were monitored and reported on the risk-assessed basis; whilst Annex B detailed the Portfolio’s schemes within the Capital Programme 2009/10 - 2012/13.

The report concluded by requesting whether any comments about the overall performance of the Revenue Budget or Capital Programme schemes should be referred to the Cabinet.

RESOLVED: 

That the report be received and no comments be made at present to the Cabinet regarding the overall performance of the revenue budget and the schemes within the capital programme.

Report of the Head of Technical Services, the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director and the Finance and Information Services Director.

Further to Minute No. 91 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Technical Services held on 2 December 2009, the Committee considered the joint report of the Head of Technical Services, the Planning and Economic Regeneration Director and the Finance and Information Services Director providing the quarterly forecast position, based on information as at 30 September 2009, in relation to the Portfolio’s 2009/10 Revenue Budget and indicating that a decision on this matter was required to comply with the corporate performance management process.

The report also sought a view on whether any comments should be made to the Cabinet regarding the overall performance of the revenue budget and the schemes within the capital programme.

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and no comments be made at present to the Cabinet regarding the overall performance of the revenue budget and the schemes within the capital programme.

Report of the Leisure Director and the Finance and Information Services Director.

Further to Minute No. 67 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Leisure and Tourism held on 2 December 2009, the Committee considered the joint report of the Leisure and Tourism Director and Finance and Information Services Directorproviding the quarterly forecast position, based on information as at 30 September 2009, in relation to the Portfolio’s 2009/10 Revenue Budget and indicating that a decision on this matter was required to comply with the corporate performance management process.

The report also sought a view on whether any comments should be made to the Cabinet regarding the overall performance of the revenue budget and the schemes within the capital programme.

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and no comments be made at present to the Cabinet regarding the overall performance of the revenue budget and the schemes within the capital programme.

Report of the Head of Tourism and the Finance and Information Services Director.

Further to Minute No. 68 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member - Leisure and Tourism held on 2 December 2009, the Committee considered the joint report of the Head of Tourismand Finance and Information Services Directorproviding the quarterly forecast position, based on information as at 30 September 2009, in relation to the Portfolio’s 2009/10 Revenue Budget and indicating that a decision on this matter was required to comply with the corporate performance management process.

The report also sought a view on whether any comments should be made to the Cabinet regarding the overall performance of the revenue budget and the schemes within the capital programme.

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and no comments be made at present to the Cabinet regarding the overall performance of the revenue budget and the schemes within the capital programme.

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Management)

In order to keep Members informed, it had been agreed by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board to submit relevant Cabinet Member Reports to Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

Accordingly, the Committee received the latest reports from the Cabinet Members for Environmental, Leisure and Tourism, Regeneration and Technical Services.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet Member reports be received.

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Management).

The Committee considered the report of the Assistant Chief Executive attaching the latest Key Decision Forward Plan which contained all the Key Decisions which the Executive was anticipated to take during the above period. The Committee was advised of its right to pre-scrutinise any Key Decision which fell under its remit.

It was reported that a meeting of the Working Group, to consider the Council’s kerbside recycling collection service and undertake the required O.J.E.U tendering required to procure its replacement, had taken place on 16 December 2009.

The Working Group had received a presentation explaining what recycling service options were potentially available in future. The presentation had addressed a number of issues which were fully discussed by Members and in particular set out details of, and the pros and cons of two options, namely:-

            (i)            Co - Mingled Collection; or

            (ii)            Kerbside Sort Collection.

The Working Group considered the issues surrounding both options in detail and the recommended as follows:-

(1) the information presented be received;

(2) subject to the satisfactory resolution of financial issues with the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority, the Working Group supports the option of pursuing a co-mingled collection for the future recycling service; and

(3) in view of the extended service being a response to many requests for recycling to be extended (to include plastic and cardboard), consultation in the form of information as to how the new service will operate be pursued only, possibly by way of the Council’s Area Committees.

Further meetings of the Libraries Assets Management Review Working Group (Stage 2) had also taken place on 25 November and 7 December 2009 and Members were informed of two recent developments which would have implications for the review, namely:-

            (i)        the publication of the findings of the Public Inquiry into Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council’s Library Service; and

(ii)  the publication of “Empower, Inform, Enrich” – Department for Culture Media and Sport Consultation Document”.

Members were informed that the Overview & Scrutiny Management Board had recently established a cross-cutting Working Group, to scrutinise health inequalities within the Borough, membership comprised of the four O&S Chairs and developments would be reported back to the Committee in due course.

Members were also informed that, prior to Christmas 2009, the Centre for Public Scrutiny had invited local authorities to bid for Scrutiny Development Area status. The intention being to raise the profile of overview & scrutiny as a tool to promote community well-being and assist councils and their partners in addressing health inequalities within their local community.

Sefton Council had submitted a bid which had been successful. Funding for successful bids would attract a maximum of £5,000 for costs incurred over and above the usual scrutiny support that the local authority provided. In addition, an Expert Advisor would also be placed with each of the successful pilots to help develop the review. Developments would be reported back to the Committee in due course.

RESOLVED:            That

(1)       the contents of the Forward Plan for the period 1 February to 31 May 2010, be accepted;

(2)       the progress and actions of the Working Groups to date be approved;

(3)       the recommendations of the Kerbside Recycling Collection Working Group, as set out above be approved and supported;

(4)       the establishment of a cross-cutting Working Group, to scrutinise health inequalities within the Borough, comprised of the four Overview & Scrutiny Chairs, be supported; and

(5) Sefton’s successful bid to become a Scrutiny Development Area, to assist in addressing health inequalities within the local community, be recognised.