Agenda and minutes

            The Minutes of the meeting held on 11^th June 2019 having been circulated were signed as a correct record.

            It was confirmed that no public questions had been received.

            The Board considered the Minutes of the meetings of the Executive Board relevant to the Environment and Urban Renewal Policy and Performance Board.

            RESOLVED: That the Minutes be received.

The Board received a report from the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which presented the Performance Monitoring Reports for Quarter 1 of 2019/20.

The reports related to the following functional areas which reported to the Board and detailed progress against service objectives and milestones, and performance targets and provided information relating to key developments and emerging issues that had arisen during the period:

·         Development and Investment Services;

·         Highways and Transportation, Logistics and Development Services;

·         Waste and Environmental Improvement and Open Space Services; and

·         Housing Strategy.

The Board noted that:

·         The Local Plan consultation closed on 19^th September; and

·         Work was progressing on the Silver Jubilee Bridge and it was due to reopen shortly

            Arising from the discussion the Board requested:

·         An update report be provided to Members’ on Halton’s Visitor Economy, including the work being undertaken with the Liverpool City Region; and

·         The possibility of a Member’s seminar on the hydrogen economy be investigated.

            RESOLVED: That the first quarter performance monitoring reports be received and noted.

            The Joint Waste Local Plan for Merseyside and Halton (WLP) was adopted by Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral Councils with effect from July 2013. The WLP Plan period was from 2013 to 2027 and formed part of Halton’s adopted development plan. The production of a Monitoring Report was a statutory requirement and Local Authorities were required to publish a Monitoring Report on at least an annual basis.

            A copy of the 5^th Annual Waste Local Plan (WLP) Monitoring Report which covered the period 1^st April 2017 to 31^st March 2018 had prepared by the Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service on behalf of the six Liverpool City Region Councils (LCR) and had been previously circulated to the Board.

            Members were advised that the Monitoring Report detailed that Halton had performed well and continued to improve its waste management practices. In addition, the report highlighted key developments over the 2017/18 period for the LCR and for Halton.

            RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

            The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community & Resources, which provided an update on the project to upgrade highway electrical equipment to LED technology and provide energy savings.

            The Board was advised that Highway electrical equipment maintenance costs were constantly rising, as were energy costs which were increasing well above inflation.  The cost of energy for all the Council’s highway electrical assets (including street lighting, traffic signals, illuminated signs, etc.) was approximately £1,080,000 per annum.

            In order to reduce energy and maintenance costs, since 2010 all new street lights and traffic signals have had LED lanterns.  Initially there was an increased cost of the equipment, but equipment costs have now reduced to equivalent levels of non-LED components.  At the same time as lanterns were replaced, structural maintenance of columns was carried out, where required.

            In 2015 the Council allocated capital funding to replace street lighting lanterns in residential areas with LED lanterns.  At the present time around 14,000 street lights have been upgraded to LED, with circa 6,000 lights in need of upgrade.

            During 2019/20 the program should see the majority of the remaining 2,000 street lights in residential areas upgraded to LED, leaving around 4,000 of the higher wattage street lights to be upgraded on the principal / main road network.

            In parallel to the work to convert street lights to LED operation, similar work has been undertaken to convert traffic signals (including Puffin and Toucan crossings) to LED operation.  This had been undertaken using capital allocations received from the LCR Combined Authority.  Controlled crossings were now being converted and this work should be completed by the end of the current financial year 2019/20.  There was an added benefit for the Authority in completing this work now, as from 2021 the current tungsten halogen lamps would no longer be manufactured, so the Authority was prepared for this change.

            It was noted that the original cost analysis calculations for street lighting conversions were based on energy prices at the time. However, above inflation energy increases would show significantly better benefit/savings and reduced payback periods.

            On behalf of the Board, the Chair thanked Mr Rimmer for all the work he had carried out for the Council and the Board and wished him a long and happy retirement.

            RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources which provided an update on the effect of the closure of Fiddlers Ferry Power Station on the water level in the Sankey Canal.

            Since 1978 the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) agreed to pump water for free in to the canal to facilitate recreational activities and an amount of locking in and out to the river. Halton’s section of the canal, which had largely been in open water since this date relied entirely on the input from the power station (see AECOM 2016 Hydrology Report). Warrington Borough Council was in a similar situation. 

            It was noted that SSE had announced they would cease generating operations at the Power Station by the end of March 2020.  The Station would then enter a period of decommissioning. From this point on any supplied water to the canal would be extremely unreliable and would likely cease altogether.

            The Board received a presentation on the various possible alternative water supply solutions ahead of the SSE closure of Fiddlers Ferry in 2020.

            RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

            The Board received an update report on the powers available to the Council under section 224 and 225 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The powers enabled local authorities to control the placement of adverts, banners and fly posting which can on occasion cause highway safety issues and affect the amenity of an area.

            Members were advised that when taking regulatory action it was also imperative that the Authority must always be prepared to follow up on enforcement action, including taking court action. The report detailed the purposes and implications of taking enforcement action under these powers.

            RESOLVED: That the Board

1.    Identify priority areas for action; and

2.      Consider the implications of the approach.