Agenda and minutes

            The Minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2020, having been circulated were signed as a correct record.

            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 considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which provided an update on the work undertaken during the COVID 19 pandemic as it related to the work within the remit of the Board.

            It was reported that the majority of the Council services relevant to the remit of the Board continued to be provided throughout the lockdown period; this included refuse collections, repairs to roads, maintenance of public open spaces and progress on key regeneration projects.

            The report set out details of the work that continued throughout lockdown and included:-

·         Logistics and Transport Management;

·         Town Planning and Development;

·         Road Safety;

·         Highways;

·         Major Schemes (including Runcorn Station Quarter, Widnes Loops, Silver Jubilee Bridge, Vehicle Charging Points provision for residents and Flood Risk Management);

·         Regeneration;

·         Open Space Service;

·         Cemeteries and Crematoria;

·         Waste and Recycling Operations; and

·         Household Waste Recycling Centres.

The Board wished to place on record their thanks to all Council staff for their work during lockdown and in particular those involved on maintaining services at the Waste Recycling facility, the Crematoria, and staff involved in the establishment of the emergency facilities at the Ice Rink.

RESOLVED: That progress made against the relevant Council priorities during COVID 19 lockdown be noted.

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, on changes to the disabled person’s parking spaces policy.

            The Board was advised that since 2006, the Traffic Management and Road Safety Section had installed advisory on-street disabled person’s parking spaces for residents with the most severe mobility issues. Appendix A, attached to the report, showed the current application form used by an applicant for a dedicated parking space. It was noted that to qualify for such a space, the applicant must have a Blue Bade, be in receipt of the higher rate mobility allowance and have a vehicle registered at their address.

            Since 2006 more than 600 Halton residents had applied for a disabled parking bay; it was reported that 60% of these had been approved and details of the most common reasons for applications being denied were set out in the report.

            Members were advised that the current application form failed to recognise changes in the way mobility allowances were categorised and awarded. Also,  following a recent study of how neighbouring authorities in the Liverpool City Region conducted their application process, it was concluded that more information should be included on the form, together with an amendment to the qualifying criteria which recognised the changes in mobility allowances.

            Appendix B, attached to the report, provided a copy of the revised application form which contained a comprehensive list of guidelines and all the categories of mobility allowance which met the criteria. It was noted that by updating the process, it would bring Halton into line with how Liverpool City Region authorities managed their residential disabled parking applications.

            RESOLVED: That Executive Board be advised to adopt the revised disabled parking spaces policy.