Agenda and minutes

The Board was advised that one matter had arisen which required immediate attention by the Board (Minute EUR52 refers). Therefore, pursuant to Section 100 B (4) and 100 E, and due to the need to re-establish the waste management working party to begin to scrutinise the new Household Waste Collection Policy before the next scheduled meeting of the Board, the Chairman ruled that the item be considered as a matter of urgency.

          The Minutes of the meeting held on 5^th January 2011 having been printed and 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 and Executive Board Sub Committee relevant to the Environment and Urban Renewal Policy and Performance Board.

          RESOLVED: That the Minutes be received.

The Board received the Minutes of the Urban Renewal Specialist Strategic Partnership meetings held on 9^th November 2010. It was noted that as the Minutes were from November last year they were considered to be out of date. Clarification was sought as to how SSP’s reported to the appropriate Policy and Performance Boards.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes be noted.

          The Board received a report of the Chief Executive which detailed the third quarter performance management reports on progress against service plan objectives and performance targets, performance trends/comparisons and factors affecting the services for –

-    Employment, Economic Regeneration and Business Development (Business Development and Regional Affairs)

-    Highways, Transportation and Logistics

-    Environment and Regulatory

-    Community Services (Parks and Countryside)

-    Prevention and Commissioning (Housing Strategy).

          In receiving the 3^rd quarterly monitoring reports the following comments arose from the discussion:-

-    page 82 - clarity was sought on the proposed improvements to allotments. In reply it was reported that this information would be circulated to Members of the Board.

-        page 40 - clarity was sought on low spend on Neet Employers. In response Members were advised that there had been a slow start to these projects but it was anticipated that these would pick up later in the project cycle.

-        page 45 – with regard to winter maintenance, how much money did the Authority expect to receive from Central Government towards repair of pot holes etc and would main road repairs be a priority? In response it was noted that the Authority expected a similar amount to previous £169,000 and although main roads do receive preference, if other roads had severe enough problems these would be addressed.

-        Page 85 – the local authority national housing pot had been abolished, Halton’s capital allocation in 2010/11 was £1.64m. How would the loss of resources impact on the Council’s ability to offer energy efficiency grants? In reply it was reported that this information would be circulated to Members of the Board.

          Arising from the discussion a Member suggested that the Board submit Performance Monitoring questions in advance to the Committee Officer and responses could be provided at the meeting.  This would be a similar process to that adopted by the Health Policy and Performance Board.

          RESOLVED: That the third quarter performance management reports be received.

          The Board considered a report on the progress on the development of Halton’s Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP), the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) and the timescales in relation to other flood risk management related matters.

          With regard to progress on the Surface Water Management Plan for Halton, Members noted the following:-

·                                     a set of objectives for the study were approved and Partners (HBC Environment Agency and United Utilities) had been working to these as the study developed;

·                                     Mott MacDonald were commissioned to produce the SWMP and they reported monthly against an agreed project plan and programme;

·                                     Defra had produced a framework for undertaking a SWMP;

·                                     a regular, 100 metre grid square pattern had been superimposed on a map of the Borough and a number of properties within each square identified, following a verification process these areas would form the basis of the detailed assessment which was the next stage of the SWMP study process, due to commence in February;

·                                     it was anticipated that this work would be completed in April and a final report on the risk assessment phase would be prepared;

·                                     work had commenced on the development of an engagement and communication plan; and

·                                     a further report would be presented to the Board at the next meeting in June 2011.

It was noted that Halton had received £10,000 grant allocation from Defra to fund the PFRA and JBA Consultants had been commissioned to undertake the assessment and prepare the report and maps. It was anticipated that the draft PFRA would be completed by the end of April and it was proposed to present a report for endorsement at the Board meeting in June prior to submission by Defra by 2^nd June 2011.

The Board also received an update from the Strategic Director, Environment and Economy regarding other developments in Flood Risk Management which included:

·                                                         Draft National Strategy and Future Funding;

·                                                         Keckwick Brook Flood Defence Scheme;

·                                                         Wharford Farm Flood Protection Works;

·                                                         Timetable for introduction of new duties, roles and responsibilities under Flood and Water Management Act;

·                                                         Register of Structures and Features and Designation;

·                                                         Investigation of Flooding Incidents; and

·                                                         SuDS Approval Body.

In addition the Board was advised that the Local Government Settlement announced in December confirmed that funding for 2011/12 would total £21 million rising to £36 million for 2012/13 and subsequent years of the Spending Review Period. Halton had been allocated Area based Grant funding of £115,600 in 2011/12 and £135,600 in 2012/13. Part of this funding was being used to enable additional staff resource to be put in place through the creation of an additional, temporary engineering post for the next two years, to assist in the delivery of the Council’s new role as Lead Local Flood Authority. Another part would be used for assessment and flood modelling studies.

Arising from the discussion it was agreed that a copy of the map that was circulated at the meeting would be emailed to members. Also a Member highlighted an issue with ‘soak aways’ in an area  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

          The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Environment and Economy which gave members an update on the implementation of Construction Halton. The report also outlined the recruitment and training workflow model highlighting the Council Departments and partner organisations that would be involved when undertaking procurement exercises and negotiating planning agreements, focussing on achieving Construction Halton job and training outcomes.

          Members were advised that the Construction Halton project was focused on facilitating a range of measures to deliver community benefits from construction related work, in the form of employment, apprenticeships, training and work experience opportunities. The project sought to maximise the recruitment and training benefits arising from Council contracts and the development control function, by embedding targeted recruitment and training obligation clauses in tenders and Section 106 planning agreements.

          Construction Halton would also assist Halton based small and medium sized enterprises to access opportunities arising from the new planned development activity in the area.

          It was reported that options for purchasing a skills forecasting tool were currently being market tested and a demonstration of a commercial skills forecasting tool was presented at the meeting.

          Members were advised on the projected impact of Construction Halton on the following projects:-

          (i)       Building Schools for the Future Programme (BSF)

          (ii)      3MG/A5300 Link Road

          (iii)      Mersey Gateway.

          RESOLVED: That the presentation be received.

          The Board considered a report which outlined the Council’s powers in relation to the collection of abandoned shopping trolleys and proposed that recommendations be made in respect of the adoption of an Abandoned Shopping Trolley Policy.

          It was noted that Schedule 4 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, as originally enacted, was adopted by the Council in 1991. This dealt with the problem of abandoned shopping (and luggage) trolleys. Subsequently the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 amended the 1990 Act and introduced a new system to replace the previous. To apply the new legislation, the Council must adopt the legislation (as amended) again.

          Members were advised that should the Council resolve to adopt the new legislation a Public Notice would be placed in the local press in accordance with Section 99 Environmental Protection Act 1990. The Notice would outline the general effect of the legislation and state the date when it would come into effect (this was intended to be the 1^st August 2011).

          The Board was further advised that the Abandoned Shopping Trolley policy would:

-                  help improve the procedures for dealing with trolleys and ensure that the owners of them could be recharged the full costs incurred by the Council in the seizure, removal, storage and return of each trolley that it may be required to deal with;

-                  provide a strong deterrent and encourage supermarkets and retail outlets whose trolleys were being used in this manner to employ methods to prevent trolleys being taken “off site” or from being left uncollected within neighbourhoods for any period of time to reduce the problem;

-                  where trolleys were abandoned, the introduction of efficient reporting and collection arrangements would lead to their swifter removal.

     It was proposed that local retailers would have the option to enter into a voluntary protocol whereby they would be notified of the location of abandoned trolleys and given a period of time to collect them prior to Council intervention. In February 2011, local supermarkets and their headquarters were consulted and provided with the opportunity to comment on the Council’s proposals for dealing with abandoned shopping trolleys, the charging arrangements and the option to enter into voluntary protocol. Following consultation, the Council received responses from Asda, Trolleywise, Aldi and Morrisons. Details of those responses were outlined in the report. A summary of the charges proposed for collection, storage, return to owner or trolley disposal were also set out in the report.

          RESOLVED: That

          (1)      the draft Abandoned Shopping Trolley Policy be endorsed; and

          (2)      the Executive Board Sub-Committee be requested to recommend to the Council:

i)        to adopt Section 99 Schedule 4 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (as amended by the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005) on 1^st August 2011;

ii)        to adopt the draft Abandoned Shopping Trolley Policy  as set out in the report;

iii)       the Strategic Director – Communities be authorised to determine all matters relating to abandoned shopping trolleys, including the fixing of charges  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

          The Board was advised that the Household Waste Management Policy would be considered by the Executive Board on 17^th March 2011. It was suggested that Members of the Board may wish to scrutinise the new Household Waste Collection Policy following its adoption. Therefore the  Waste Management Topic Group needed to be re-established.

          RESOLVED: That the Divisional Manager Waste and Environmental Improvement, in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Environment and Urban Renewal Policy and Performance Board, reconstitute the membership of the Waste Management Topic Group.

The Chairman reported that Alex Villiers (Divisional Manager Scrutiny), Phil Watts (Operational Director Environmental and Regulatory Services), Pat Audoire (Senior Programme Officer) and Dick Tregea (Strategic Director Environment and Economy) were retiring from the Authority. 

The Chairman took the opportunity to place of record the Board’s appreciation of the work undertaken by those officers’ during their time with the Authority.

RESOLVED: That the Board place on record its thanks to Alex Villiers (Divisional Manager Scrutiny), Phil Watts (Operational Director Environmental and Regulatory Services), Pat Audoire (Senior Programme Officer) and Dick Tregea (Strategic Director Environment and Economy) and extend its best wishes to them for the future.