Agenda and minutes

            The Minutes of the meeting held on 9^th December 2020 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 considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which provided an update on the progress of the Working Party (WP), which was established to review the current position and issues associated with pavement parking in Halton. The WP had met virtually on 3^rd February and considered legislative framework for parking enforcement and tackling highway obstruction. The WP also debated the merits and likely consequences of the DfT consultation, before moving on to discuss the areas of the Borough where pavement parking problems had been reported.

            It was noted that the WP had considered:

·         parking on grassed verges were properties had driveways. The WP agreed this was an area for scrutiny and had potential for a new policy to prevent parking on verges where damage was occurring;

·         enforcement of parking issues. It was felt that the viability and vitality of town centres continued to be supported through free parking. The strong collaboration with the local Policing teams should be continued and targeted action where parking was considered dangerous or causing an obstruction of the pavement or highway; and

·         Town Planning policies and the changes to the National Planning Policy Framework. It was agreed that the Development Control Committee remained the body for assessing the parking requirements for new developments and the impact on the surrounding area.

The WP agreed an action plan to cover the following:

·         recommend the Board endorse a decision not to seek CPE powers at the present time;

·      draft a letter to the Police and Crime Commissioner requesting their continued support in taking targeted enforcement action where pavement parking presents an ongoing problem; and

·      produce a draft policy to tackle parking on the Council’s verges.

          RESOLVED: That the Board notes the update and endorses the recommendations set out in the report.

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which set out an update on the following two active travel schemes within the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP):

LCWIP Phase 2 – Runcorn to Daresbury

Would provide a dedicated cycle route connecting Runcorn to Sci-Tech Daresbury. The final design of the route would be consulted upon during March 21. The draft consultation leaflet and route map was detailed in Appendix 1.

LCWIP Phase 3 – Runcorn Busway (Halton Lea to Murdishaw)

Funding recently allocated to and received by the Liverpool City Region from the Department for Transport (DfT) for ‘active travel’. Halton’s allocation would allow the busway cycle route between Halton Lea and Murdishaw to become permanent. This was an important link and essentially formed a second project that eventually aimed to see the whole busway transformed into an active travel corridor. Halton had initially been awarded £2.2m of the £7.896m to make the temporary Active Travel Corridor permanent, Consultation had begun on 18 January 2021 and would close on 22^nd February 2021. A map of the route was detailed in Appendix 2.

            These phases followed on from the LCWIP Phase 1 schemes. Phase 1 provided the ‘Mineral Line’ between St Helens and Widnes, and also the Prescott to Runcorn route via Widnes.

            RESOLVED: That the Board endorses the two schemes and recognises the important of consultation in measuring project success.

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which provided an update on the expenditure of the Environmental Fund. Planning permission for the Runcorn Energy from Waste (EfW) Plant was granted in September 2008. The Plant was subject to a legal agreement entered into under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The legal agreement contained a provision that the owner of the Plant agreed to pay the Council an annual lump sum payment for every tonne of fuel received and processed.

            The fund had been in operation since 2015 and over that period had generated £3,471,740. Consequently, a number of projects had been funded and implemented and these were set out in Appendix 1.

            Arising from the discussion it was agreed that a breakdown of the Environmental Fund spend for each Ward would be provided to Board Members. It was also suggested that where the Fund had been used to support local projects, appropriate signage could be used to advise that the improvements had been supported by the Fund. It was agreed that this would be looked into.

            RESOLVED: That the wide range of projects that had benefitted from the fund as set out in Appendix 1 be noted.

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which provided an overview of the forthcoming Environment Bill and its implications for planning and regeneration. The Environment Bill sets out the new environmental governance framework as the UK leaves the EU. The implications of the Bill for the planning system were as follows:

·         The requirement for all development to achieve a minimum of 10% Biodiversity Net Gain; and

·         The update of the NERC Biodiversity duty on all public bodies to both conserve and enhance biodiversity.

            The Bill was currently at the reporting stage of its passage through the House of Commons was expected to gain Royal Assent in Spring 2021. It was currently unclear what requirements there would be on local authorities to implement biodiversity net gain during the transition period.

            RESOLVED: That

1.    the likely implications of the Environment Bill be noted; and

2.    a further report be submitted to the Board when the detail of the transition arrangements and secondary legislation was available.

The Board received a report from the Strategic Director, Enterprise, Community and Resources, which presented the Performance Monitoring Reports for Quarter 2 of 2020/21.

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.

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

            At the conclusion of the meeting the Chair thanked Councillors Joe Roberts, Sinnott and Rowe for their contribution to the Board and wished them well for the future.