Agenda and minutes

            The Minutes of the meeting held on 27^th February 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 4 of 2018/19.

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.

            Councillor Howard submitted a number questions and responses were provided. It was agreed that a copy of those questions and responses would be emailed to the Board Members.

            Arising from the discussion the Board requested clarification on why the figure for residual household waste per household were higher and the figure for household waste recycled and composted was lower than their predicted targets. It was agreed that a detailed response would be provided.

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

            The Board received a presentation on the Building Control Service which is provided as a shared service between Knowsley and Halton Borough Councils. Building Control was a statutory function and national regulations govern the work for which a fee was charged.  The Building Control service’s fee-earning work helped to cross-subsidise other vital - but non-fee earning - work, for example responding to concerns about potentially dangerous structures and buildings and recommending action to ensure public safety.

            Members were advised that the Building Control service’s core fee-earning activities were subject to direct competition from the private sector “Approved Inspectors” who also had the power to confirm that a building complies with the Building Regulations.  In Halton and Knowsley, the presence of competing Approved Inspector companies had not only impacted upon the volume of work submitted to the Authorities’ in-house services, but had also affected the Councils’ ability to retain and attract qualified staff. 

            The Board was advised on the measures being taken to address the volume of work submitted to the Authorities which had resulted in an increase the Authorities share of the market. Members also noted the recent changes made to building control regulation following the Hackitt Review and the resulting Government Implementation Plan.

            RESOLVED: That the presentation be received.

            The Board considered a report which provided an overview of the national Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy. These schemes would extend the existing network across the borough, providing linkages between the routes and provide access to opportunities for both work and leisure.

            It was noted that the Liverpool City Region (LCR) had agreed in Spring last year to develop a Local Cycling and Walking Investment Plan (LCWIP). The LCWIP would support a number of Transport Strategies and would help to reduce transport emissions and improve the health of the region by providing new and improved cycle and walking corridors to encourage residents and visitors to the City Region to make more sustainable travel choices.

            All districts had been asked to submit schemes to the LCWIP delivery programme, where they will be put through a scoring matrix.  The programme would be recommended to the Combined Authority (CA) and a prioritised LCWIP delivery schedule would be formally adopted and allocated devolved funding.

            Members were advised that Halton had been working closely with Merseytravel to develop the LCWIP into a delivery plan of schemes. Halton had two schemes in the top ten list, Daresbury Links and Runcorn Busway. These schemes were currently being evaluated by the CA as part of a wider Transforming Cities Fund bid.

            RESOLVED: That

1.    The report be noted; and

2.    A publicity campaign be undertaken to raise awareness of the active travel network available to the Borough.

            The Board considered a final report on the work of the Regeneration Working Party. It was noted that the group had met on several occasions and considered the following key impact areas:

·         Runcorn and Runcorn Station Quarter;

·         The Widnes Waterfront;

·         Astmoor Business Park;

·         3MG Ditton Corridor;

·         West Runcorn Employment Growth Area; and

·         Halton Lea and the Healthy New Town.

The Board received a presentation outlining the proposed objectives and intended outcomes resulting from the potential development of each area. The presentation also emphasised the dynamic nature of regeneration and that proposals would need to be developed in more detail over time. It was therefore proposed that an annual Regeneration Workshop would be provided to share and update Members on various projects and to provide them with an opportunity to express their views on schemes as they were developed.

            RESOLVED: That

1.    The work completed by the Regeneration Working Party be welcomed; and

2.    The establishment of a Member annual regeneration workshop be agreed.

            The Board considered a copy of the Annual Report from the Chair of the Environment and Urban Renewal Policy and Performance Board 2018/19.

The full Board met on four occasions during the year and the report set out the work carried out and recommendations made throughout the Municipal Year April 2018 to March 2019.

RESOLVED: That the Annual Report be accepted.