Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillors Hardy and Friel (substitute for Councillor Hardy).

Members and Officers are requested to give notice of any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the relevant Code of Conduct.

No declarations of interest were received.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 25 August 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director on the Environmental and Technical Services Plan for 2010/11.

The report indicated that following corporate re-organisation resulting from the Major Service Review a new Department had been formed involving the merger of parts of the former Environmental Protection Department and parts of the former Technical functions.  The Environmental and Technical Services Department Service Plan was appended to the report and Action Plans 1, 2 and 3 in respect of Protecting the Environment, Consumers, Public and Animal Health; Sustainable Waste Management and Climate Change and Sustainability functions of the former Environmental Protection Department, fell specifically under the portfolio of the Cabinet Member – Environmental. 

The report indicated that some of the services provided by the Operational Services Department came under the Environmental portfolio and these would be the subject of a special report by the Operational Services Director.

RESOLVED:

That the elements of the Environmental and Technical Services service plan 2010/11 that fell within the Environmental Portfolio be approved.

Joint Report  of the Environmental and Technical Services Director, the Operational Services Director and the Interim Head of Corporate Finance and IT Strategy

The Cabinet Member considered the joint report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director, the Operational Services Director and the Interim Head of Corporate Finance and IT Strategy identifying the final 2009/10 outturn position of the Environmental portfolio.

The report identified that the final outturn position for the Portfolio, when compared to the 2009/10 revenue budget indicated a net under-spend of £1.486m and detailed the comments of the Environmental and Technical Services Director and the Operational Services Director thereon.

Annex A to the report summarised the divisions of service provided by the Portfolio and compared the adjusted original estimates with provisional outturn figures; Annex B detailed the Portfolio capital programme and Annex C detailed the performance indicators for the Portfolio.

The Environmental and Technical Services Director and the Operational Services Director concluded the report by identifying a number of on-going issues as a result of the Environmental portfolio’s outturn position for 2009/10.

The Cabinet Member was requested to give consideration to the submission of comments on the outturn to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Environmental Services).

RESOLVED: That

Joint report of the Planning and Economic Development Director and Environmental and Technical Services Director

Further to Minute No. 9 of 30 June 2010, the Cabinet Member considered the joint report of the Planning and Economic Development Director and the Environmental and Technical Services Director, updating on the Plugged in Places Programme for the introduction of Electric Car Charging Points in Sefton and seeking consent for the Council to be the Accountable Body for the sub-regional bid.

The report indicated that the sub-region's Expression of Interest for the Plugged In Places project was formally submitted to Department of Transport (DfT) in July 2010; out of 15 applications, the DfT had indicated that the Merseyside bid was likely to succeed subject to a number of key issues being addressed; and that officers were of the view that the issues could be satisfactorily addressed to enable a full bid to be submitted by the 29 October 2010 deadline.

Merseytravel, who were expected to undertake Accountable Body status for the project, had now indicated that it would not be possible for them to assume such status; and given that Sefton had agreed to become the Accountable Body for the sub-regional REECH Project, and the fact that associated activities were all related to addressing CO2 emissions reduction, helping local SMEs, creating local employment opportunities, and the development of the low carbon economy, the Cabinet Member was requested to agree to Sefton becoming the Accountable Body for the Plugged-In-Places project, subject to the bid being successful.

RESOLVED:

Report of the Operational Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Operational Services Director advising of the potential for changes to existing collection arrangements for residual and recyclable waste.

The report indicated that in order to make more efficient use of resources it was proposed that a new zoned system of waste and recycling collection could be introduced across the Borough, generating substantial savings; that such a decision would require Cabinet approval as it would affect all wards; and as further development work was needed approval to continue with this process was sought from the Cabinet Member – Environmental.

This was a key decision and was currently included on the Council’s Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

RESOLVED: That

Report of the Operational Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Operational Services Director updating on the Interim Agreement established with Palm Recycling Limited as a result of AbtibiBowater Recycling Europe entering into administration on 11 February 2010 and advising on the progress of procurement for a new service..

The report indicated that approval from Cabinet was being sought to extend the interim agreement for an additional six month period until 31 March 2011 to ensure the continuity of service whilst procurement of a new service provider was established.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet be recommended to approve an extension of the Interim Agreement with Palm Recycling Limited for an additional six month period from 1 October 2010 until 31 March 2011, pending the implementation of longer term formal arrangements for future recycling collection service provision.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director seeking approval for the revision of the Council’s Contaminated Land Strategy as indicated in Appendix 2 to the Report

The report indicated that the Council was required to have a Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy in order to discharge its statutory functions relating to contaminated land; outlined the principal alterations made to the previously approved strategy and detailed the progress made in dealing with contaminated land in the Borough.

RESOLVED:

That the revised Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy detailed in Appendix 2 to the report be approved.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Environmental Protection Director advising of the “Safe and Secure Town Centre at Night Audit of Crosby Village, a strategic intervention to assess the issues involved in alcohol-related violence and disorder in town centres at night; and indicating that a decision on this matter was required to obtain support from the Public Health Partnership for further town centre audits.

The report indicated that the Audit was carried out between November and December 2009 using a ‘toolkit’ that was broken down into 13 categories; and summarised the findings from each category relating to:

• partnership working
• data and information sharing
• licensed premises
• policing strategies
• capable guardians and street welfare
• CCTV
• lighting
• underage drinking
• transport
• offenders and victims
• visual cues in the town centre
• fast food outlets
• access routes for space allocation

The report indicated that the findings of the audit would provide stakeholders in the Crosby Night Time Economy with a structure for dealing with any remaining issues connected with alcohol related violence and disorder and would help to prioritise issues and take action to deal with them.

Attached as Annex 1 to the report was a copy of the “Safety and Secure Town Centres at Night Toolkit”.

The report concluded by recommending the action required to be taken to satisfy the minimum standard for a safe and secure town centre.

RESOLVED:  That:

(1)       the report be noted;

(2)       the findings of the “Safe and Secure Town Centre at Night Audit of Crosby Village” be noted and further work be encouraged towards areas of potential improvement in the areas outlined in the report;

(3)       the Public Health Partnership Alcohol Strategy Group and the Alcohol Related Crime Sub-Group be requested to consider the recommendations in the Audit report; and

(4)       the report be referred to the Crosby Area Committee for information.

Report of the Environmental and Technical Services Director

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Environmental Protection Director advising of the “Safe and Secure Town Centre at Night Audit of South Road, Waterloo, a strategic intervention to assess the issues involved in alcohol-related violence and disorder in town centres at night; and indicating that a decision on this matter was required to obtain support from the Public Health Partnership for further town centre audits.

The report indicated that the Audit was carried out between November and December 2009 using a ‘toolkit’ that was broken down into 13 categories; and summarised the findings from each category relating to:

• partnership working
• data and information sharing
• licensed premises
• policing strategies
• capable guardians and street welfare
• CCTV
• lighting
• underage drinking
• transport
• offenders and victims
• visual cues in the town centre
• fast food outlets
• access routes for space allocation

The report indicated that the findings of the audit would provide stakeholders in the South Road, Waterloo Night Time Economy with a structure for dealing with any remaining issues connected with alcohol related violence and disorder and would help to prioritise issues and take action to deal with them.

Attached as Annex 1 to the report was a copy of the “Safe and Secure Town Centres at Night Toolkit”.

The report concluded by recommending the action required to be taken to satisfy the minimum standard for a safe and secure town centre.

RESOLVED:  That:

(1)       the report be noted;

(2)       the findings of the “Safe and Secure Town Centre at Night Audit of South Road, Waterloo be noted and further work be encouraged towards areas of potential improvement in the areas outlined in the report;

(3)       the Public Health Partnership Alcohol Strategy Group and the Alcohol Related Crime Sub-Group be requested to consider the recommendations in the Audit report; and

(4)       the report be referred to the Crosby Area Committee for information.