Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ashton, Hardy and Tweed.

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.

The following declarations of interest were received:

Minutes of the meeting held on 2 August 2011.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 2 August 2011 be confirmed as a correct record.

Verbal Briefing from the Director of Built Environment.

(Members were invited to attend a site visit prior to the meeting).

Prior to the commencement of the meeting, Members undertook a site inspection of the Atkinson Centre for the Arts (the Centre) to view the progress on the project development.

During the site inspection, Mr. J. Taylor, Head of Art and Cultural Services, updated the Committee on the progress of the Centre and advised that the Centre would create an original, high quality cultural offer of regional significance that would aid visitor attraction to Southport as a “Classic Resort”; that significant progress had been made in delivering the project that included the rejuvenation of a group of listed buildings in the heart of the town centre conservation area; detailed the partnership working aspects of the development and that private sector operators would manage certain aspects of the Centre’s services, principally the bistro and the design centre; and detailed the Heritage Lottery Fund grant and Council’s contribution towards the development of the Centre.

Mr. Taylor concluded by advising that the cost of operating the Centre would be ‘market tested’ to ensure that the required revenue budget represented the best possible value for money.

RESOLVED:

That Mr. Taylor be thanked for his informative update and for arranging the tour of the Arts and Cultural Centre.

A representative from NHS Sefton, to make a presentation.

Hard copies of the Public Health Annual Report 2011 will be available at the meeting.

Members may wish to access the report via the Modgov

library, using the following link:-

http://modgov.sefton.gov.uk/moderngov/ecSDDisplay.aspx?NAME=SD656&ID=656&RPID=3390564&sch=doc&cat=13058&path=13058

The Committee received a representative from Cathy Warlow, NHS Sefton, on the Public Health Annual Report 2011 - Solid Foundations: Building for the Future.

Mrs. Warlow indicated that this year’s annual report was written during a period of significant change within the NHS and public health both nationally and locally; that last year, the Coalition Government published two white papers setting out their long term vision for the future of the NHS and Public Health in England; and that a new public health system would be established by 2013 with the creation of Public Health England, with Local Government being given new responsibilities for protecting and improving the health of their populations.  Mrs. Warlow set out the content of the annual report to Sefton and referred to:

·        the future leadership role of Councils for Public Health

·        financial constrains

·        remaining health challenges

With regard to life expectancy, Mrs. Warlow indicated that both men and women were living longer; but that in Sefton, life expectancy was below the national average; and that there was a gap in life expectancy between residents living in deprived and affluent areas.  Mrs. Warlow then detailed that the main causes of death in Sefton were as follows: circulatory disease, cancer, respiratory disease and digestive disease; and that the main causes of disability were mental disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancer and respiratory disease and that lifestyle factors such as smoking, obesity and alcohol impacted on all the causes of death and disability.

Mrs. Warlow also detailed the work being undertaken on the Marmot Policy objectives relating to:

·        giving every child the best start in life

·        enabling all children, young people and adults to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives

·        create fair employment and good work for all

·        ensure healthy standard of living for all

·        create and develop healthy and sustainable places and communities

·        strengthen the role and impact of ill health prevention

Mrs. Warlow concluded by looking to the future and referred to new organisations and systems; tight finances for the foreseeable future; and partnership working between agencies to improve people’s health.

Members asked questions and commented on the following issues:

·        recommendations from the Council’s Health Inequality report and their inclusion in national toolkits

·        support of the PCT in Cycle England initiatives in Southport as an aid to improve fitness and combat obesity

·        a breakdown of figures for births on a Ward by Ward basis

·        concern was raised over the use of the slogan “Diets Don’t Work” in literature as it was considered that they did

·        being born into a poor family was a cause of inequality and a correlation between inequality and government policy

·        the need to undertake regular exercise in conjunction with eating healthily

RESOLVED:

That Mrs. Warlow be thanked for her informative presentation.

Report of the Director of Built Environment.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Built Environment that sought views on the tendering of the Parking Services Enforcement Contract (the Contract).

The report indicated that the current Contract, awarded to Legion Parking Services in 2006, would terminate on 31 March, 2012; detailed the operation of the current Contract and the split between hours spent on actual enforcement operations and ‘back office’ management functions; and that the key difference in the proposed Contract was that tenderers were being asked to provide an hourly cost for a Civil Enforcement Officer deployed on-street; that separate costs would be sought for the provision of the maintenance, cleansing, cash collection and the manning of static sites; consequently, tenders would have to include all their management costs within the new hourly rate and it was felt that structuring the contract in this way would give significantly reduced overheads and contribute directly to the savings target.

The report also detailed additional elements built into the Contract that would give immediate service improvements and allow for future enhancements.

The report concluded that the results of the tendering exercise would be reported to the Cabinet Member - Transportation at the end of September 2011; and that the new Contract would be awarded on 3 January 2012 with the successful bidder commencing operation on 1 April 2012.

RESOLVED:          That

(1)      the report on the Parking Service Enforcement Contract tendering exercise be accepted; and

(2)      the Director of Built Environment be requested to submit a report to a future meeting of the Committee on the operation of the Blue Badge scheme in Sefton.

Report of the Director of Built Environment.

Further to Minute No. 8(2) of the meeting of the Crosby Area Committee held on 25 May 2011, the Committee considered the report of the Director of Built Environment that reviewed the level of reported fly tipping incidents across the Borough and the impact of the introduction of the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) permit scheme by the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority in July 2010.

The report indicated that it had been suggested that the introduction of the HWRC permit scheme may have resulted in an increase in the incidents of fly tipping in the Borough; and Crosby Area Committee had highlighted two areas, namely Hightown and Sefton Village were there was such a perception that fly tipping incidents had increased.

Table 1 in the report provided a breakdown of reported fly tipping incidents by area for the periods July 2009 - June 2010 and July 2010 - June 2011 and highlighted the year on year difference comparative to the previous period.  Overall, the total number of incidents saw an increase of 5% from 2728 to 2853; but the number of reported incidents in Hightown and Sefton Village fell by 20% (from 5 to 4) and 31% (from 13 to 9) respectively.

The report concluded that there had been a modest increase in reported fly tipping incidents.  However the year on year comparisons showed considerable variation across the Borough; that several areas showed a significant number of fly tipping incidents, a proportion of which continued to show an increase; and that many factors may account for the increase in fly tipping reports.  The increase and location of the reports could not be specifically associated with the introduction of the HWRC permit scheme.

RESOLVED:

That the report on fly tipping incidents in Sefton be accepted.

Report of the Director of Built Environment.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Built Environment that sought approval of the Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP); advised that the Committee had a role in relation to Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management to review and scrutinise the way in which the service was provided; and that because of the significance of the SWMP, it was appropriate to seek the Committee’s approval prior to formal approval by the Cabinet Member - Environmental.

The report indicated that the SWMP was a plan which outlined the preferred management strategies in Sefton for surface water flooding; that surface water flooding was flooding from sewers, drains, groundwater and runoff from land, small water courses and ditches that occurred as a result of heavy rainfall; that the SWMP had involved the input from key partners and stakeholders including United Utilities and the Environment Agency; and that under the Floods and Water Management Bill (2010) and Flood Risk Regulations (2009), Sefton Council had new responsibilities for a leadership role in local flood risk management, of which the production of SWMP would form a key part.

Attached as an annexe to the report was the Non-Technical summary of the SWMP.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet Member - Environmental be recommended to approve the Surface Water Management Plan.

Report of the Director of Built Environment.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Built Environment that sought approval of the Forward Plan that outlined the strategic activities planned for the next 12 months relating to flood and coastal erosion risk management and its use as the basis for reporting against in the first annual report to be presented in October 2012.

The report indicated that the Flood Risk Management Act 2010 placed a number of new duties on the Council as the Lead Local Flood Risk Authority; one of these was the requirement to report to this Overview and Scrutiny Committee on an annual basis to aid it in its role of scrutinising the manner in which the Council was managing flood and coastal erosion risk within the Borough; and that the Committee had previously reviewed flood and coastal erosion risk management within the Borough and made a number of recommendations in relation to this function.

Appendix 1 attached to the report detailed the range of activities in relation to flood and coastal erosion risk management; Appendix 2 provided the outline of strategic activities planned for the next year; whilst Appendix 3 set out the Committee’s previous recommendations and an explanation of how they fitted into the proposed Forward Plan.

RESOLVED:            That

(1)       the Cabinet Member - Environmental be recommended to approve the Forward Plan that outlined the strategic activities planned for the next 12 months relating to flood and coastal erosion risk management; and

(2)       the Forward Plan be used as the basis for the first annual report to be delivered in 2012.

Report of the Director of Built Environment

Further to Minute No. 57 of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 24 August 2011 and Minute No. 14 of the meeting of this Committee held on 2 August 2011, the Committee considered the report of the Director of Built Environment on the results of public consultation on the Merseyside and Halton Joint Waste Development Plan (JWDP) Document Preferred Options 2 (New Sites Consultation) Report which was undertaken between May and June 2011; seeking approval of the Publication Waste Development Plan Document and a final 6-week consultation at the end of 2011; seeking approval to move to Submission Stage early in 2012; and setting out the final steps to adopt the JWDP Document.

The report indicated that Government planning policy, the National Waste Strategy and Regional Spatial Strategy all required Development Plan Documents to address sustainable waste management; that through Planning Policy Statement 10 (Planning for Sustainable Waste Management) the Merseyside Districts were required to put in place a planning framework that identified the locations for new waste management infrastructure to meet the identified needs of that Council or a group of Councils; that a 6 week Preferred Options 2 consultation was completed on 20 June 2011 and that the scope of the consultation was limited to only four new sites for waste management uses; that the sites were in Sefton, Halton, St. Helens and Liverpool, the Sefton site being Atlantic Park, Bootle; and that all four sites would now be included within the Publication JWDP Document.

The report also detailed the contents of the Publication Stage of the JWDP Document and advised that this was the final 6 week consultation stage whereby consultees could submit comments; set out the approach to site prioritisation and identification of site allocations; detailed issues associated with landfill; identified the policy framework intended to provide industry with a high degree of certainty and some flexibility in coming forward with proposals for new waste management infrastructure; and the JWDP implementation and monitoring arrangements.

The report concluded that the Public Examination was a formal part of the plan making process that started upon submission of the JWDP to the Secretary of State; that the Examination Hearing was planned for May 2012 and the Inspector’s report was expected 13 weeks after the Examination; and that the JWDP would need to be formally adopted, like all other statutory planning documents, by each of the Merseyside Districts as part of the adopted statutory development plan, with Adoption likely to take place in November 2012.

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

RESOLVED:            That Cabinet be requested to recommend Council to:

(1)       note the results of consultation on the Waste Development Plan Document Preferred Options 2 (New Sites Consultation) Report;

(2)            approve the Publication Document for the final six-week public consultation commencing late in 2011 followed by Submission to the Secretary of State;

(3)            delegate District officers within the Waste DPD Steering Group to make the necessary typographical  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

Report of the Director of Built Environment.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Built Environment that sought consideration of revisions to the current Winter Service Policy (the Policy) and the submission of recommendations thereon to Cabinet.

The report indicated that whilst current practice ensured that the Policy was reviewed after each winter, a more detailed consultation process had been undertaken this year as a result of the extreme weather events experienced in Sefton during December 2010; that Cabinet had already approved the purchase of additional snow plough blades for both carriageway and footway gritters; and that in the light of events in December 2010 and taking in account the comments made during the consultation process, an options paper had been produced and sent to all elected Members and Parish Councils seeking their views on the options.

Attached as annex 4 to the report was a copy of the Winter Service Review and options paper.

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

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet be recommended to approve the Winter Service Policy.

Report of the Director of Corporate Commissioning.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Corporate Commissioning submitting the most recent Cabinet Member reports for May - June 2011 for the following portfolio’s which fall within the remit of this Committee:-

Cabinet Member - Environmental;

Cabinet Member - Leisure, Culture and Tourism;

Cabinet Member - Regeneration and Housing; and

Cabinet Member - Transportation.

The report also drew Members’ attention to a new procedure for the receiving of Cabinet member reports.

Councillor Weavers referred to the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme and in particular, the purchase of allowances calculated for Sefton at £400k, which he suggested could increase considerably; and urged caution in respect of entering hastily into agreements regarding Feed in Tariffs for the installation of photovoltaic solar electric panels.  He indicated that he would take those matters up directly with the Cabinet Member - Environmental.

RESOLVED:          That

(1)      the most recent Cabinet Member reports for the above portfolios be received;

(2)      the Director of Street Scene be requested to submit a report to a future meeting of the Committee on the operation of the Zoned Collection Service and in particular, on any problems being experienced by residents; and

(3)      the Director of Built Environment be requested to submit a report to a future meeting of the Committee updating on the funding arrangements in connection with the Kings Gardens improvements.

Report of the Director of Corporate Commissioning.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Corporate Commissioning in relation to the Committee’s programme of work.  A number of Key Decisions within the latest Key Decision Forward Plan fell under this Committee’s remit and the Committee was requested to consider whether any of the items should be pre-scrutinised.

The report also indicated that at its meeting held on 30 August 2011, the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board proposed the establishment of a cross-cutting Working Group on the Port Master Plan (PMPWG); and the support of the Committee was requested to the establishment of the PMPWG and to nominate a Member to serve on it.

Councillor Fairclough, Cabinet Member - Transportation, indicated that he would like to attend meetings of the Port Master Plan Working Group as an observer.

In light of the proposal to establish the PMPWG, the Committee’s views were sought on deferring activities of the Rimrose Valley Working Group until the PMPWG had undertaken its review.

RESOLVED:          That

(1)      the contents of the Key Decision Forward Plan for period 1 September - 31 December 2011 be accepted;

(2)      that the establishment of the cross-cutting Port Master Plan Working Group be endorsed and Councillors K. Cluskey and Papworth be nominated to serve on the Working Group;

(3)      the activities of the Rimrose Valley Working Group be suspended until the findings of the Port Master Plan Working Group have been drafted; and

(4)      the Director of Built Environment be requested to submit a report to a future meeting of the Committee on issues associated with vegetation growing on Southport beach.