Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jo Barton and Sayers.

Members are requested to give notice of any disclosable pecuniary interest, which is not already included in their Register of Members' Interests and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the Members Code of Conduct, before leaving the meeting room during the discussion on that particular item.

No declarations of any disclosable pecuniary interest were received.

Minutes of the meetings held on 17 March 2015 and 17 June 2015.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Environmental Services) held on 17 March 2015 and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Skills) held on 17 June 2015, be confirmed as a correct record.

Interim Director of Public Health.

The Committee considered the report of the Interim Director of Public Health in relation to raising the Committee’s awareness of the impact of air pollution on health, within the context of other risk factors for individual, community and population health.

It was reported that the report had been compiled by using the following two information sources to scope the impact:-

·       The Public Health England estimates of local mortality burdens.

(Identifies mortality burdens for Sefton and other local authorities and is a public health outcome framework (PHOF) indicator); and

·       The Global Burden of Disease Study.

(Positions ambient particulate matter (PM) pollution with other risk factors contributing to mortality and morbidity at the UK level).

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The report also included the following suggestions to progress work in Sefton and regionally that could improve health through tackling air quality:-

·       Restriction of exposure to traffic emissions – low emission zones, restriction of heavy goods vehicles and commuter traffic in residential areas, EcoStars scheme and scrappage schemes for diesel vehicles.

·       Technological solutions – such as “hurry call” at Millers Bridge, enhanced road washing.

·       Smarter travel choices.

·       Increasing active travel – modal shift in transport patterns from private cars to walking and cycling.

·       Increasing urban green space – planting of broad leaved trees and plants – reducing urban heat islands.

It was reported that provision of information to professionals and the public should be advocated. It was explained that at a national level, air quality information is being communicated more routinely, and that Sefton had a number of routes to communicate information including the Breathing Space website and the air quality alert system. It was also reported that there were other services available to provide information to “at-risk” individuals when episodes or elevated levels of pollution are expected, in order to allow them to plan accordingly.

It was stated that the report had also been considered by the Health and Wellbeing Board at its meeting held on 17 June 2015 and it had resolved to refer the report to the Cabinet in September 2015 with a request for the Cabinet to consider potential actions it could encourage partners to take to improve air quality in the Borough, as set out in paragraph 7 to the report.

Members emphasised the importance of including Public Health in all discussions in relation to the impact that new developments could have on the health of individuals with a view to mitigating risk.

RESOLVED: That:

(1)      the report be noted; and

(2)      the Cabinet be requested to consider arranging to include  Public Health as a Consultee for any Planning Application submitted by a developer in the Borough of Sefton.

RESOLVED:

That the report be deferred to the next meeting of the Committee.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Built Environment that presented the response of the Cabinet Member – Regeneration and Tourism to the recommendations of the Town Centres Working Group Final Report, as requested by the Cabinet on 26 February 2015.

The report indicated that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Environmental Services), at its meeting held on 20 January 2015, received the Final Report of the Employment Development and Development of Local Town Centres and Economies (Town Centres element) Working Group.  It was also indicated that the report was subsequently considereded by the Cabinet on 26 February 2015 and referred to the Cabinet Member – Regeneration and Tourism for his views and comments.

The detailed response from the Cabinet Member in relation to each recommendation was included in the report.

Members raised concern regarding the decline of Town Centres.  The Cabinet Member for Locality Services stated that the shopping experience was changing and that some Town Centres were declining. He also stated that the Council needed to be ready for that and was becoming more creative about what Communities require in those Town Centres.

RESOLVED:

That the response of the Cabinet to the recommendations of the Town Centres Working Group Final Report be received.

Report of the Head of Regulation and Compliance.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Regulation and Compliance that included the most recent report from the following Cabinet Members:-

·       Cabinet Member – Communities and Housing;

·       Cabinet Member – Locality Services;

·       Cabinet Member – Chair of Planning; and

·       Cabinet Member – Regeneration and Skills.

Councillor Fairclough, Cabinet Member for Locality Services, presented his report and answered questions from Members thereon.

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the Cabinet Member update reports be noted; and

(2)      Councillor Fairclough be thanked for his attendance at the meeting.

Report of the Head of Regulation and Compliance.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Regulation and Compliance in relation to the Committee’s programme of work for 2015/16 and the Key Decision Forward Plan for the period 1 August to 30 November 2015 and requesting that Members of the Committee consider potential topics to review for the remainder of the Municipal Year 2015/16;  a Work Programme identifying topics for consideration and on what Committee dates, throughout the Municipal Year;  the Membership of the Shale Gas Working Group; and  the proposed Overview and Scrutiny Training scheduled to take place on Thursday, 10 September 2015.

The report indicated that an informal meeting of the Committee was held on 15 July 2015 and that the topic of “United Utilities and the increase in costs to the Council” was selected as a potential topic for review.

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the membership of the Shale Gas (Fracking) Working Group be re-affirmed as Councillors O’Brien and Weavers and Councillors Hartill and McGuire be invited to comment on the Final Report as former Members of the Committee who served on the Working Group;     

(2)      the establishment of a Working Group to review the topic of “United Utilities and the increase in costs to the Council” be approved comprising of all Members of the Committee;

(3)      the Committee’s Work Programme for 2015/16, as contained in the report, be approved; and

(4)      the proposed Overview and Scrutiny Training, as detailed in paragraph 5 to the report, be noted.