Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Sir Ron Watson; and Councillor Hardy, Cabinet Member – Communities and Housing.

Members are requested at a meeting where a disclosable pecuniary interest or personal interest arises, which is not already included in their Register of Members' Interests, todeclare any interests that relate to an item on the agenda.

Where a Member discloses a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, he/she must withdraw from the meeting room, including from the public gallery, during the whole consideration of any item of business in which he/she has an interest, except where he/she is permitted to remain as a result of a grant of a dispensation.

Where a Member discloses a personal interest he/she must seek advice from the Monitoring Officer or staff member representing the Monitoring Officer to determine whether the Member should withdraw from the meeting room, including from the public gallery, during the whole consideration of any item of business in which he/she has an interest or whether the Member can remain in the meeting or remain in the meeting and vote on the relevant decision.

No declarations of any disclosable pecuniary interests or personal interests were received.

Minutes of the meeting held 17 January 2023

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the following amendments, the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2023 be confirmed as a correct record:

(1)      Councillor Myers be added to the list of Members present at the meeting;

(2)      Minute No. 27 be amended to read as follows:

          “No apologies for absence were received.”

(3)      Minute No. 28 be amended to reflect the following:

Presentation by the Chief Executive of the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority

The Committee received a presentation from Lesley Worswick, Chief Executive of the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA) on the MRWA Service Delivery Plan 2022/23.

Ms. Worswick provided information on:

·       The Corporate Plan – 4 aims

·       Aim 1: Improve the Sustainable Management of Waste and Resources

·       Climate Action Plan Review 2022

·       Our Response

·       Zero Waste 2040 Strategic Framework

·       Strategic Outcomes

·       Aim 2: We will deliver effective waste services

·       Going forward

·       MRWA and Veolia Community Fund 2023/24

·       Aim 3: Co-operate to Improve Working Arrangements

·       Aim 4: Measure and Report on Climate Change Impacts and Sustainability Improvements

·       Summary

Members of the Committee asked questions/commented on the following issues:

·       Information on the Community Fund had previously been circulated.

·       Factors affecting recycling rates.

·       Mechanisms by which the messages regarding recycling and which items could be recycled, could be conveyed to the public.

·       Domestic waste had increased during the pandemic and industrial waste had decreased.

·       Lessons to be learnt on industrial relations.

·       What would happen when the current waste services contract ended in 2030?

·       The Zero Waste Strategy and different legislative changes.

·       The possible re-introduction of the food waste service.

·       Regional recycling rates compared to the national average.

·       The need for constant communications and marketing to convey recycling messages to the public.

·       The levy set by the MRWA across the City Region.

·       Support was expressed for the aspiration to encourage certain behaviours and to incentivise.

·       It would be useful to receive feedback on developments in approximately 6 months’ time.

·       A visit to the Recycling Discovery Centre (RDC) at Gillmoss could be arranged.

RESOLVED: That

(1)      Lesley Worswick be thanked for her informative presentation;

(2)      Lesley Worswick be invited to attend a future meeting of the Committee in approximately six months’ time; and

(3)      a visit by Members of the Committee to the Recycling Discovery Centre at Gillmoss be arranged in due course.

Report of the Assistant Director of Place (Operational In-House Services) / Cabinet Member - Locality Services

The Committee considered the report of the Assistant Director of Place (Operational In-House Services) / Cabinet Member - Locality Services that provided data on weed control operations since April 2022.

The report set out details on the following:

·       Statistics relating to complaints about weeds

·       Issues that were identified pre-April 2022

·       Improvements to the Street Cleansing provision since 1 April 2022

·       Next steps

Members of the Committee asked questions/commented on the following issues:

• A discussion on the control management of weeds would be welcomed.
• The robust monitoring process introduced to ensure contract compliance, and the importance of quality checks on work undertaken was emphasised.
• The different teams responsible for weed control and how they interfaced.
• The actual length of cleansing rotas.

RESOLVED:

That the report providing data on weed control operations since April 2022 be noted.

Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer that sought the views of the Committee on the Work Programme for 2022/23; sought the identification of any items for pre-scrutiny by the Committee from the Key Decision Forward Plan; provided an update on the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee; sought consideration of the views of the Cabinet Member – Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services in response to a request of the Committee concerning the implementation of recommendations arising from the Effectiveness of the Council’s Enforcement Activity Working Group; and sought formal approval of a decision taken by an informal meeting of the Committee in respect of leasehold house sales.

Councillor Lappin, Cabinet Member – Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services, was in attendance and provided information on the comments contained in the report regarding the implementation of recommendations arising from the Effectiveness of the Council’s Enforcement Activity Working Group.

Members of the Committee asked questions/commented on the following issues:

·       The dual enforcement role undertaken by Civil Enforcement Officers who undertake both parking offences and environmental offences. Committee Members considered that environmental offences were likely to be enforced only in parking areas and that the roles should be separated.

·       The leasehold of property which was at a low rate.

·       Second home ownership.

·       The informal sessions held by the Committee during 2022/23 had proved to be useful.

RESOLVED: That

Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer that included the most recent reports from the Cabinet Members for Communities and Housing; Health and Wellbeing (Green Sefton element); Locality Services; Planning and Building Control; and Regeneration and Skills.

Councillor Atkinson, Cabinet Member – Regeneration and Skills, attended the meeting to present her report and to respond to questions/issues raised by Members of the Committee.

Members of the Committee asked questions/commented on the following issues:

Communities and Housing

·       A cost benefit analysis of the Atkinson. Detail could be provided.

Health and Wellbeing (Green Sefton element)

·       Congratulations to the Natural Alternatives Project, Green Sefton’s long-running inclusion programme for adults and young people with additional needs.

·       Progress made with the Strategy for Allotment Focus Groups.

Locality Services

·       Clarification in terms of the implementation of LED street lighting across the Borough.

·       CCTV capacity and links with enforcement

Regeneration and Skills

·       The new library/health facility in Crosby.

·       The possibility that care-experienced children might require additional support beyond the age of 25.

·       Investment programmes and the time and effort associated with the submission of bids for funding.

RESOLVED: That:

The Chair, Councillor Dowd, advised that this evening’s meeting was the final meeting of the 2022/23 Municipal Year and she thanked all Members and officers for their help and support during the year; and indicated that the cross-party collaboration of Members had resulted in a productive year for the Committee.