Minutes : Environment and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 14/03/2006

Waverley Borough Council Committee System - Committee Document

Meeting of the Environment and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 14/03/2006
Minutes

MINUTES of the MEETING of the ENVIRONMENT AND LEISURE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE held on 14TH MARCH 2006

(To be read in conjunction with the Agenda for the Meeting)

*	Mr J R Sandy (Chairman)	*	Mrs S R Jacobs
	Mrs M V M Hunt (Vice Chairman)	*	Dr P M Marriott
	Mr M H W Band	*	Mrs P N Mitchell
*	Dr J F A Blowers	*	Mr J M Savage
*	Mr M W Byham	*	Mrs J A Slyfield
*	Mr R D Frost		Ms M Taylor
*	Mr P D Harmer	*	Mr A E B Taylor-Smith
*	Mrs P Hibbert	*	Mr R C Terry
*	Mrs L S R Hodgson

*Present

156. INFORMAL PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

There were no informal questions from members of the public.

157. MINUTES

The minutes of the meetings held on 17th January and 31st January 2006 were agreed.

158. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS

Apologies for absence were received from Mrs M V M Hunt, Mr M H W Band and Ms M Taylor. Mr W M Marshall attended as a substitute.

159. DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS

Members declared the following personal interests:

Mrs P N Mitchell	Item 8 – Community Partnerships Funding	§ Waverley BC representative on Milford and Villages Day Centre
Mr J R Sandy	Item 8 – Community Partnerships Funding	§ His wife is a volunteer at Godalming Museum
Mr J M Savage	Item 8 – Community Partnerships Funding	§ His wife is involved with Cranleigh Health Check
Ms S Jacobs	Item 8 – Community Partnerships Funding	§ A supporter of the Farnham Maltings
Dr J F A Blowers	Item 8 – Community Partnerships Funding	§ Waverley BC representative on Godalming Museum § Waverley BC representative on Sport Godalming § Waverley BC representative on Milford Villages Day Centre § Waverley BC representative on JSJ Trust
Mr P D Harmer	Item 6.2 – SCC Highways Department input into Development Control decisions	§ Is a Member of Surrey County Council

160. QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

There were no questions from members of the public.

161. ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Chairman announced that there would be a special joint meeting of the Environment and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Community Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 27th March to discuss Housing Development Planning.

Officers then updated the Committee on the new garden waste collection service. An alternative supply of garden waste bags had been secured in a larger size than those originally ordered, which had since been found not to hold the correct capacity of waste.

162. EXECUTIVE FOUR MONTH ROLLING PROGRAMME (Agenda Item 6.0)

[Wards Affected: All]

The Committee noted the summary of activities on each item relating to its section of the work programme.

RESOLVED that the four month rolling programme of key decisions that was endorsed by the Executive on 7th March 2006, be received and noted.

163. COMMITTEE WORK PROGRAMME IN DEPTH REVIEWS (Agenda Item 6.1)

[Wards Affected: All]

The Committee noted progress on the three in-depth reviews in its remit. The Committee’s recommendations from the Mobile Phone Technology review had been adopted by the Executive.

RESOLVED that the Committee’s in-depth review programme be noted.

164. SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT INPUT INTO DEVELOPMENT CONTROL DECISIONS – SCOPING REPORT (Agenda Item 6.2)

[Wards Affected: All]

The Committee noted a scoping report which outlined the plans for an in-depth review to be carried out on Surrey County Council Highways Department’s input into Waverley’s Development Control decisions. The review would start in May with a hearing in July and publication of the final report in October.

Members were asked whether they wished to suggest any additional items for the review. The following additional points were suggested:

· Take account of changes resulting form Surrey County Council’s business review;
· Explore the issue of the relationships between Planning and Highways in Surrey and how the Highways function is organised;
· The Highways department should take a cumulative view of the impact of developments on a wider area;
· Examine Surrey County Council’s involvement in site visits – some concern there is too much reliance on desktop assessments; and
· The position of the police - need to explore who is responsible for enforcement.

RESOLVED that the Committee

1. agrees the key questions to be addressed by the review as set out in the report, with the additions above; and

2. the review be conducted in accordance with the process and outline timetable set out in the report.

165. BEST VALUE AND LOCAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS – THIRD QUARTER (Agenda Item 7)

[Wards Affected: All]

The Committee considered a report which described performance on Best Value and Local Performance Indicators, relevant to its remit. There was a discussion about the new local indicator (LODC 10) which looked at ‘

Appeals where members had refused an application against officers’ advice as a proportion of all appeals allowed’.

Members queried why there had been better results where they had refused an application. Officers agreed to look at this further and give more detail on trends in appeals. They would also clarify the wording on the local indicator and look at the possibility of a sub indicator to show what proportion of the appeals where advice was overturned, were lost at appeal.

It was also agreed that the number of indicators the Committee looked at in each quarter should be reduced.

RESOLVED that the Committee notes the performance indicators and draws to the Executive’s attention to the above observations.

166. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS FUND 2006/7 – MAIN GRANT APPLICATIONS (Agenda Item 8)

[Wards Affected: All]

The Committee considered a report regarding applications submitted to the Community Partnerships Fund for 2006/7, including the Community Buildings Grant Scheme applications for 2006/7. Officers explained that Area Partnership Groups, made up of town and parish council representatives, voluntary organisations and officers, had provided recommendations on each of the applications taking account of certain criteria.

Members supported the recommendations but debated whether the Thorburn Watercolour application from Godalming Museum Trust should be refused, as recommended. The Trust had applied for other sources of funding to achieve the Ł25,935 total cost and Members felt the purchase of the watercolour for the Museum would have a great cultural benefit for Godalming. Following a vote, it was agreed to recommend to the Executive that if the Trust could secure the other sources of funding it needed, the application of Ł6,483 from WBC should be supported.

RESOLVED that the Committee:

1. supports the recommendations in the report with the addition of the Thorburn Watercolour, provided that other pledges were forthcoming; and

2. pass the above comments to the Executive to assist with its determination of the level of grant for each organisation.

167. REPORT FROM THE WASTE MANAGEMENT SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP (Agenda Item 9)

[Wards Affected: All]

Members noted a report which updated them on the recent work of the Waste Management Special Interest Group and the implementation of the Alternate Weekly Collection. The report included progress made with the introduction of the garden waste collection service and the Members’ trial.

Officers reported that the trial had been a success and thanked Members for their participation. Members heard that the level of recycling achieved through the trial was 51.9%. The Committee felt that the trial had gone well but made suggestions to ensure the new scheme was clarified, in particular, for elderly residents. Members also asked that guidance on plastic recycling (i.e. that only bottles should be included) should be also clear to minimise confusion. Some Members felt that help to carry boxes should be given. Officers explained that the purchase of a trolley had been explored but that a satisfactory model had not yet been found.

RESOLVED that the Committee note the contents of the report about the work of the SIG and progress being made towards implementation of the AWC.

166. NEW JOINT MUNICIPAL WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY (Agenda Item 10)

[Wards Affected: All]

Members noted a report which updated them on the process of developing a Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy for Surrey. The report explored how waste could be managed in future including difficult decisions to be made about incineration or alternative methods such as anaerobic digestion.

RESOLVED that the Committee endorse the policy direction and action-oriented approach contained within it.

The meeting concluded at 10.07 pm

Chairman

Bureau/comms/O&S3 /minutes/140306/078.doc