Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Bill and Bray, with the following substitutions authorised in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4:

Councillor Witherford for Councillor Bill

Councillor Nichols for Councillor Bray.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 11 August 2016.

On the motion of Councillor Camamile, seconded by Councillor Sutton, it was

                        RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 11 August 2016 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

No interests were declared at this stage.

At the request of the Scrutiny Commission, and update on the introduction of charging for the garden waste scheme is provided, along with requested information on fly tipping statistics during the same period.

Members received a report which provided an update on the Garden Waste Scheme and its progress since implementation.

Councillor Richards arrived at 18:36.

During discussion and in response to questions asked, the following points were made:

·         Overall the scheme had been a success and members expressed thanks to all staff involved in its implementation

·         The expenditure on the scheme shown did not include the operational costs of the service and removal of the unwanted bins which was still ongoing. Members requested the operational costs to be included in any future reports, once completed

·         It was suggested that information on actual numbers of take up in areas as well as percentages would be useful. It was agreed that this would be provided to members outside of the meeting

·         The current national target for recycling was 50% by 2020 and any fine for non-compliance would be levied at a national level and the mechanism or value of this was yet unknown

·         Whilst there had been an increase in garden waste fly tipping, it was not possible to attribute this to the Garden Waste Scheme as there had been a gradual increase in fly tipping generally.

RESOLVED – The report be endorsed.

Report on the reduction in carbon emissions arising from the Carbon Management Plan from 2008 to March 2016 and on greenhouse gas emissions from 2009 to March 2016. Members are asked to endorse the report to the Executive.

The Scrutiny Commission received a report which outlined progress on the reduction in carbon emissions as set out within the Carbon Management Plan. Members welcomed the report and congratulated officers for achieving more than the target set. It was noted that this also delivered significant financial savings which would be circulated to members, along with details of the contribution of the photovoltaic cells on Hinckley Hub, following the meeting.

A member enquired whether air quality in the borough was still measured and it was reported that it was and that a report on Air Quality Management could be brought to a future meeting.

                        RESOLVED –

(i)            the achievement of a 25.5% reduction of council CO₂ emissions be welcomed and the Executive be RECOMMENDED to agree the new target of 35%;

(ii)           A report on Air Quality Management across the Borough be brought to a future meeting.

Six monthly report to Scrutiny Commission to inform members of planning and enforcement appeal decisions made in the first six months of 2016.

Members received a report which provided an update on planning and enforcement appeals during the first six months of 2016.

During discussion and in response to questions asked, the following points were made:

• The budget for Appeals had been reduced to £50,000 as a result of the positive work that been completed with both officers and members
• Many of the issues related to highways considerations and we now retained a Highways Consultant to assist in these matters
• The costs of the appeals did not include officer time and resource.

It was requested that future reports contain a table to show the number of decisions subject to appeal that were made by officers, the number made by members and, of these, how many were dismissed and how many allowed.

RESOLVED – The report be endorsed.

Report to present the new Economic Regeneration Strategy 2016-2020.

The views of the Scrutiny Commission were sought on the draft of the revised Economic Regeneration Strategy which would be considered by Executive and, if approved, would be subject to public consultation. Members welcomed the strategy and the useful format of the report and requested that the positive news elements were communicated as part of the consultation process.

RESOLVED – the report be welcomed and supported.

The work programme for 2016-17 was supported, subject to the addition of any other items agreed at this meeting and the rescheduling of the Burials Review and the Car Parking Update (Hinckley Town Centre).

Minutes of the meeting held on 19 September attached for information.

The minutes of Finance & Performance Scrutiny held on 19 September were received for information.