Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from the Head of Business Improvement, Central Services and Partnerships, Councillor Billy Welsh, Councillor Chloe Mancey, Councillor Simon Tagg and Councillor David Allport

There were no declarations of interest received

RESOLVED:- That the minutes of previous meeting held on Monday 24 March 2014 were agreed as a correct record

To receive a verbal update from the Senior Partnerships Officer

The Senior Partnerships Officer gave an update on the funding received by the Newcastle Partnership from the Police and Crime Commissioner (P&CC) for Staffordshire (Matthew Ellis)

The funding had been provided to the Newcastle Partnership in order to deliver against a set of priorities and actions as set out in the local Police and Crime Plan 2014/2017

Confirmation had been received from the P&CC that the Newcastle Partnership had been allocated £110,635 for the financial year 2014/2015, together with a commitment to provide this funding for three years

A total of 80% (£88,508) of this funding was provided on the 14 April 2014 and there was a requirement for the Newcastle Partnership to submit an evaluation of activity undertaken using this funding by 1 October 2014.  Subject to successful delivery being achieved, the remaining 20% would be made available to the Newcastle Partnership in October 2014

The proposal for expenditure is detailed below:-

General –

Ø£15,008 on the Joint Operations Group (JOG) funding to enable the Locality Action Partnerships (LAPs) to bid and access funding for targeted activity contributing to community safety

Alcohol Harm Reduction –

Ø£5,000 on a CCTV camera to be located in the town centre to assist with visibility following the installation of market stall covers as part of the Public Realm works

Ø£11,500 towards Safer Nights to fund street Pastors, door staff training and other schemes

Ø£5,000 towards First Aid Triage to provide an early intervention service directly in the town centre to prevent unnecessary attendance at A&E

Ø£2,500 towards the Purple Flag application being submitted by Friday 27 June 2014

Ø2,000 towards Reducing the Strength project.  To administer the publicity  and launch of the campaign in the Borough

Domestic Violence –

Ø£2,500 World Cup Campaigns

Ø£2,000 Deaflink Domestic Violence project.  Enhancing awareness of the issue throughout the deaf community

Ø£3,000 Domestic Violence Safelink devices. To continue the provision of personal GPS security handouts to give assurance to victims of serious domestic abuse in the Borough

Ø£13,000 on Domestic Violence Early Intervention Project

Ø£12,000 on Independent Domestic Violence Adovate (IDVA)

Anti Social Behaviour –

Ø£10,000 towards the Home Security Initiative to provide home security measures and reassurance to vulnerable members of the community

Ø£5,000 towards Anti Social Behaviour pot, this is due for evaluation October 2014

The PCC funding was anticipated to be launched in September 2014 but has now been brought forward to the 1 August 2014

RECOMMENDED:- That the Senior Partnerships Officer provide a document to the Members of the Cleaner, Greener & Safer Communities Scrutiny Committee showing the initiatives and assessment criteria

The Streetscene Manager (Operations and Performance) presented a report regarding issues of cleansing of the A500 and the avenues taken to address the on-going problem of litter and cleansing operations

A partnership approach had been undertaken with Amey on behalf of the Highways Agency who carried out traffic management and grass cutting, while Stafford Borough Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council undertook the cleansing operation.  This covered the complete length of the A500 from junctions 15 to 16.  The cleansing included all partners putting in resources inclusive of labour, vehicles, plant and equipment

Earlier in 2014 Officers noted that grass cutting works were being undertaken on the A500 without prior knowledge of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s Streetscene Operations Section.  The outcome was that litter had been cut up by mowing machinery leaving a huge cleansing operation on either side of the carriageway.  This resulted in the time being taken to clear the debris of 949.5 hours

A Member asked if litter varied at different times of the year.  The Streetscene Manager (Operations and Performance) confirmed it did, particularly during the winter months as vegetation dies down.  The Streetscene Operations Service had been replacing the single wheelie bin type with Broxap double bins to help address fly tipping issues.  This is an on-going project where budgets can accommodate

The Executive Director for Operational Services advised communications with the Highway Agency are still on-going to pursue compensation for additional costs

RECOMMENDED:- That the report be received

To receive an update on the Council’s Integrated Recycling and Waste Strategy.  Handouts of the presentation to be provided at the meeting.

The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Recycling introduced the proposed Integrated Waste and Recycling Service.  A Cabinet Panel was established March 2013 and carried out a number of site visits including to Stockport and Cheshire West to look at potential options on the collection service. Visits to treatment plants were also carried out by the Panel

A decision is needed by September 2014 as to how the new service will be operated to allow sufficient time for the procurement of vehicles, treatment contracts, round planning, working patterns, infrastructure works and final detailed design of the new service

A Consultation exercise ran to 14 April 2014 and the outcome of this had been fed into the service design process. A report is to be submitted to Cabinet on the 23 July 2014.  The new service will commence July 2016

The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Recycling thanked the Head of Recycling and Fleet Services and the Officers involved for their hard work

The Head of Recycling and Fleet Services gave a presentation on the new Recycling and Waste Service.  The following recommendations had been made by the Cabinet Panel:-

1.       All core collection services to be carried out via an in-house service, including integration of the two workforces

2.       Operation to be based from the Knutton Lane Depot, including the development of a new recycling transfer station

3.       Investigate possible change to collection days

4.       The Council will provide the following collection service:-

v   Three box system for dry recycling collected weekly

v   Food waste collected weekly – in a caddy

v   Garden waste collected fortnightly – 240ltr bin

v   Residual waste collected fortnightly – 180ltr bin

5.          Green waste service to operate for a 46 week period, providing one free garden waste bin, additional bins to be chargeable

6.          Develop contracts for treatment and procurement of containers

7.          Investigate extending the range of material – possibly not for July 2016 start

RECOMMENDED:- That the Committee were agreed for the Recommendations to be submitted to Cabinet on 23 July 2014

The Committee considered the Work Plan.  It was agreed the following items would remain on the Work Plan:-

Ø‘A’ Frames Obstruction on Pavements.  To invite the Town Centre Partnership Manager and Dave Greatbatch, Community Infrastructure Liaison Manager (Staffordshire County Council) to a future meeting

ØRegulation of Hot Food Takeaways to be raised at the next meeting on Wednesday 1 October 2014

Any member of the public wishing to submit a question must serve two clear days’ notice, in writing, of any such question to the Borough Council.

No items were raised

Wednesday 1 October 2014, 7.00pm in Committee Room 1