Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Tagg.

To receive declarations of interest from Members on items included in the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting of this Committee held on 18 April 2012.

RESOLVED:            That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 April 2012 be agreed as a correct record, with the addition of Cllr Johnson’s apologies

To receive an update on the Council’s Carbon Management Plan

(a) That the information be received

(b) That the timers on the lights in Chesterton Park be adjusted.

A report was submitted providing the Committee with an update on the Carbon Management Plan.

The Council’s Head of Housing Services confirmed that £35,000 had been awarded to the Council from the Improvement and Efficiency West Midlands (IEWP) Low Carbon Fund, to invest in energy efficiency schemes in 2012. This was awarded with a commitment to repay 10% of the annual financial savings for three years after the first year of implementation. There was a predicted annual saving of £19,255, which would equate to three annual payments of £1,925. There would be many more projects during 2012 than in the previous year.

The Council’s Head of Housing Services circulated information to the committee which had been requested at the previous meeting and illustrated comparable information on electricity usage within the Council. This information would be used going forward to monitor energy usage and to enable the Council to be more aware of how electricity and gas were used.

Members noted the projects to be undertaken in 2013, in particular the home working project, which would cost approximately £63,000 to implement with no figure to be repaid. Officers confirmed that partners moving into the Civic Offices would offset the cost of implementation.

Members raised the question of the lights in Chesterton Park which were on quite late at night, and therefore wasting electricity. Officers confirmed that the lights were on timers, but would be adjusted so they turned off at an earlier time.

RESOLVED:            (a) That the information be received

                                    (b) That the timers on the lights in Chesterton Park be adjusted.

(a) That the information be received

(b) That the Stronger and Safer Communities Strategy be brought back to the Committee on 5^th September

A report was submitted providing the Committee with an update on the Stronger and Safer Communities Strategy and the consultation exercise that was currently taking place. Additional documents were circulated to Members at the meeting. These were: an update note supplementary to the report included on the agenda, the latest version of the Stronger and Safer Communities Strategy, the Action Plan of projects to be undertaken and the consultation questions that are currently on the Council’s website.

The Committee had considered the strategy at its 29^th February meeting and recommended the strategy be put out for consultation with key sections of the Borough’s population. The strategy was then presented to Cabinet on 14^th March, which agreed with the Committee’s recommendations and requested the document be put out for consultation. The consultation was currently ongoing, and would end on 10^th August. The strategy would then be brought back to the Committee at its 5^th September meeting by the Council’s Head of Performance and Transformation. This would enable the Committee to consider the strategy again before its presentation to Cabinet on 19^th September.

RESOLVED:             (a) That the information be received

(b) That the Stronger and Safer Communities Strategy be brought back to the Committee on 5^th September

To discuss the work plan for the year.

(a) That the Waste and Recycling Strategy be considered by the Committee later in the year

(b) That a scrutiny brief regarding policing in Kidsgrove be brought to the next meeting of the Committee

(c) That the Executive Director of Operational Services give consideration as to who would report to the Committee on the increase in skip fees and the potential impact on fly tipping cases

(d) That Officers investigate the viability of a review into heavy traffic in Chesterton and the need for enforcement 

(e) That the issue of parking in Butt Lane and the possibility of extending yellow lines into Church Street be raised with the Joint Parking Committee

(f) That the outcomes of the Cheshire East Initiative regarding alcohol pricing be reported at the next Committee meeting

(g) That the issue of take aways be raised with the Co-ordinating Committee in order for them to ascertain the appropriate scrutiny committee to investigate this issue further

The work plan was considered by the Committee and items suggested for the forthcoming municipal year.

The Waste and Recycling Strategy was raised as an issue the Committee may wish to scrutinise. It was decided that this would be considered by the Committee later in the year. 

The issue of policing in Kidsgrove was raised by members. It was felt that the changes to policing due to take place later in the year needed to be considered, in particular, the issue of integrated offender management and adopting a holistic approach with regard to anti-social behaviour. It was agreed that a scrutiny brief would be brought to the next meeting of the Committee.

There was concern that an increase in skip fees may lead to growth in fly tipping cases within the Borough. The Council’s Executive Director of Operation Services would give consideration as to who would provide the Committee with a report on this matter.

Members raised the issue of heavy traffic in Chesterton and the need for enforcement. Officers would investigate the viability of a review of this issue.

Members raised the issue of parking in Butt Lane and the possibility of extending yellow lines into Church Street. It was determined that this issue would lie with the Joint Parking Committee.

Members noted on the work plan that the outcomes of the Cheshire East Initiative regarding alcohol pricing would be brought to a future meeting of the Committee when the information was available. This information had not yet been received and Members requested that it be brought to the next meeting of the Committee.

Members also raised issues with regard to take aways, in particular the abundance of them, litter created by users of take aways and problems with parking caused by customers. It was felt that this issue did not come under the remit of this committee, and potentially it may need to go to the Co-ordinating Committee in order for them to ascertain the appropriate scrutiny committee to investigate this matter further.

RESOLVED:            (a) That the Waste and Recycling Strategy be considered by the Committee later in the year

(b) That a scrutiny brief regarding policing in Kidsgrove be brought to the next meeting of the Committee

(c) That the Executive Director of Operational Services give consideration as to who would report to the Committee on the increase in skip fees and the potential impact on fly tipping cases

(d) That Officers investigate the viability of a review into heavy traffic in Chesterton and the need for enforcement 

(e) That the issue of parking in Butt Lane and the possibility of extending yellow lines into Church Street be raised with the Joint Parking Committee

(f) That the outcomes of the Cheshire East Initiative regarding alcohol pricing be reported at the next Committee meeting

(g) That the issue of take aways be raised with the Co-ordinating Committee in order for them to ascertain the appropriate scrutiny committee to investigate this issue further

To consider any business which is urgent within the meaning of Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was no urgent business considered.