skip navigation
MyAccount
Mobile Site
Full Site
Accessibility
Contact Us
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Home
Pay for it Apply for it Report it Latest News What's On

You are here: Home / About The Council / Agenda and minutes

Quick Links

 Meetings, agendas and minutes

 Calendar

 Committees

 Constitution

 Election Results

 Decisions

 ePetitions

 Notice of Key Decisions

 Library

 Meetings

 Outside bodies

 Search documents

 Subscribe to updates

 What's new

 Your Councillors

 Your County Councillors

 Your MEPs

 Your MPs

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Collingwood Room - Civic Offices. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services 

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence.

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 209 KB

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Streetscene Scrutiny Panel held on 30 July 2024.

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 30 July 2024 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

3.

Chairman's Announcements

Minutes:

The Chairman announced that the date of the Panel meeting scheduled for 23 January 2025 has been brought forward to 6 January 2025. This is to enable Members to pre-scrutinise a report to be considered by the Executive at its meeting on 13 January 2025 regarding Trade Waste Services.

4.

Declarations of Interest and Disclosures of Advice or Directions

To receive any declarations of interest from members in accordance with Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct and disclosures of advice or directions received from Group Leaders or Political Groups, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interests made at this meeting.

5.

Deputations

To receive any deputations of which notice has been received.

Minutes:

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

 

6.

Executive Business pdf icon PDF 84 KB

To consider any item of business dealt with by the Executive since the last meeting of the Panel, that falls under the remit of the Streetscene Portfolio. This will include any decisions taken by individual members during the same time period.

6(1)

Seafield Park, Hill Head Mini-Forest project pdf icon PDF 109 KB

Minutes:

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor P W Whittle addressed the Panel on this item.

 

Councillor Whittle expressed his support and appreciation of the creation of the mini-forest project at Seafield Park, Hill Head and put forward a suggestion that the forest be named ‘Arthur’s Wood’ after the late Alderman Arthur Mandry who many years ago joined Alderman Jim Forrest, Councillor Whittle and a group of scout volunteers for a day to plant trees at Seafield Park.  

7.

Food Waste Collection Service pdf icon PDF 80 KB

To receive a report by the Director of Neighbourhoods which presents a draft report to the Executive for pre-scrutiny in respect of Simpler Recycling of household food & waste and recycling.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel considered a report by the Director of Neighbourhoods which presented a draft report to the Executive at its meeting scheduled to take place on 4 November 2024 and which set out plans for the introduction of a food waste collection service across the Borough in 2026.

 

Members enquired what the lead-in time for the purchase of the vehicles would be, whether funding has been received and whether interest is earned on funding received. The Director of Neighbourhoods advised that the lead in time for delivery of vehicles is around 26 weeks, that capital funding has been received and that, as far as she was aware, interest is not received on the funding.

 

Members raised concern that there are significant budget pressures for the government at the present time and asked what contingency arrangements were in place for financing the plans detailed in the report in the event that Defra is targeted by the government for budget cuts.  The Director of Neighbourhoods advised that  Primary Legislation for the changes had been passed and that Secondary Regulations requiring separate household food waste collections are now in place. It is therefore a statutory requirement that the Council introduces a food waste collection service.  The Director of Neighbourhoods advised that it remained a sovereign decision for the Council but cautioned that it is not known what the sanctions for not doing so would be. She advised that, should the purchase of the vehicles go ahead but they become surplus to requirements, there would be a re-sale value to them.

 

Members enquired where the Council sources its supply of Hydro-treated Vegetable Oil and were advised that it is purchased from a firm based in Southampton through the National Procurement Framework. 5,000 litres are purchased every 2 weeks and the supply is readily available.

 

Members also enquired how it was possible that there could be carbon emissions generated from the use of electric vehicles if the electricity generated was on a green tariff.  The Policy, Research and Engagement Manager advised that, while generating electricity from burning natural gas produces more emissions than generating electricity from sustainable and renewable sources, there were still currently Scope 2 CO2 emissions associated with it.

 

RESOLVED that the Streetscene Scrutiny Panel agrees that the comments, as detailed above, be put forward to the Executive for consideration in respect of the proposed introduction of a Food Waste Collection Service.

8.

Simpler Recycling - Communications Plan pdf icon PDF 78 KB

To receive a presentation by the Communications Manager which will detail the Communications Plan in respect of implementing Simpler Recycling.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel received a presentation which outlined the emerging proposals for communicating the 2026 waste collection service changes to residents.  A copy of the presentation slides is attached as Appendix A to these minutes. 

 

The Panel recognised the importance of using digital services as part of the campaign to raise public awareness of the introduction of the food waste collection service but highlighted the need to ensure that the many residents across the Borough who do not have smart phones or use computers have access to the information.  Members were assured by officers that there would be several elements to the campaign, e.g. advertising on waste collection vehicles, posters, press releases, newspaper adverts and hard copies of a special edition of Fareham Today that will ensure that all residents are kept well informed. 

 

The Panel enquired whether the caddies would be totally sealed, and raised concern about potential problems with smells, maggots and snails if they are not. The Director of Neighbourhoods confirmed that the caddies have a handle that locks the external food waste caddy tightly. She also advised that some Waste Authorities have already implemented food waste collection services and that there are lessons that can be learned from them.

 

Members suggested that a leaflet be included with delivery of the caddies to provide answers to frequently asked questions.  They also enquired whether liners for the caddies would be provided. The Director of Neighbourhoods confirmed that a Frequently Asked Questions leaflet would be provided but that the  inclusion of liners will need to be investigated further before a decision is made whether or not to include them. 

 

RESOLVED that the Streetscene Scrutiny Panel notes the emerging proposals for communicating the 2026 waste collection service changes to residents.

9.

Vehicle Replacement Programme Annual Review 2024 pdf icon PDF 83 KB

To receive a report by the Director of Neighbourhoods which presents a report to the Executive for pre-scrutiny in respect of the Vehicle Replacement Programme annual review 2024.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel received a report by the Director of Neighbourhoods which presented a report, to the Executive at the meeting scheduled to take place on 4 November 2024, in respect of the Council’s five-year rolling Vehicle Replacement Programme. 

 

The significant revenue overspend on maintenance, repair and hire vehicles was raised as a concern.  The Director of Neighbourhoods reminded Members that the Panel had considered Fleet Performance at their last meeting and that an Improvement Plan was now in place to address the budget overspend.  Members were advised that a further report would be brought on this matter in due course. 

 

The Panel discussed what steps are taken to ensure that the best return possible on each vehicle is achieved and questioned the approach of running a vehicle to the extent that there was no further option than to sell it for scrap. The Director of Neighbourhoods explained that, as outlined in paragraph 10 of the report, a data-driven approach had been introduced to assess when a vehicle needed replacement. The Chairman also reminded Members that the data in the report would have included the Covid-19 pandemic period which meant that officers had had to manage the fleet as best as they could as a result of the lack of availability of vehicles.

 

RESOLVED that the Streetscene Scrutiny Panel agrees that the comments, as detailed above, be put forward to the Executive for consideration in respect of the Council’s five-year rolling Vehicle Replacement Programme.

10.

Streetscene Scrutiny Panel Priorities pdf icon PDF 81 KB

To provide an opportunity for Members to consider the scrutiny priorities for the Streetscene Panel.

Minutes:

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor P W Whittle and Councillor I J Bastable, the Executive Member for Streetscene, addressed the Panel on this item.

 

Concern was put forward that the Refuse & Recycling Policy review is not due to be brought forward until July 2025. It was suggested that, as this is a key issue, it should be prioritised accordingly.  However, Members were advised that there is significant change in this area that needs to be taken into account, some of which relies upon decisions to be taken by other agencies, such as Hampshire County Council and their requirements for glass collection. Consideration of the policy had been timetabled for when it is hoped all the currently outstanding issues would be resolved to ensure there is a clear and coherent solution to put forward to residents.

 

Members enquired when a further update on the Fleet non-compliance issues highlighted by the recent Audit would be brought forward. The Director of Neighbourhoods confirmed that it has been scheduled for the July 2025 meeting.

 

Disappointment was expressed that a recent Member visit to the Broadcut Depot had had to be postponed and would not now take place until next March. The Chairman apologised and explained that the visits had had to be re-arranged for safety reasons and that upcoming layout changes at the Depot meant that it would not be worthwhile arranging the visit until after these changes have been made.

 

RESOLVED that the scrutiny priorities for the Streetscene Panel were reviewed.

 

 




Browse

Follow us

Facebook Twitter You Tube Flickr

View Fareham
Today online





Fareham Borough Council, Civic Offices, Civic Way, Hampshire, PO16 7AZ
Tel: +44 (0) 1329 236100 | Mobile Text/Photo: 07860 098627 | Fax: +44 (0) 1329 821770
Read page with Browse Aloud GOV.UK Get Safe Online
Fareham Borough Council: List of RSS Feeds