Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies of absence.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 6 March 2014.

It was AGREED that the minutes of the meeting of the Streetscene Policy Development and Review Panel held on 6 March 2014 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Chairman addressed the Panel to provide an update on the impact that the industrial action had on the Streetscene Services. She informed the Panel that services such as refuse collection and grass cutting had seen a small disruption and that plans were in place to complete the outstanding work as quickly as possible.

She passed her thanks to the Streetscene department for all of their hardwork today in ensuring that they kept services running as normal as possible.

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.

There were no declarations of interest or disclosures of advice or directions made at this meeting.

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To consider a report by the Director of Environmental Services on the Panel’s work programme for 2014/15.

The Panel considered a report by the Director of Environmental Services which reviewed the current Work Programme 2014/15.

The Director of Environmental Services addressed the Panel to explain that a report on separate recycling collection would need to be added to the Work Programme for the October meeting. This is as a result of the European Revised Waste Framework Directive which requires authorities to have segregated kerbside recycling collection by 1 January 2015.

The Director of Environmental Services explained to the Panel that there are excluding criteria to the legislation which means that not all authorities will need to introduce separate recycling collections, and that he is confident that Fareham Borough Council will be able demonstrate that it meets the following two exclusion criteria;

1) The high quality of the end product that the Project Integra Material Recovery Facilities are currently producing; and

2) It would not be environmentally and economically practical, due to the severe increase in capital costs, additional running costs and employee costs.

It was AGREED that the content of the report be noted.

To receive a presentation from the Director of Environmental Services on Streetscene Services and Key Acheivements.

The Panel received a presentation from the Director of Environmental Services and Managers within the Streetscene Department which gave an overview of the services provided by the department. The presentation was broken down into a number of sections:

Introduction

Refuse and Recycling

Operations

Parks and Open Spaces

Transport Management

Each section was presented by an appropriate Manager who outlined all of the services provided under their section, the achievements made in 2013/14 and the key objectives for 2014/15, and then took questions from members on each section.

Councillor Swanbrow passed on his congratulations to the Horticultural Development Officer for his Wild Meadow in Allotment Road as part of the Going Wild Project.

It was AGREED that the Director of Environmental Services and Mangers be thanked for their presentation.

To consider a report by the Director of Environmental Services which reviews the Corporate Cleaning Contract.

The Panel received a report by the Director of Environmental Services on a review of the Corporate Cleaning Contract that was awarded to Fountains Environmental Limited (now OCS) on 10 January 2011.

Members were informed of several performance issues that have arisen with the contract, which included the cleaning of the pavement in West Street, the cleaning of public conveniences and the cleaning of communal areas in Council properties, and outlined the steps that have been taken to address them. The Panel were also updated on the improvements that are scheduled for 2014/15, which include, window cleaning, cleaning of bin stores and improvements to communal areas in housing blocks.

It was AGREED that the Panel notes the content of the report.

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public and representatives of the press from the remainder of the meeting in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, on the grounds that the matter to be dealt with involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

It was AGREED that in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and representatives of the Press be excluded from the remainder of the meeting as the Panel considered it was not in the public interest to consider the matter in public on the grounds that it involved the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of part 1 of schedule 12A of the Act.

To consider a report by the Director of Environmental Services on the Annual Report on Trade Waste.

The Panel received a report by the Director of Environmental Services on the Annual Report on Trade Waste.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Keeble Executive Member for Streetscene addressed the Panel on this item.

it was AGREED that the content of the report be noted.