Agenda and minutes

An apology of absence was received from Councillor J E Butts.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Streetscene Policy Development and Review Panel meeting held on 14 July 2016.

It was AGREED that the minutes of the Streetscene Policy Development and Review Panel held on 14 July 2016, be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Chairman asked for his thanks be passed on to the team who are currently undertaking improvement works at Wickham Road Cemetery. He is very impressed with the progress that is being made and the quality of the work being undertaken.

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.

In accordance with the Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct, Councillor’s J M Englefield and R H Price, JP declared a non-pecuniary interest in minute item 7 – Allotment Review – as they both have allotments within the Borough.

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 Operations on the Panel’s Work Programme for 2016/17.

The Panel considered a report by the Director of Operations which invited members to review the work programme for 2016/17.

Councillor Keeble addressed the Panel and informed them that as part of the review of the Allotment Agreement there would be a Officer/Member working group set up to help with this review. The Panel was asked for volunteers for the working party, it was agreed that Councillor’s Keeble and Mrs Brady be appointed to the working group.

Councillor Price requested a report on the challenges of recruiting Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers be brought to the Panel at the next meeting. The Director of Operations agreed that a verbal report providing an update on the Council’s upcoming recruitment campaign for HGV drivers can be provided at the October meeting.

Councillor Martin requested a report providing an update on Waste Prevention to be added to the 2016/17 work programme. The Director of Operations suggested that this be included on the work programme for the March meeting.

It was AGREED that:-

(a)   a verbal update on the outcomes of the recruitment campaign for HGV drivers be added to the 20 October meeting;

(b)  a report on Waste Prevention be added to the 3 March 2017 meeting; and

(c)  subject to the inclusions of (a) and (b) above, the work programme for 2016/17 be approved.

To consider a report by the Director of Operations on the Allotment Agreement renewal.

Councillor’s J M Englefield and R H Price, JP declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item as they both have allotments within the Borough.

The Panel considered a report by the Director of Operations which provided an update to the Panel on the provision of allotments within the Borough.

The Chairman addressed the Panel on this item and read out the following comments provided by Councillor Butts who was unable to attend the meeting: ‘The agenda item on Allotments provides an opportunity to publicly thank the Horticultural Development Officer, Matt Wakefield for the sterling work he did to ‘encourage’ Southern Water to resolve the water supply issues at Sarisbury Allotments over the summer. We were within just a couple of days of major issues – crop and plant loss due to the dry conditions and no effective water supply – requiring all of Matt Wakefield’s efforts, and contingency planning, to resolve before it was too late.’

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

To consider a report by the Director of Operations on an annual review of Recycling.

The Panel considered a report by the Director of Operations which provided an annual update on the performance of the recycling facilities within the Borough.

The Panel enquired as to whether Officer’s had reconsidered the possibility of collecting food waste. The Director of Operations informed members that the situation regarding food waste has not changed since this was last considered, and that the capital and revenue costs involved with implementing this service could not be justified against the small amount of difference that the collection of food waste would make to the Council’s recycling figures.

The Recycling Co-Ordinator also addressed the Panel to remind them that there is a visit to the Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) and Material Recovery Facility (MRF) arranged for 19 October 2016, if any Members are interested in going please let her know.

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