Agenda and minutes
PDF 63 KBVenue: Ashcombe Suite, County Hall, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2DN
Contact: Tom Pooley or Victoria Lower
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Minutes: Apologies had been received from Pat Frost and Adrian Page.
Colin Kemp substituted.
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MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING: 13 MARCH 2014
To agree the minutes as a true record of the meeting. Minutes: These were agreed. |
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.
Notes: · In line with the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012, declarations may relate to the interest of the member, or the member’s spouse or civil partner, or a person with whom the member is living as husband or wife, or a person with whom the member is living as if they were civil partners and the member is aware they have the interest. · Members need only disclose interests not currently listed on the Register of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests. · Members must notify the Monitoring Officer of any interests disclosed at the meeting so they may be added to the Register. · Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest. Minutes: There were none. |
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QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
To receive any questions or petitions.
Notes: 1. The deadline for Member’s questions is 12.00pm four working days before the meeting (18 April 2014). 2. The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting (17 April 2014). 3. The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received. Minutes: There were none. |
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RESPONSES FROM THE CABINET TO ISSUES REFERRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE
There are no responses to report. Minutes: There were no responses to report.
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RECOMMENDATION TRACKER AND FORWARD WORK PROGRAMME
The Committee is asked to monitor progress on the implementation of recommendations from previous meetings, and to review its Forward Work Programme. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The Chairman explained that the Task Group for flooding would meet after the Select Committee meeting and would include both Members and officers.
2. It was explained that the Highways Service had received accreditation for the Customer Service Excellence Standard but that the Customer Service Excellence Member Reference group had not heard anything about the future life of the reference group. The Assistant Director for Highways explained that a report with the outcomes from the reference group would be bought back to Committee in due course.
3. The Chairman explained that a new business case would need to be submitted by the Surrey Wildlife Trust before the Countryside Management Member Reference Group could continue its work.
4. The Assistant Director, Highways confirmed that his team would be arranging the first meeting of the Highways for the Future Member Reference Group shortly.
Recommendations: None
Actions/further information to be provided:None.
Committee Next Steps:None.
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SCC FLOOD EVENT RESPONSE
Purpose of the report: Scrutiny of Services
To provide an update on the major flooding that has affected the County and provide information on recovery work going forward.
Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest: None
Witnesses:
Jason Russell, Assistant Director for Highways Susie Kemp, Assistant Chief Executive Ian Good, Head of Emergency Management
In attendance:
Mary Lewis Christian Mahne Denise Saliagopoulos
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The report was introduced by the Assistant Chief Executive, who provided some background information on the recent flood events and the move towards recovery, which involved restoring affected communities to ensure they are more resilient going forward.
2. Surrey declared major incidents on 24 December 2013 and 9 February 2014. Mount Browne in Guildford was used as the main base for the flooding operation and was the key location where all agencies were based.
3. The Chairman explained that the intention was to establish a Task Group where more detailed discussions would take place with officers, external agencies and Members severely affected by the flooding in the County.
4. A Member queried the possibility of having a public meeting to discuss lessons learnt from the flooding. The Chairman explained that there was a possibility for members of the public to have some involvement with the work of the flooding Task Group. The Assistant Chief Executive explained that Spelthorne Borough Council had organised a public meeting on flooding for 5 June which officers from SCC would attend. It was commented that many of the local district and borough councils had set up public meetings and Members should contact them for further information.
5. The Assistant Director for Highways explained that a flood risk management strategy was currently in draft form and would be reviewed by the flooding Task Group before going to Cabinet for approval.
6. Members of the committee agreed that they were kept well informed by officers on the flooding issues Surrey faced. It was recognised that good work had also been done to keep the Local Committees well informed.
7. Concerns were raised around sluice gates. It was commented that although SCC was the lead authority responsible for flooding, the fault potentially lay with other agencies. The Assistant Chief Executive explained that the issue of sluice gates was bought up during a meeting of the strategic recovery group and was a key issue for all agencies involved with the flooding recovery.
8. The Head of Emergency Management explained that a voluntary sector debrief had taken place but had not been well attended. The debrief gave everyone an opportunity to explain pressures and concerns faced during the flooding. Actions were taken away from the meeting and would be followed up on.
9. A vote of thanks was given to all officers involved with the flooding during the crisis and recovery period.
10. It was explained to Members that as part of the Flood and Water Management Act an investigation would need to be conducted on the flooding that occurred. It was most likely that the flooding was caused by the main rivers. The Environment Agency (EA) would conduct this investigation and feedback results in May.
11. The Assistant Chief Executive explained that ... view the full minutes text for item 30/14 |
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MANAGING SURREY'S WASTE: DISPOSING OF THE TRADITIONAL APPROACH
A presentation to inform the committee on achievements to date and current progress towards key objectives/milestones in relation to waste, and to brief the Committee on the Surrey Waste Partnership. Minutes: Declarations of interest: None
Witnesses:
Matt Smyth, Waste Partnership and Development Team Manager Helen Trew, Waste Policy and Partnerships Manager
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. A presentation was presented to the Committee informing them on achievements to date, current progress towards key objectives, milestones in relation to waste and a further brief on the Surrey Waste Partnership. The Waste Partnership and Development Team Manager explained that the team would be looking for comment from the Committee to help shape a new joint waste strategy.
2. As part of the SE7 group it was recognised that there was opportunity to work with industry to dispose of waste in a cost effective manner that would generate income for the County Council.
3. A Member of the Committee raised concerns over the different processes in place for waste recycling across the county. The Waste Partnership and Development Team Manager explained that the different means for recycling waste depended on local conditions and which area of the county somebody lived in. It was explained that new legislation around not mixing waste but collecting separately would come into force in 2015.
4. Members of the Committee agreed that there was benefit to be gained by working in partnership with district and boroughs. The Cabinet Member for Transport, Highways & Environment explained that it had been difficult to get the support of some Members from district and boroughs to support managing waste in partnership, even though the cost savings for all those involved would be significant. It was suggested that the Surrey Waste Partnership would provide the best vehicle for driving this agenda forward.
5. It was explained that leaf collection was a total of 3% of SCC recycling but the Environment Agency (EA) had recently taken a view that leaves contained contaminated toxins which meant that these could no longer be recycled with green waste.
6. A Member of the Committee asked if the wood being recycled in the county could be used for generating income. It was explained that the wood from SCC recycling centres was rated as grade 3 and of a poor quality which meant there was not much opportunity to generate huge amounts of income.
7. The Waste Partnership and Development Team Manager recognised there was inappropriate Community Recycling Centre (CRC) facilities in the south of Tandridge. Work had been done last year to look for a new site to facilitate a CRC in Tandridge but the team had been unsuccessful in locating a new site.
8. There were opportunities to do more bin checking in the county. Although this would be costly it would allow Councils to reward residents and incentivise recycling.
9. It was queried whether or not rubble could be used for creating bunds on rivers. The Waste Partnership and Development Team Manager explained that there were many opportunities with rubble. If the rubble is mixed then it could be separated and used in various ways. There was an opportunity to talk to industry and find out ... view the full minutes text for item 31/14 |
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LOCAL TRANSPORT REVIEW
Minutes: Declarations of interest: None
Witnesses:
Paul Millin, Travel and Transport Group Manager Peter Wylde, Programme and Commissioning Projects Manager
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The presentation was introduced by the Travel and Transport Group Manager who explained the aims and objectives of the Local Transport Review. This covered local bus, concessionary fares, and community transport provision.
2. It was agreed that the Select Committee would direct their comments to the Local Transport Review Member Reference Group before the next report in June 2014. A series of dates for the reference group have been planned and would be sent to Members of the group in due course.
Recommendations:
None.
Actions/further information to be provided:
For the Select Committee to be sent a copy of the ‘Local Transport Review’ presentation.
Committee Next Steps:None.
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SURREY ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY PARTNERSHIP
The report is to inform the Committee of the re-establishment of the members group of the Surrey Energy and Sustainability Partnership and outline the work of the partnership. The committee is asked to consider its representation within the partnership. Minutes: Declarations of interest: None
Witnesses:
Bronwen Chinien, Policy and Partnerships Team Leader
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The Policy and Partnerships Team Leader introduced the report to the Select Committee and explained that there was an opportunity for a Member of the Select Committee to sit on the Members Board Group of the Surrey Energy and Sustainability Partnership Board. It was explained that the Cabinet Associate for Environmental Services currently represented SCC on this board.
2. The Surrey Energy and Sustainability Partnership had recently won funding from the Department of Health to help support vulnerable residents with improving the energy efficiency of their homes.
3. The Policy and Partnerships Team Leader explained that the workload would consist of two meetings per year with the opportunity of more meetings depending on how the work of the partnership pans out over the coming months.
4. It was queried how many SCC projects had included wood fuel as the default energy option. The Committee was informed that a number of oil boilers had been replaced with wood chip but that this had taken longer than expected.
5. Cllr Ken Gulati agreed to sit on the Surrey Energy and Sustainability Partnership board with support of the Select Committee.
Recommendations:
That Cllr Ken Gulati be appointed to the Members Board Group of the Surrey Energy and Sustainability Partnership Board.
Actions/further information to be provided:None
Committee Next Steps:None.
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DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Committee will be held on 12 June 2014 in the Ashcombe Suite, County Hall, Kingston upon Thames. Minutes: The next meeting will be held on 12 June 2014 in the Ashcombe Suite, County Hall, Kingston upon Thames and will be starting at the later time of 10.30am.
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