Agenda and minutes
PDF 188 KBVenue: Ashcombe Suite, County Hall, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2DN. View directions
Contact: Huma Younis, Scrutiny Officer - Email: huma.younis@surreycc.gov.uk Sharmina Ullah, Committee Assistant - Email: sharmina.ullah@surreycc.gov.uk
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
The Chairman to report apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies had been received from Stephen Spence. There were no substitutions. |
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MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING: 7 SEPTEMBER 2017
To agree the minutes of the previous meeting as a true and accurate record of proceedings. Minutes: 1. The Committee amended the minutes to show that Hazel Watson had acted as substitute for Stephen Cooksey. A Member requested that item 7, point 12 was amended to state: “Some Members expressed the view that the two proposals put forward were not satisfactory, and that there were missed opportunities on other options, this included improving recycling rates which officers confirmed would save £4,000 in costs.” 2. The Committee agreed these minutes as an accurate record of the meeting.
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
All
Members present are required to declare, at this point in the
meeting or as soon as possible thereafter:
I.
Any disclosable
pecuniary interests and / or II. Other interests arising under the Code of Conduct in respect of any item(s) of business being considered at this meeting
NOTES: ·
Members are reminded that they must not participate
in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest ·
As well as an interest of the Member, this includes
any interest, of which the Member is aware, that relates to the
Member’s spouse or civil partner (or any person with whom the
Member is living as a spouse or civil partner) · Members with a significant personal interest may participate in the discussion and vote on that matter unless that interest could be reasonably regarded as prejudicial. Minutes: Matthew Furniss declared he was Vice-Chairman of the Surrey Waste Partnership. |
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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 Thursday 28 September 2017.
2. The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting Wednesday 27 September 2017.
3. The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received. Minutes: None received. |
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RESPONSES FROM THE CABINET TO ISSUES REFERRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE
Recommendations from the Select Committee regarding proposed changes to CRC’s was submitted to the 26 September Cabinet Meeting. A response from the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport is attached in the agenda papers.
Minutes: The Committee agreed to defer consideration of this response to 11 October 2017, as the decision had been called in and would be reviewed at this meeting. |
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RECOMMENDATIONS TRACKER AND FORWARD WORK PROGRAMME
The Committee is asked to review and approve the Forward Work Programme and Recommendations Tracker and provide comment as required. Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest:
None.
Witnesses:
None.
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The Chairman informed the Committee that he, the Vice-Chairman and Cabinet Members would be meeting on 14 November 2017 to consider priorities for the 2018 forward plan. Members highlighted that they wished to engage in consultation on the new Local Waste Plan, and review the impact of cuts on local highway funding. It was agreed these would be included in the plan.
Recommendations:
None. |
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PROPOSALS TO CHANGE FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT IN 2018/19
Purpose of the report: Policy Development and Review
To feed into proposals prior to consideration by Cabinet in November 2017.
Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest:
None.
Witnesses: Helen Trew, Waste Development Team Manager Trevor Pugh, Strategic Director for Environment and Infrastructure
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. An additional paper was tabled at the request of Eber Kington. A copy is attached in the minutes.
2. Officers informed the Committee that the Surrey Waste Partnership had created a significant opportunities to work better with district and borough councils, and improve the cost to Surrey tax payers. It was noted that the Council could no longer sustain the level of funding it provided for waste management, and that discussions through the partnership had looked to minimise the impact of any changes on district and boroughs.
3. The Committee was informed that the proposals had been reviewed by a working ground consisting of 7 different authorities, and the current proposals to Cabinet were based on their recommendations. Officers commented that this task group was reviewing the principles by which the funding was divided across the Surrey Waste Partnership.
4. Officers outlined the statutory responsibilities to pay recycling credits, as set out in the Environmental Protection Act 1990. It was noted that this was not a requirement where the Council took the decision to directly manage the materials, or if there was an agreement with partners to deliver these duties through an alternative mechanism. It was highlighted that an alternative mechanism was in place for food waste, where district and borough collections were supported through an ongoing revenue lump sum arrangement. It was also noted that garden waste was already consolidated in order to achieve better economies of scale.
5. The officers outlined that the proposal to Cabinet would enable the Council to directly manage collected recyclable material, and improve value for money through engagement with the market. It was highlighted that this would also unlock new financial transfer mechanisms, and enable the council to fund partners more equitably. The Committee was informed that there was a fixed core payment to district and boroughs, and this would be reducing by £4 million over the next three years. In addition, a variable mechanism was being proposed that would enable any savings made as a result of the changed arrangements were shared across the Surrey Waste Partnership. It was noted that the elements of this mechanism, such as the baseline and per household costs, were still under review by the task group.
6. The Committee was informed that district and boroughs had been engaged through chief executive and leader groups. It was commented that there were concerns regarding the impact of the proposals, though it was recognised that the Council needed to review this in light of the financial pressures it faced.
7. The Committee queried how the principles and aims of the Surrey Waste Partnership were formed, and how district and boroughs would be assessed on their delivery in this respect. Concern was raised that there was a lack of clarity about what sanctions were available if individual districts and boroughs operated in contravention of ... view the full minutes text for item 22. |
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REVIEW OF THE SURREY WASTE LOCAL PLAN: RECONVENING OF THE MEMBER REFERENCE GROUP
Purpose of the report: Prior to County Council elections, officers preparing the Surrey Waste Local Plan benefited from member engagement via a Member Reference Group convened by the Economic Prosperity, Environment and Highways Board, now the Environment & Infrastructure Select Committee. The Committee is asked to consider reconvening the Member Reference Group to provide oversight and scrutiny as part of the preparation of the new SWLP.
Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest:
None.
Witnesses: Kate Symington, Principal Planning Policy Officer Paul Sanderson, Minerals & Waste Policy Team Manager
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The committee reviewed the proposed terms of reference for the Member Reference Group. It was informed that the group membership would be asked to contribute until May 2018, as part of developing the pre-submission plan. Members commented that the wording to better reflect how they could act in a critical friend role to the development to the plan.
Recommendations:
The Committee recommends: · That the Member reference group is established · That the reference to acting as a champion for the Surrey Waste Local Plan is deleted and “critical friend” substituted · That the following Members are assigned to the MRG – o Wyatt Ramsdale (Chairman) o Jonathan Essex o Richard Wilson o Matthew Furniss
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ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT ON THE COUNCILS ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Purpose of the report: For the Committee to consider the progress made in 2016/17, in relation to the Smarter Working for the Environment Policy and Action Plan.
Additional documents: Minutes: Declarations of interest:
None.
Witnesses: Lesley Harding, Head of Place Development Paul Hasley, Energy Manager Jo Stanworth, Environment Policy Officer
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. The Committee reviewed the Key Performance Indicators, and expressed concern that there were not clear targets in place. Officers highlighted that a review was underway, and that this would help clarify how progress against the priorities were measured.
2. Members commented that more should be done to bring office recycling rates in line with the county target, and that KPI five should be adjusted to reflect this. The Committee also highlighted that it would like to see a greater emphasis on air quality. It was acknowledged that this was also a priority for the Cabinet Member, and that the review of KPIs would see additional data being recorded.
3. Members queried how priority one would be taken forward. It was highlighted that officers would seek to pilot an approach with individual services requiring a Cabinet decision, identifying possible areas through the forward plan. This would help ensure guidance was fit for purpose before promoting more widely to other services.
4. Officers discussed actions related to priority three, and commented that most energy efficiency measures had a payback over 3-4 years from the initial investment. It was highlighted that budget constraints had seen investment suspended in this area.
5. The Committee queried how local authority and academy schools were supported to make their buildings more energy efficient. Officers commented that advice was provided to maintained schools, and that the service supported schools that wished to participate in the national eco-schools programme. Officers had also assisted schools in applying for the Ashden award, an energy sustainability charity, and other sustainability funding. It was highlighted that current regulations specified that windows requiring replacement were substituted with more energy efficient alternatives, though it was noted that this replacement programme was not as extensive as required due to resource constrictions.
6. The Committee discussed initiatives to improve electric car usage across the county, including expanding the location of charge points and improved methods of payment. It was highlighted that additional investment had been put in place to replace Guildford’s park and ride fleet with electric buses. The Committee commented that a wide range of these initiatives could be subject of a Member development seminar, or for future consideration for a future task group.
Recommendations:
The Committee notes the report and recommends: · That officers report on the outputs of the KPI review once complete; · That an air quality KPI is added in consultation with district and boroughs; · That county wide targets related to recycling rates are applied to council workspaces as well; · That the action plan expands to promote recycling across the managed council estate, including all educational establishments
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DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING: 29 NOVEMBER 2017
The next meeting of the Environment and Infrastructure Select Committee will be held on Wednesday 29 November 2017 at 10.30am in the Ashcombe Suite, County Hall, Kingston upon Thames.
Minutes: The Committee noted that its next meeting of the Environment and Infrastructure Select Committee was the Call in meeting on 11 October 2017 at 9am.
A further meeting would be held on Wednesday 29 November 2017 at 10.30am in the Ashcombe Suite, County Hall, Kingston upon Thames. |