Agenda and draft minutes

Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee - Wednesday, 7 February 2024 10.00 am

Venue: Council Chamber, Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Woodhatch, Reigate, RH2 8

Contact: Clare Madden, Scrutiny Officer 

Media

Items
No. Item

1/24

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS

    To report any apologies for absence and substitutions.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    There were no apologies or substitutions.

     

2/24

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETINGS: 4 DECEMBER 2023 pdf icon PDF 200 KB

    To agree the minutes of the previous meeting of the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee as a true and accurate record of proceedings.

     

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    The minutes were agreed as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

     

3/24

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); and

     

    ·         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.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    None received.

4/24

QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS

    To receive any questions or petitions.

     

     

    The public retain their right to submit questions for written response, with such answers recorded in the minutes of the meeting; questioners may participate in meetings to ask a supplementary question. Petitioners may address the Committee on their petition for up to three minutes. Guidance will be made available to any member of the public wishing to speak at a meeting.



    Notes:

    1.    The deadline for Member’s questions is 12.00pm four working days before the meeting (1 February 2024).

     

    2.    The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting(31 January 2024)

     

    3.    The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    None received.

     

5/24

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE (ETI) PERFORMANCE REPORT pdf icon PDF 156 KB

    Purpose of report:

     

    The purpose of this report is to provide the CEH Select Committee with performance information on Environment, Highways, Transport, Planning & Infrastructure services within the Environment, Infrastructure and Growth (EIG) directorate, and respond to questions and feedback of the content therein.

     

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Witnesses:

    Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth – in person

    Natalie Bramhall, Cabinet Member for Property, Waste and Infrastructure – in person

    Marisa Heath, The Cabinet Member for Environment – in person

    Katie Stewart, Executive Director for Environment, Infrastructure & Growth – in person

    Jo Diggens, Deputy Chief of Staff, Environment, Infrastructure & Growth (report author) – in person

    Carolyn McKenzie, Director Environment - in person

    Paul Millin, Strategic Transport Group Manager – in person

    Lucy Monie, Director, Highways and Transport – in person

    Richard Bolton – Assistant Director Highways Operations and Infrastructure – in person

    Doug Hill – Flood and Climate Resilience Manager – remote

    Richard Parkinson – Resources and Circular Economy Group Manager - remote

    Paul Wheadon (also attending remotely) Strategic Contract Group Manager - remote

     

     

    Key discussions:

     

    1. The Chairman asked witnesses what areas rated as red they were the most concerning. The Executive Director for Environment, Infrastructure & Growth said that for all areas identified in red, plans to resolve them were in place. The RED RAG rating for Road Safety and the increase in numbers of ‘killed or seriously injured’ incidents (KSIs) was concerning.  The work underway to develop a new road safety strategy for Surrey was really importance.  The Executive Director urged communities to engage with the upcoming consultation.  Customer enquiries was assessed as RED.  Improving engagement with customers across all areas of the Council was also a big priority.  Work was underway to improve and professionalise the customer experience for residents. 

     

    Highways Keeping the network safe road defects, KSIs, streetlight repairs)

     

    1. A Member asked what the target repair time was for potholes.  The Director of Highways and Transportsaid that there were three targeted response times based on the severity of potholes. Repairs had a guarantee of 2 years but as repairs were conducted reactively where weather conditions varied, the life expectancy could be shorter. Defects would be picked up in inspections annually.

     

    1. A member queried if contractors would fix potholes at no extra charge if they did not last the 2-year quality guarantee. The Director of Highways and Transport said that it would not be an additional cost if it was proved that the issue was a failure to repair properly on the contractors end. The highways inspection staff were able to identify failure to repair.

     

    1. A Member noted that there was a 49% increase in the number of potholes from 2022 to 2023 and asked if Ringway had provided insight on this and if the data could be used to project long term trends in defect volumes. The Director of Highways and Transportsaid that the increase was largely due to rapid changes in weather conditions and climate change. The Executive Director for Environment, Infrastructure & Growth noted that other authorities in the country also experienced the same rise in numbers and emphasised the need for climate adaptation to better respond to changing weather patterns.

     

    1. A Member asked if it would it be necessary to implement special measures such as ‘find & fix’  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5/24

6/24

ADVERTISING AND SPONSORSHIP POLICY MOTION pdf icon PDF 154 KB

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    Purpose of report:

     

    To update Members of the Communities, Environment and Highways Select Committee on the outcome of consideration by the Greener Futures Reference Group of the Original Motion regarding Advertising and Sponsorship policy submitted to the meeting of the County Council on 11 October 2022.

     

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Witnesses:

    Lance Spencer, Chairman of the Greener Futures Reference Group

     

    Key discussions:

     

    1. The Chairman of the Greener Futures Reference Group noted that the Group did not endorse the recommendations of officers and recommended that the motion be referred to Cabinet for further consideration and debate.

     

    1. A Member noted that some fossil fuel companies like Shell did offer renewable energy options to consumers.

     

    1. The Cabinet Member for Environment said that fossil fuel companies shifting to greener models should be encouraged and revenue generated could be used for positive change.

     

    Break at 12:35 meeting resumed at 12:40.

     

     

7/24

MINERALS AND WASTE LOCAL PLAN pdf icon PDF 229 KB

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    Purpose of the report:

     

    To update members about progress in preparing the Minerals and Waste Local Plan.

     

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Witnesses:

    Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth

    Marisa Heath, The Cabinet Member for Environment – in person

    Katie Stewart, Executive Director for Environment, Infrastructure & Growth

    Caroline Smith, Planning Group Manager

    Ibrahim Mustafa, Principal Planning policy officer

     

    Key discussions:

    1. The Chairman noted that there had been 15 potential sites for mineral and waste management sites but only 1 was shortlisted and queried the reason. The Planning Group Manager said that waste management development was seen as a bad neighbour, and it was difficult to find land for future waste management. It was also up to private landowners to see if they would nominate land for waste management.

     

    1. The Chairman asked what results had been found for the nation-wide call for sites at the end of February 2024 and if witnesses anticipated better success than the first call. The Planning Group Manager said that they were expecting more nominations by the end of the month. The success of a call would depend on the quality of nominations and not the number of nominations. The Principal Planning policy officer said that the call for sites were an exercise that was integral to the planning process.

     

    1. A Member asked how Surrey’s predicted shortfall in waste management capacity compared to other authorities and if there was any scope to share facilities with neighbouring counties whose demands may be less. The Planning Group Manager said that other counties in the South East were also experiencing a short fall. 30% of locally collected waste was sent to Kent from Surrey. Surrey must find sufficient capacity for its own waste although some waste may still have to be dealt with out of County.

     

    1. A Member asked for witnesses to expand on how they were proactively looking to identify land suitable for waste management facilities. The Planning Group Manager noted the Service were in discussions with land management authorities, neighbouring waste management authorities and existing facilities in Surrey to discuss potential for expansion.

     

    1. A Member asked to what extent changes in legislation affected biodiversity. The Planning Group Manager noted that as of the 12th of February 2024 it was a requirement for sites to have a 10% biodiversity net gain. Many mineral sites were restored to an even better quality than when it was first implemented. The Manager was confident the Council would exceed the expectation of 10%.

     

    1. A Member asked if there were any external factors that would present a challenge of the development of Mineral and Waste Local Plans. The Planning Group Manager identified Government wide management policies, reviews of the Surrey Hills national landscape and Environmental Impact Assessments as external factors. 

     

    1. A Member asked what the implications of the Gatwick incinerator closure would be and what additional pressure this would put on waste facility capacities. The Planning Group Manager said original expansion plan had an expansion of the incinerator, but this had now been scrapped and but was unsure of the scale of impact this would have.

     

    1. A  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7/24

8/24

CABINET RESPONSES TO COMMITTEE REPORTS ON ROAD SAFETY & SURREY FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE pdf icon PDF 85 KB

9/24

GREENER FUTURE REFERENCE GROUP (GFRG) MEMBERSHIP

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    Purpose:

     

    To review the membership of the Greener Future Reference Group.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Key discussions:

     

    1. The Chairman of the Greener Futures Reference Group invited Members of the Committee to nominate themselves to the group. Cllr Weerasinghe volunteered to join.

     

10/24

RECOMMENDATIONS TRACKER AND FORWARD WORK PROGRAMME pdf icon PDF 39 KB

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    Purpose of report: for the Select Committee to review the attached recommendations tracker and forward work programme, making suggestions for additions or amendments as appropriate.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Key discussions:

     

    1. The Chairman noted that the Committee held a constructive private session with water utility companies in January and thanked the Executive Director for Environment, Infrastructure & Growth for her work.

     

    1. A Member asked if there would be new bus services planned in the next year. The Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth said that the whole of Surrey would have a DDRT option from September 2024. A Member asked if an interim report on DDRT could come to the Committee in April. The Executive Director for Environment, Infrastructure & Growth agreed.

     

    1. A Member asked for a written update on the rollout of electric vehicle and on-street charging infrastructure ahead of the April Select Committee date. The Executive Director for Environment, Infrastructure & Growth agreed that something could be provided in April as part of the LTP4 item.

     

    Actions:

     

    1. EIG Directorate to organise a Ringway depot site Visit for the Committee.

     

    1. The Infrastructure & Major Projects Group Manager to provide a written update on the rollout of EV and on-street charging infrastructure ahead of the April Select Committee date. [Annex to the Local Transport Plan 4].

     

    1. Update on DDRT to be provided to the Committee in April.

     

     

11/24

DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING: 29 APRIL 2024

    The next public meeting of the committee will be held on 29 April 2024.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    The next meeting to be held on the 29th of April 2024.