Agenda and minutes

The Chair reminded Members of the need to declare any known interests in any matters to be considered at the meeting.  No declarations were made.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 6^th March 2019.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 6^th March 2019, be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Committee received a presentation by Mr Ian James, Head of Streetsmart, setting out the current position in respect of Green Waste Subscriptions.  Following his presentation the Head of Streetsmart responded to Members questions, questions from Mr Roy Worman, and Members comments in respect of:

·       There are approximately 19,000 bins collected as part of the Green Waste Collection Service (some householders have one bin and some subscribers have two bins) up from between 17,000 to 18,000 last year.

·       The increase in income to approximately £950,000 up from approximately £887,000 in the previous year.

·       The amount of garden waste collected remained in line with last year although the total for the year would largely depend on the weather and how this affected growth, especially grass.

·       An update on missed collections, primarily due to vehicle issues.

·       The focus on the garden waste service which was a subscription service which had seen a big improvement in collection rates (45 missed collections compared to 208 last year).

·       The addition of a fourth routed green waste collection vehicle during the current financial year.

·       The option for subscriptions, including the introduction of a quarterly pro-rata subscription rather than a monthly pro-rata subscription which helped the cash flow for the service.

·       The green waste service stickers were dispatched in April through baulk mailings although subscribers were given until 31^st May before collections ceased if the service was not renewed or in case stickers had not been received.

·       The stickers used for the green waste collection service enabled the collection team to know exactly who was subscribed to the service (this was also available via the in-cab system and which allowed issues to be reported back to the office and vice-versa).

·       The shortage of Class II drivers which could cause operational issues; it was noted that the shortage of drivers was also being felt in the private sector and some of the factors contributing to the difficulty in the Council recruiting these drivers.

·       Planned improvements to the management of the green waste collection service, including the bulk mailing.

·       Technical issues experienced with the direct debit system for service renewal system and potential solutions for the problems experienced and the move towards encouraging more people to use direct debits for the service as this was a more efficient method of collection.

·       Should there be savings from using direct debits whether these could be passed back to the customer to encourage payment through this method.

·       The possibility that the renewal date will be changed in order to avoid April which was an extremely busy period for the Council being the end of one financial year and the start of the next and with Council Tax Bills being dispatched and potential issues this might cause.

·       Options for changes of the renewals subscription and factors that might affect the month chosen.

·       The need for the system to cater for subscribers who did not use the internet or have internet banking and to make the experience easier for residents.

·       The subscription  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Committee received a presentation by Mr Gerry Prodohl, Principal Transport Manager – Major Developments, regarding a consultation on car parking standards for new developments.  Following his presentation The Principal Transport Manager responded to Members questions and comments in respect of:

·       The consultation process to consider existing and proposed changes to parking standards for new developments.

·       The Council’s current parking standards set out in a document approved by the Planning Committee for car, motorcycle and cycle parking for all new developments and shows the number of spaces required for each residential unit.

·       The current two zone system which had a discounted parking requirement for central zone.

·       The reasons for the current review including the current standards being formulated in 2007, a reflection of the changing mobility patterns since the adoption of the existing policy, and the need to reflect new Government Planning Guidance adopted in 2018.

·       The new policy would set out the Council’s requirements for charging points for electric vehicles for which there were no requirements in the current policy.

·       The proposals in the consultation incorporate a more refined and complex zoning system.

·       The current policy was very proscriptive and had definitive standards for each type of land use and there were benefits to the Council of having a more flexible system that would allow parking provision to be designed site specific.

·       The proposals set out in the consultation document had been drawn up by town planning and highways officers prior to input on the emerging document from the Cabinet Members, Chair of the Planning Committee and Planning Committee.

·       When an application for planning permission was received it was officers from the Highways and Transport Team that would consider the parking requirements.

·       The consultation document was drawn up considering car ownership trends, policy guidance, the views of the construction industry and developers, a resident’s questionnaire and officer’s experience in operating the existing policy (there being no consistent standard in operation across the country with each planning authority using its own standards).

·       Comments received to date in respect of the consultation process.

·       Changes to the existing policy including, (i) a less proscriptive approach to parking standards including allowing developers to propose appropriate parking levels for individual planning applications for unusual developments which detailed justification for the proposal which would then be tested on technical grounds, (ii) new four zoning area system within the Borough to reflect the accessibility of different areas, (iii) the definition of dwellings within the new policy, (iv) electric vehicle charging requirements for all new houses built, (v) provision for the storage and charging of mobility scooters for appropriate developments, (vi) stricter standards for visitor parking for new residential estates, and (vii) and making parking spaces larger to ensure they were fit for purpose.

·       Information available publically help developers ascertain the parking standards required for residential and non-residential developments within the Borough under the new proposed policy.

·       The expectation that new developments require cycle parking/storage with a higher standard required for some properties, for instance Houses in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Committee considered a report by the Chief Legal Officer setting out the Committee’s proposed Work Programme for the Municipal Year 2019/20.

Resolved – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the following items be added to this Committee’s Work Programme for the Municipal Year 2019/20:

(i) Solar and Battery Storage;

(ii) An update on the Environmental and Sustainability Programme;

(iii) An update of Enforcement;

(iv) Littering and Enviro Crime;

(v) Electric Vehicle Charging Points.