Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ibison, Jones and Reeves.

Members will disclose any pecuniary and any other significant interests they may have in relation to the matters to be considered at this meeting.

None.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 4 July 2016.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the committee held on 4 July 2016 be confirmed as a correct record.

Alan Fitzpatrick, Waste and Recycling Officer, will attend the meeting and introduce the Annual Performance Review of Waste and Recycling Collection Services April 2015 – March 2016.

Alan Fitzpatrick (Waste and Recycling Officer) and Councillor David Henderson (Street Scene, Parks and Open Spaces Portfolio Holder) attended for this item.

Mr Fitzpatrick referred to the Annual Performance Review document which, he said, showed that many performance targets had been exceeded.  Data on missed bins was outstanding and recycling figures had been ratified at 51.4%, significantly above the target.  Health and safety statistics also showed an improvement year on year.  The number of near misses recorded had increased although this reflected the fact that staff report more now.

In response to questions from councillors, Mr Fitzpatrick advised the committee that the replacement of vehicle floors and sides was necessary every 18-24 months because of the highly abrasive nature of the materials being carried.  By having a heavier floor the weight of materials being collected would have to be reduced in order that the total vehicle maximum weight was not exceeded, which would have a financial cost; there was a balance to be struck between the two in order to minimise overall costs.

Mr Fitzpatrick agreed to advise ward councillors if a Bin Amnesty Programme was to be initiated but asked that such information be treated confidentially.    Mr Fitzpatrick further agreed to remind operators that and weights used in green boxes should be replaced in the boxes once emptied in order to reduce the chance of the boxes being blown away, particularly in the more exposed coastal areas. 

Mr Fitzpatrick was asked whether consideration had been given to replacing the green boxes with bins in the foreseeable future.  He informed councillors that it was very unlikely as it would mean replacing boxes for approximately 50,000 properties at a cost of £25 per bin, a total cost of £1.25m.

RESOLVED that Mr Fitzpatrick be thanked for his report and Councillor Henderson and Mr Fitzpatrick be thanked for their helpful contribution to the meeting.

Councillor Matthew Vincent, will table the initial draft of the response prepared by the consultation task group that considered the implications of the proposed closures of three libraries in Wyre, for the committee’s approval.

Councillor Matthew Vincent, Chairman of the Libraries task group introduced the draft response to Lancashire County Council’s Property Strategy consultation, with particular reference to the proposed closure of three libraries in Wyre.

Councillor Fail had suggested several amendments to the original draft document, one of which had been accepted for inclusion.  Councillor Matthew Vincent confirmed that, in his opinion, the report as it stood reflected the issues that had been discussed and agreed by the task group.

The committee endorsed the task group’s report which would now be considered by the Management Board prior to submission to Lancashire County Council before the consultation deadline on 14 August.  The report would be submitted in the name of the Chief Executive and would be added to the agenda of the next Cabinet meeting on 7 September 2016.

RESOLVED that the task group’s report be endorsed by the committee and submitted in response to Lancashire County Council’s Property Strategy consultation.

Marianne Hesketh (Service Director Performance and Innovation) has submitted an update report on the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme 2016/17.

Councillors were updated about current task groups and those that were planned.

The domestic abuse task group had met once and a series of further meetings were planned for September.

A draft scoping document for a task group on food hygiene was approved by the committee.  Peter Foulsham agreed to invite expressions of interest from councillors, the task group to commence in September.

The committee agreed that a short task group be convened to review the current contract with the Citizens Advice Bureau, which is due to end in May 2017.  The task group’s recommendations would need to inform the budget-setting process for 2017/18.  Meetings were likely to be held in October.  Peter Foulsham was asked to present a draft scoping document to the committee on 12 September, after which the task group would be convened.

The Chairman reminded councillors that any suggestions about topics for future reviews would be welcomed.

RESOLVED that

(i)            The draft scoping document for a review of food hygiene be approved, and

(ii)          A draft scoping document for a review of the council’s contract with the Citizens Advice Bureau be submitted to the committee on 12 September 2016

Monday 12 September 2016 at 6pm. 

RESOLVED that the next meeting of the committee be held at 6pm on Monday 12 September 2016 at the Civic Centre, Poulton-le-Fylde.