To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Mrs A.E. Gray and T.W Hunt.  Apologies were also received from Councillor P.J. Edwards (Cabinet Member – Environment).

The Committee noted that Councillor J.G.S. Guthrie had replaced Councillor R. Mills as a member of the Committee.

To receive details any details of Members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Committee.

Councillor Ms G.A. Powell substituted for Councillor Mrs A.E. Gray and Councillor J. Hope substituted for Councillor TW. Hunt.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in respect of items on the Agenda.

Councillor Ms G.A. Powell declared a personal interest in agenda item 5 – Herefordshire provisional Local Transport Plan 2006/7 to 2010/11, due to her involvement in “WyeS Moves” Community Transport initiative.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 30th March, 2005.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held 30th March, 2005 be approved and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the draft Herefordshire Provisional Local Transport Plan 2006/7 - 2010/11 and enable Members to make comments for consideration by Cabinet.

The Committee considered the draft Herefordshire Provisional Local Transport Plan (LTP) 2006/7 – 2010/11.

The Head of Highways and Transportation reported that the provisional Local Transport Plan had to be submitted to Government by 29 July 2005 and the quality of the Plan contributed to the overall future capital funding allocated by Government for Highways and Transportation in the County.  This would be Herefordshire’s second Local Transport Plan (LTP2) and would constitute the Council’s transportation policies and strategies for the five year period 2006/7 to 2010/11. 

He further reported that the Plan would include a costed programme of transport improvement schemes for the period which had been developed with the aim of delivering key outcomes including: improved accessibility; safer roads; reduced congestion and a safeguarded environment.  An Executive Summary of the draft Local Transport Plan 2006/7 to 2010/11 was provided at Appendix 1 to the report.

Progress in working towards the previously identified objectives was summarised in the report.  The development of the strategy had been informed by a number of studies that had been carried out to develop key areas of policy.  The provisional LTP2 also needed to take into account developing areas of national transport policy.

After submission of the Plan in July, 2005, Government would undertake a detailed assessment, which would be published late in 2005 at which time the financial settlement would also be announced

The Cabinet Member (Highways and Transportation), the Head of Highways and Transportation and the Team Leader (Transportation Planning) were questioned by the Committee.  The following is an outline of the principal questions asked by the Committee and responses given by officers:

• How does the Herefordshire LTP compare with LTPs of other authorities?  Is there any method of comparing how well we do? 

The Council is rated by government on its Annual LTP progress reports.  Last year the Council’s performance had been rated as above average and in the previous year as Well Above Average, resulting in a supplementary ‘Performance Grant’ which was utilised to support the Roman Road improvement scheme.  Highway maintenance had also received a good rating but caution was needed, as this element of funding was formula based.

• How does the LTP2 compare with national approaches – e.g. congestion charging?  What degree of Government constraint is there?

The LTP process was becoming more restrictive.  The process had a number of mandatory indicators/requirements, however, three related to local conditions.  While congestion charging did not apply to Herefordshire, LTP2 contained proposals to set a local target concerning congestion in the City in the hope that additional funding would be forthcoming to help meet the target.  Local need would be emphasised wherever possible.  The LTP scheme dealt with predominantly highway maintenance and capital projects whereas local issues were usually met from revenue funding.

• The agenda covering report and the Executive Summary indicated that Herefordshire did not achieve all that was set out in LTP1.  Why was this and have lessons been learned and translated into the LTP2?

The first LTP contained a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To comment on the consultation draft of the Corporate Environment Strategy, summarising the policy aims, objectives and action plans that the Council has adopted and to comment on the proposed revision of the Council’s current Environmental policy, passed in June 2002 before certification to ISO 14001.

The Committee considered: 1) the consultation draft of the Corporate Environment Strategy, summarising the policy aims, objectives and action plans the Council have adopted and 2) the proposed revision of the Council’s current environmental policy.

The Environmental Sustainability Officer reported that the Corporate Environment Strategy provided partners and managers across the Council with an overview of major environmental commitments that had already been made by the Council. Some were mandatory while others were led by the need to control costs.  All were linked through the agreed ambitions of the Herefordshire Plan and the Corporate Plan (2005/08), which states that one of the Council's top eight priorities for the period of the Plan is, "to protect the environment, including recycling much more waste and significantly reducing carbon emissions".

She further reported that the revision of the policy took account of: the certification to ISO 14001; of the numerous Council services and functions and changes to the initial focus and revisions to the ISO 14001 standard.  Copies of the consultation draft “Corporate Environment Strategy”, together with the “draft Strategy Action Plan” were appended to the report.

The Director of Environment commented that the policy brought together the various environmental policies, updates and action plans into one document.

The Committee were complementary about the format and content of the policy document but thought reference should be included to convey a positive attitude towards the receipt of feedback to the commitments detailed in the policy.

The Committee debated whether local standards could be imposed in relation to increasing the specification for building insulation.  While legally this would be extremely difficult to impose, the Director of Environment suggested this could be kept in mind when negotiating development contracts. 

On questioning the inclusion in the policy of the “development of appropriate sources of renewable energy” (4th bullet point on agenda page 23) the Environmental Sustainability Officer confirmed that the Council would look at various energy options for the County, and this would include wind farms.

In response to comments regarding schools being encouraged to recycle, and yet being charged trade waste fees to dispose of the waste, the Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards reported that he was investigating the issue but, as yet, there seemed to be no easy solution.

RESOLVED: That the Corporate Environment Strategy and Revised Policy be noted.

To consider the actions taken in relation to biodiversity conservation and proposals for the development of a related strategic framework directing the future work of the Council upon this activity.

The Committee considered the actions taken in relation to biodiversity conservation and proposals for the development of a related strategic framework to direct the future work of the Council upon this activity.

The Conservation Manager reported that one of the key Council objectives was to enhance the quality of life and conserving biodiversity made a considerable contribution to this.  The report highlighted a number of important factors that needed to be taken into account which influenced the Council’s activities in relation to biodiversity conservation and a number of recent achievements in this area. 

He further reported that the Council had a number of roles and responsibilities in relation to biodiversity conservation and that these now needed to be brought together in the form of a strategic framework.  The strategic objectives to be used as a basis for developing such a framework were set out in the report at paragraph 7.

The Committee agreed that it would be wise to have a strategic framework and noted the intention to report on further developments to the next meeting.

RESOLVED:

That

a)     the report be noted and a further report be presented to a future meeting and;

b)     the proposed objectives for a strategic framework, as set out in paragraph 7 of the report, be noted.

To inform Members of the latest position with regard to the Environment Capital Programme for 2005/06.

The Committee was advised of the latest position with regard to the Environment Capital Programme for 2005/06.

The Assistant County Treasurer reported that the programme was largely based on the capital allocations in the 2004/05 Local Transport Plan.  The Capital Programme for 2005/06 was set out in appendix 1 to the report and detailed the individual schemes.  This indicated that the total amount available for the Capital Programme was £13,460,610.

RESOLVED: That the report confirming the Environment 2005/6 Capital Budget be noted.

To inform Members of the latest position with regard to the Environment Budget for 2005/06 following the formal approval of the Council’s budget.

The Committee was advised of the latest position with regard to the Environment Revenue Budget for 2005/06 following the formal approval of the Council’s budget.

The Assistant County Treasurer reported that in addition to the effects of inflation, Council had also approved a number of adjustments to the budget for 2005/06.   This had resulted in a 2005/06 budget of £32,892,000 for the Environment Programme area.  This would be adjusted to take account of any carry forward when the 2004/05 budget closing position was confirmed.

The Director of Environment confirmed that a further revenue budget report would be presented in the autumn.

RESOLVED: That the report confirming the Environment Revenue Budget 2005/06 be noted and a further report be presented in autumn 2005.

To consider the Stage 3 Report of the Commercial Enforcement Review.

The Chairman had invited Councillor R. Mills to attend for this item in his role as a member of the Best Value Review Team.

The Committee considered the Stage 3 report of the Best Value Review of Commercial Enforcement.

The Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards reported that a summary of the conclusions from the review were detailed in the agenda report.  He highlighted various aspects of the review, particularly that meaningful statistics and benchmarking data had been difficult to obtain and that developments arising from the “Hampton Review” would still need to be taken into account.  The review team, having considered the information gathered and the options available, detailed in Options Appraisal at section 7 of the Stage 3 report, had concluded that Environmental Health (Commercial Enforcement) Trading Standards and Licensing should be re-engineered to deliver a more efficient service.

On questioning various aspects of the review the Committee noted that consideration had been given to: current trends in the service; staffing and pay levels; the need for further integration of sections within the service; the potential for externalising the service or the opportunities to take on work from other authorities (expand the service).  Improvements to IT, both within the service and available to the public ‘on-line’ would improve the level of service and help to maximise its capacity.  However, the IT improvements must meet the ‘corporate’ and proposed ‘contact centre’ requirements.

RESOLVED:  That the Stage 3 report be noted and the recommended preferred option contained at Section 8 in the report namely: that the Environmental Health (Commercial Enforcement), Trading Standards and Licensing be re-engineered to deliver more efficient services, be supported and recommended to Strategic Monitoring Committee.

To review the Council’s environmental management / ISO 14001 system over 2004/05 to ensure that it continues to be suitable, adequate and effective and deliver improvement in environmental performance.

The Committee considered the Council’s environmental management/ISO 14001 system for 2004/05 to ensure that it continued to be suitable, adequate and effective and delivered improvement in environmental performance.

The Environmental Sustainability Officer reported that a summary of information on the Council’s performance against its nine environmental objectives was set out in the appendix to the agenda report.  The report also set out progress with the ISO 14001 certification, developments during the year and plans for 2005/06.  Also attached to the report at Appendix IV were the proposed Good Environmental Management (GEM) objectives and targets for 2005/06.  Other appendices to the report set out more detailed information on performance against each target for 2004/05 and corrective actions raised internally and externally during the year.

The Committee appreciated the work undertaken in compiling the report, particularly the establishment of baseline data.  This data now needed to be used to show reduced usages or financial savings being made.  The increase in recycled paper usage was noted together with the shift from desktop printers to networked photocopiers.

The Committee also appreciated that more work needed to be done concerning energy usage following the Council’s formal adoption of the Carbon Management Action Plan (CMAP).

RESOLVED: That the Good Environmental Management (GEM) 2004/05 report, including the objectives for 2005/6, be noted.

To report the remaining actions and the exceptions to the programmed progress in the improvement plans resulting from the reviews of Development Control, Public Conveniences, and Public Rights of Way.

The Committee received a report on the remaining actions and exceptions to the programmed progress in the improvement plans resulting from the reviews of Development Control, Public Conveniences and Public Rights of Way.

The remaining programmed actions in the improvement plans were detailed in Appendix 1 to the report.

RESOLVED: That the report on Best Value Reviews – Implementation of Improvement Plans be noted.

To update Members on the exceptions to the targeted progress made by the Environment Directorate for the full year April 2004 to March 2005 towards achieving the performance indicators / targets which appear in the Council’s Corporate Plan.

The Committee was updated on the exceptions to the targeted progress made by the Environment Directorate for the full year April 2004 to March 2005 towards achieving the performance indicators / targets which appear in the Council’s Corporate Plan.

The Committee noted a number of additional figures namely that on agenda page 121, BV86 “Target 2004/5” was £42.59 and that BV87 “Actual 2004/5” was £58.51.  Agenda page 124 relating to ‘Network Sustainability’ the “Actual 2004/5” was 18%.

RESOLVED: That the exceptions to the targeted progress, indicated in the report, as amended by the inclusion of the above figures, be noted.

To consider the written response from the Highways Agency to the issues raised by Members at the meeting of the Environment Scrutiny Committee on 28 February 2005.

The Committee considered the written response from the Highways Agency to the issues raised at the Committee meeting held on 28th February 2005.

The Head of Highways and Transportation reported that replies to the questions and issues raised by Members, both prior to and raised at the meeting held 28th February 2005, had been received from the Highways Agency and these were reproduced in appendix 1.

While a minority of Members expressed a degree of satisfaction with the progress on improvement schemes in their area, other Members were dissatisfied with the responses.  The Committee agreed that outstanding issues be referred through the Head of Highways and Transportation for discussion at officer meetings with the Highway Agency.  The Committee agreed to keep the position under review and, if necessary, extend a further invitation for the Agency to appear before the Committee.

The Director of Environment reported that following personnel changes in the Highways Agency both he and the Cabinet Member – (Highways and Transportation), would ensure that future discussions with the Agency would be held at senior management level.

RESOLVED:

That

a)                        the Trunk Roads in Herefordshire report be noted and Members refer outstanding issues to the Head of Highways and Transportation for further discussion at officer meetings with the Highways Agency; and

b)                       a further meeting between the Committee and the Highways Agency be held in abeyance.