Issue - meetings

(a)       That the report be noted;

(b)       That the Environment & Housing Overview & Scrutiny Facilitator collate the comments made by Members and forward them to the Performance Unit and Directorate;

(c)        That the Facilitator pursue the suggestion for the Chairman of the Enterprise Zone Board for Deeside to attend a future meeting of the Committee;

(d)       That the Interim Public Protection Manager provide a response to Councillor Hinds on the treatment of hornets’ nests and social housing in Penyffordd;

(e)       That the Director of Environment report back to Councillor Gay on progress with issues at River Lane in Saltney;

(f)        That the Director of Environment forward to Councillor D. Evans a copy of the Green Infrastructure action plan for the Lower River Dee; and

(g)       That the Director of Environment pass on Members’ thanks to officers.

The Committee considered the 2012/13 Quarter 1 service performance reports produced at the Head of Service level under the adopted business model of the Council.  The position of the Strategic Assessment of Risks and Challenges (SARC) and progress made against the Improvement Targets were also contained within the performance reports.

The Heads of Service for Regeneration and Public Protection each gave a short presentation on the performance within each of the service areas, outlining work which had been undertaken to improve performance and areas where improvement was needed, as outlined within each report.

Regeneration

Following a comment by Councillor W.P. Shotton, the Director of Environment stated that the £750,000 funding from the Welsh Government (WG) was for human resources and ancillary related work to help deprived communities with initiatives aimed at improving their health, welfare and employment opportunities and could not be spent on town centre action initiatives.

Councillor C.J. Dolphin asked what was being done to help rural areas and Councillor C.A. Thomas asked if officers would consider transport from rural areas to business parks.  The Head of Regeneration said that the Rural Development Plan had delivered Business Plan 1 and was on track with Business Plan 2, as detailed in the report, and noted the latter comment.

Councillor P.J. Curtis said that the role of Communities First was to assist communities to help themselves and raised concerns about the attitude of some Members towards Communities First officers.

In relation to Enterprise Zones, the Chairman suggested that advantage should be taken of any investment opportunities.  The Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Enterprise & Leisure suggested that the Committee may wish to invite Askar Sheibani, the Chairman of the Enterprise Zone Board for Deeside, to a future meeting to explain more about the subject.

Public Protection

During his presentation, the Interim Public Protection Manager gave an update on the vacant posts within the section, reporting on the recent appointment of a temporary Trading Standards Officer and Environmental Health Officer.  The remaining vacant posts had not yet been filled due to difficulties in attracting qualified candidates, however these would be resolved around the end of the year.

The Interim Public Protection Manager agreed to respond separately to  queries by Councillor C. Hinds on warranty repairs to Roft Development housing in Penyffordd and whether a service was provided for the treatment of hornets’ nests.

In response to a question by Councillor P.J. Curtis on the Holywell Task Group, it was noted that the forthcoming location of the mobile stadium at the old bowling green would not be permanent.

Councillor W.P. Shotton called for joint working with Wirral and the Environment Agency Wales to support cockling licence holders.  When asked if there had been any convictions to date, the Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Waste & Recycling replied that there had been three in the current season and that more resources were required in Wirral to ensure that only licence holders were active.

Councillor Thomas requested information on legislation relating to the burning of items  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26