Agenda item

That the Committee supports the progress made under Quarter 3 of the Improvement Plan for the Environment.           

The Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) introduced a report to present the monitoring of progress for the third quarter of the Improvement Plan 2016/17 priority ‘Environment’ relevant to the Committee.  He provided background information and advised that it was a positive report with 95% of agreed actions being assessed as making good progress.  The Chief Officer reported on the one major risk area, as detailed in paragraph 1.07 of the report,  concerning funding for priority flood alleviation schemes.  He also  commented on progress against the risks identified in the Improvement Plan which were included in the appendix to the report. 

Members asked that their thanks be passed to the Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) and his Team, for the hard work and commitment given to ensure both services and standards were maintained during the recent storm-force weather conditions.

Councillor Paul Shotton commented on a new road surfacing material which was being used in other areas of the country and was achieving a cost saving and asked if information could be provided on this.

Councillor Veronica Gay raised the following questions and concerns.  She referred to the DB2 bus services and said there was no bus service provided on Sandy Lane or Boundary Lane in Saltney.  Referring to the Improvement Plan which was appended to the report she asked for information regarding where the next public drop-in events would be held to develop the community transport schemes.  She asked for more information on the maintenance programme and referred to the Balderton Brook project.   Commenting on the enforcement of littering and dog fouling offences Councillor Gay asked in which areas the tickets had been issued.   Councillor Gay referred to performance indicator 7.1.1.3, and  asked for information on the future  location of events.   Referring to page 20 of the report and the information on highways infrastructure she expressed concerns around further housing development and the impact on the condition of the highways.  Councillor Gay commented on the risk that sufficient funding would not be found to continue to provide subsidised bus services and raised concerns on the impact on her Ward.  She expressed further concerns around the impact on her Ward regarding the risk that funding will not be secured for priority flood alleviation schemes.   Councillor Gay asked the location of Fixed Penalty Notices be identified by Town/Ward.   

Councillor Bernie Attridge responded to the points raised by Councillor Gay concerning community transport and provided further information.  He also commented on plans to introduce a demand-led community transport service.  Councillor Derek Butler reported that the Minister had commissioned a national review of bus transport services across Wales. 

The Chief Officer (Planning and Environment) responded to the queries and concerns raised by Councillor Gay regarding road safety matters, road infrastructure and repairs and maintenance programmes, the impact of housing development on highways, and the impact of flooding.

In response to the points raised by Councillor Gay concerning ‘kerbside collections’ of small electronic appliances,  Councillor Kevin Jones advised that any opportunities that were deemed financially viable would be considered. 

RESOLVED: 

That the Committee supports the progress made under Quarter 3 of the Improvement Plan for the Environment.