Agenda item

(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 in gardens.  She commented on the filling of vacant posts in Environmental Health as asked about the possibility of employing apprentices to train as Environmental Health Officers.  The request was noted and in relation to the latter, the Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Waste & Recycling spoke of the difficulty as Single Status had not yet been implemented.  He agreed with career progression of internal candidates to ensure that graduates remained with the Council and the Director added that this was also a broader Council initiative.

Councillor A.I. Dunbar asked about the scattering of ashes in a garden of remembrance at Connah’s Quay Cemetery.  The Interim Public Protection Manager referred to consultation on this for Hawarden Cemetery which would be replicated for other areas.

In response to a request by Councillor V. Gay for a progress update on pollution issues at River Lane in Saltney, the Director of Environment agreed that this would be reported back to her.

Planning

The Director of Environment agreed to forward to Councillor D. Evans a copy of the Green Infrastructure action plan for the Lower River Dee.

Following concerns by Councillor C. Hinds on enforcement outcomes, the Director acknowledged the need to keep Members informed wherever possible at an appropriate stage of the process.  The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment encouraged Members to report to him any planning enforcement issues to enable him to pursue a response.

In response to a query raised by Councillor G.H. Bateman on the Mold Flood Alleviation Scheme, the latest position on development proposals had been reported at Mold Town Council and public meetings during early Summer.  The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment went on to say that planning applications on a proposed scheme would be submitted at a later stage.

CouncillorN.M. Matthews asked what was being done to attract new small businesses into buildings owned by the Council and the potential for offering a period of reduced rent  and Councillor V. Gay felt that the process of transferring leases was too lengthy.  The Director explained that this issue covered Assets and Estates and that a report on Community Asset Transfers was due to be submitted to Cabinet for community related groups, including social enterprises, to take on buildings.  He went on to explain that the Council had a large industrial estate on which lettings generated a significant percentage return on its value and that the Council’s estates were actively managed.  The Chairman pointed out that the Council’s estates and assets had been identified as an item to be scheduled into the Committee’s Forward Work Programme.

The Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance spoke about the Council’s recognition to be proactive in supporting valued community groups wherever possible, which would feed into the Improvement Priorities to be set later in the year.

The Director agreed to pass on thanks expressed by Councillor Dunbar to the officer who had helped secure Heritage Lottery funding to enhance Wepre Park.

Streetscene

The Chairman wished to thank Streetscene officers who had volunteered at short notice to help respond to calls following the heavy rainfall in on 29 April 2012 and also commented on the excellent work in clearing gutters.

RESOLVED:

(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.