Agenda item

That the reports be received.

Assets and Transportation

The Head of Assets and Transportation introduced the Quarter 2 performance report for Assets and Transportation. He highlighted achievements in Quarter 2:

• The opening of the Holywell Flintshire Connects facility.
• The progression of third party lease terminations.
• The continued development at Alltami Depot.
• The arrival of the Transport Manager in October 2012.
• The investigation of a regional transport solution.
• The rationalisation of agricultural estates.
• The progress made with the new Shotton Primary School and the team were also supporting the Flintshire School modernisation programme.
• The Carbon Trust assessment of the council’s Carbon Reductions Strategy was positive and would be fed back to a future meeting of the committee.
• A survey of lines and signs had been completed within Flintshire and work had now commenced to ensure compliance with the related Traffic Regulation Order.
• The speed limit review had been completed.
• The development of design solutions for the Mold Flood Alleviation Scheme was in progress.

Councillor C. A Thomas asked if TAITH would control bus transport grants from April 2013 and if the review of bus services would be completed in February as stated in the forward work plan.  The Director of Environment confirmed that TAITH would receive transport grants directly form the Welsh Government from 1 April 2013.  He anticipated that the review of bus transport would not be complete by 1 April           2013.  Councillor Thomas asked about links with the police in relation to speed         reviews and if street scene staff were able to put up street signage. She also asked if the council was looking at wider plans to deal with flooding.   The Head of Assets and Transportation said that the council met regularly with the police to             discuss traffic issues, accident cluster sites and review traffic information in order that             management information could be considered and targeted action undertaken across Flintshire and North Wales.  He said that Streetscene could be used to undertake     signage work that would take less than 2 days to complete, with more significant work needing to be tendered in competition. Work around sustainable urban drainage schemes (SUDS) in  relation to flooding (surface water) was an issue that was considered as part of the planning process with officers from the drainage team advising, where applicable, colleagues in Planning, in addition it was also part of consultations with other consultees of the planning process such as the Environment   Agency and Welsh Water.  The Director for Environment said that a report             would go to cabinet   about flooding. The Chair said that flooding would be an item to be considered at a future meeting of            the committee.

Councillor D. Evans reported that the work on the bus bay in Shotton was yet to commence.  The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment said that contractors would be on site on 21 January.  Councillor Evans asked if any signs had been identified as not fit for purpose citing the current arrangement along some of the     side streets in Shotton that operated alternate side parking i.e. left or right side of the             street available for parking on specified days.  The Head of Assets and Transportation said that as part of Civil Parking Enforcement this situation would be revised.

Councillor N. Matthews asked which Overview and Scrutiny Committee the Theatr Clwyd Feasibility Study would go to.  The Member Engagement Manager said that it would be dealt with by Community Profile and Partnerships.

Councillor G Banks said that he felt that the coastal road in Flintshire had been let down by Welsh Water and the Environment Agency with regards to Flooding Schemes.  The Chair thanked Flintshire County Council staff who had done a good            job throughout the festive season and said that if any member had been made aware     of any shortcomings to make the relevant supervisors aware.

Streetscene

The Head of Streetscene introduced the Quarter 2 performance report for Streetscene. He highlighted achievements in Quarter 2:

• The completion of the move of Street Scene contact centre staff to Alltami Depot and improvements in the service.
• The Streetscene team had responded well to numerous calls for assistance at flooding incidents caused by prolonged and significant rainfall between July and September.
• The council now had 10,000 tonnes of rock salt ready for the winter period.  All salt bins within the county had now been filled.
• The recycling rates for the first quarter stood at 59% which is a 10% improvement on the previous year.

Councillor D. Wisinger asked if advisory notes could be put through the letter boxes of houses should bins be irrevocably damaged by the waste lorry.  The Head       of Streetscene said that advisory leaflets had been available to crews for the past 6 months and asked Councillor Wisinger to speak to him after the meeting.

Councillor P. Shotton expressed his thanks for the work of the supervisors in respect of the pothole remedial work.  He asked when the resurfacing programme      would be available on the website.  The Head of Streetscene said that all roads in Flintshire had been surveyed and that a new tender would be offered shortly for the work which would be due to commence in March 2013.  He said that the work programme should be available on the website within a few weeks.

Councillor C. A. Thomas said that she had seen an improvement with Streetscene in respect of assistance with flooding incidents and litter.  She said that there were still issues about bins that were left in driveways after they had been emptied and asked for this to be fed back to staff.  She asked if there were plans for an awareness campaign to eradicate side waste.  The Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Waste and Recycling said that refuse lorry drivers would alert Recycling Officers to properties with perpetual side waste issues in order for them to advise the residents on recycling and that it was not his intention to stop side waste collection, but to encourage increased levels of recycling. 

The Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Waste and Recycling expressed his thanks to the Streetscene team for the excellent work carried out during the Christmas and New Year period.  He expressed disappointment at the instances of verbal abuse directed at Call Centre staff during this time and said that he would visit staff to thank them for their efforts.

Councillor P. J. Curtis congratulated Streetscene staff for their efforts over the holiday period.  He asked when the issues with canopies at TowerGardens, Holywell would be addressed.  The Director for Environment said that the matter was being looked at and that a survey and costings had been requested.

Councillor G. H. Bateman asked if there was a cut off date for the collection of           side waste.  The Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Waste and Recycling said that he wanted to see an improvement in recycling rates before withdrawal of side waste collections.  Councillor Bateman asked if the quality of rock salt diminished over time.  The Head of Streetscene said that it was acceptable to use rock salt from previous years provided it had been stored undercover, which was the case at Alltami depot.

Councillor V. Gay expressed thanks for the efforts of Streetscene staff in Saltney.  She asked that staff be reminded to replace lids on food bins after collections.

Councillor C. Dolphin said that abusive callers to Streetscene contact office should be identified and prosecuted.  He said that the holiday calendars for refuse collection were very good.  He said that there was still the issue of dropped paper litter in his area and Greenfield.  He asked if the gritting agent in the yellow bins from the previous year contained any salt.  The Head of Streetscene confirmed that there        was rocksalt in the mixture.

Councillor A. Minshull expressed thanks for the removal of side waste in the Shotton West area.

Planning

The Head of Planning introduced the Quarter 2 performance report for Planning.  He explained that the significant underperformance with Planning Appeals in indicator PLA/003 was due to 3 out of 4 appeals being allowed by the Welsh Government.  Two customer surveys in June and November had attracted positive feedback.

Councillor C.A. Thomas asked about Section 106 funding and said that whenever she raised it in Lifelong Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee she was told that it did not feature in the capital programme. She asked why Section106 funding was collected if this was not to be used to increase capacity in schools.  Councillor Thomas also asked if the play unit could be involved in early discussions about proposed play areas.  The Head of Planning said that the Section 106 planning agenda had changed and that increased monies would go to Lifelong Learning through a more joined up approach.  Councillor Thomas asked if the Head of Planning could speak to the Director of Lifelong Learning about this matter.  The Chair said that he was happy to pursue this matter with the Director of Lifelong Learning.  The Head of Planning said that the subject of play areas would be addressed in the Planning Committee and that this Committee would be kept in the loop.

RESOLVED:                       

That the reports be received.