Agenda and minutes
Venue: Council Chamber, Fourth Floor, Easthampstead House, Bracknell. View directions
Contact: Amanda Roden 01344 352253
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Election of Chairman Minutes: RESOLVED that Councillor Finnie be elected Chairman of the Environment, Culture and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel for the municipal year 2012/13. |
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Appointment of Vice-Chairman Minutes: RESOLVED that Councillor McLean be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Environment, Culture and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel for the municipal year 2012/13.
COUNCILLOR MCLEAN IN THE CHAIR |
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Apologies for Absence/Substitute Members To receive apologies for absence and to note the attendance of any substitute members. Minutes: The Panel noted the attendance of the following substitute member:
Councillor Mrs Barnard for Councillor Finnie |
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Minutes and Matters Arising PDF 76 KB To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Environment, Culture and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 24 April 2012. Minutes: RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Environment, Culture and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 24 April 2012 be approved as a correct record, and signed by the Chairman. |
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Declarations of Interest and Party Whip Members are asked to declare any personal interest and the nature of that interest, including the existence and nature of the party whip, in respect of any matter to be considered at this meeting. Any Member with a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in a matter should withdraw from the meeting when the matter is under consideration and should notify the Democratic Services Officer in attendance that they are withdrawing as they have such an interest. If the Disclosable Pecuniary Interest is not entered on the register of Members interests the Monitoring Officer must be notified of the interest within 28 days. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest relating to any items on the agenda, nor any indications that members would be participating whilst under the party whip. |
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Public Participation To receive submissions from members of the public which have been submitted in advance in accordance with the Council’s Public Participation Scheme for Overview and Scrutiny. Minutes: There were no submissions from members of the public in accordance with the Council’s Public Participation Scheme for Overview and Scrutiny. |
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Quarterly Service Report (QSR) PDF 319 KB To consider the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the QSR for the fourth quarter of 2011/12 (January to March) relating to Environment, Culture and Communities. An overview of the first quarter of 2012/13 will also be provided.
Please bring the previously circulated Quarterly Service Report to the meeting. The QSR is attached to this agenda if viewed online. Minutes: The Panel considered the latest trends, priorities and pressures in terms of departmental performance as reported in the Quarterly Service Report (QSR) for the fourth quarter of 2011/12 (January to March) relating to Environment, Culture and Communities (ECC).
The Director of Environment, Culture and Communities gave a presentation in respect of the ECC Department’s QSR and Service Plan. The Director thanked Chief Officer of Housing, Simon Hendey, for attending his last ECC Overview and Scrutiny Panel meeting as the Housing function now fell under the remit of the Adult Social Care and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Panel.
As at 31 March 2012, the revenue finance major variances under spend was £1,667,000. There had been major budget changes but no major effect on the funding available to spend as these were mainly technical adjustments. There had been major budget changes in relation to Waste PFI Accounting Entries, Highway Maintenance Capitalisation, IAS19 Person Accounting Entries, Recharges, Capital Charges, Street Cleaning, Bracknell Forest Homes and Additional Works, Highway Maintenance Pot Holes Grant, Supporting People Handyman Grant, and Housing Benefit Initial Claim.
Major variances in revenue had occurred in relation to cemetery and crematorium income, building control, concessionary fares, landscape services, waste management, housing benefit subsidy and administration, and departmental Human Resources. Considerably less funding was being spent on landfill and reserves would be carried forward where possible.
The current budget for 2012-13 was £51,076,000. There was not as much uptake of car park season tickets as companies were seeking alternatives. Current trends included additional income for Coral Reef and reduced income for Downshire Golf Complex. Golf courses nationally were suffering due to the particularly wet and windy weather. Section 106 funding was received intermittently from developments.
The Council’s Executive had agreed to fund £300,000 this financial year on low cost home ownership. Staff vacancies at the Council were fairly static and sickness rates were good at present. Around 30,000 people had turned out to see the Olympic Torch pass through Bracknell on Tuesday 10 July 2012 at approximately 5.30pm to 6pm. The Victorian Fayre due to be held at South Hill Park on Saturday 21 July had been cancelled due to the heavy levels of rainfall making the ground too wet.
Congratulations were given to everyone involved in the roll out of the brown bins in the borough. Machines had been ordered for pay and display car parking and it was expected that these would be installed in September or October 2012. The consultation regarding the Community Infrastructure Levy was being held for six weeks until the end of August 2012.
Arising from Members’ questions and comments the following points were made:
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Recycling and Waste Minimisation PDF 53 KB To receive an update including the 2011/12 full year landfill figures, the first quarter figures following changes to brown bin arrangements and work with Green Machine at Longshot Lane on recycling / use of paint. Minutes: The Chief Officer: Environment and Public Protection presented an update report on the 2011/12 full year landfill figures, the first quarter figures following changes to brown bin arrangements and work with Green Machine at Longshot Lane on the use and recycling of paint.
The key areas included a reflection of performance and the level of waste going to landfill which had decreased over the last three years now that 33% of waste was being converted into energy and households were throwing away less. Improvements in recycling were continuing in Bracknell.
The Environment Agency had said that street sweepings could not be converted for use as compost anymore due to possible contaminants in them but there was an ongoing debate regarding this. There were now over 13,000 brown bins registered at households in the borough. Green Machine was processing paint and selling it at an outlet at Longshot Lane which provided a good source of paint.
BFC had been encouraging people to bring in their old electrical goods, which could then be repaired and resold if possible. BFC was trying to reduce the amount of contamination in blue bins and to improve the process.
Arising from Members’ questions and comments the following points were made:
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Local Development Framework - Update Report PDF 34 KB To receive a progress update in respect of the Borough’s Local Development Framework. Minutes: The Local Development Scheme was a three-year project plan, which set out time scales for the preparation of planning documents. The current Scheme for Bracknell Forest came into effect on 8 August 2011 and therefore covered the period to 7th August 2014. A review of progress on the work programme and any issues arising was set out in the Annual Monitoring Report.
The two key development plan documents proposed for preparation within the three year period were the Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) and commencement of the Core Strategy Review. The Site Allocations DPD Draft Submission was submitted to the Secretary of State on 29 June 2012. This followed approval by Council on 30 November 2011 and a further period of consultation from January to March 2012.
The Panel noted the documents that currently formed part of the Bracknell Forest Borough Local Development Framework (LDF) and the stage reached in the preparation of other documents that would eventually form part of the Bracknell Forest Borough LDF on adoption. |
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Working Group Update Report PDF 23 KB An update report in respect of the Panel’s working groups is attached. Minutes: The Panel noted the update report in respect of the working groups of the Panel. |
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Work Programme 2012/13 PDF 29 KB To note the agreed work programme for the Environment, Culture and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel for 2012/13. Minutes: The Panel noted the agreed Work Programme for the Environment, Culture and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel for 2012/13. |
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To respond to the consultation in respect of the above item before its approval by the Executive. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Head of Parks and Countryside gave a presentation on the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy and Quality Improvements Programme.
The focus of the programme was recreational open spaces providing mitigation and infrastructure to enable the Council to deliver sustainable development and growth, such as Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspaces (SANGs).
Priorities included access to land and strategic recreational corridors, empowering and involving local communities, and healthy active lifestyles. Objectives included provision, maintenance, and use and enjoyment. Sustaining and raising quality standards and meeting the needs of a growing population were important.
Standards focused on Green Flag criteria and included exploring and protecting rare heathland sites, accessibility, and clear signage. Section 106 contributions would be applied in relation to benchmark standards and there were specific legal constraints regarding the use of Section 106 contributions. BFC were consulting on a two phase project regarding improvements to the parks and open spaces of the borough. Phase one was to prioritise green spaces in need of improvement and networks to help map contributions.
Arising from Members’ questions and comments the following points were made:
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Highway Network Management Action Plan - Forward Plan Item I034415 PDF 18 KB To comment on the above item prior to its determination by the Executive. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chief Officer: Planning and Transport, and the Traffic Manager, presented a report on the Highway Network Management Action Plan.
The report invited the Panel to consider and comment on the Highway Network Management Action Plan prior to its determination by the Executive Member for Planning & Transport on 31 July 2012. The Action Plan contained the key actions the Council would undertake to deliver its statutory Network Management duty under the Traffic Management Act 2004.
Arising from Members’ questions and comments the following points were made:
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Executive Forward Plan PDF 21 KB To consider forthcoming items on the Executive Forward Plan relating to Environment, Culture and Communities. Additional documents: Minutes: The Panel noted the forthcoming items relating to Environment, Culture and Communities on the Executive Forward Plan. |