Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Saroy.

To approve the record of the meeting held on 10 December 2015.

The record of the meeting held on 10 December 2015 was signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Referring to Minute 554 (CCTV Control Centre) the Assistant Director Front Line Services confirmed that arrangements were in hand to set up the visit for Members to view the CCTV Control Centre and it was hoped that this could be tied in with a visit to Medway Police Station. Further details would be sent out in the next few weeks.

Referring to Minute 556 – (Annual Jobs Fair), the Director of Regeneration, Community and Culture advised that the information requested as to the breakdown of types of jobs secured at the fair would be supplied to the Member direct as soon as possible.

The Chairman will announce any late items which do not appear on the main agenda but which he has agreed should be considered by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the report. 

There were none.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other interests

Councillor Stamp advised the Committee of an interest in agenda item 8 (Annual Review of Waste Contracts) by virtue of his employment with the Environment Agency but emphasised that he did not regulate any Veolia or FCC sites.

This report advises the Committee of any petitions received by the Council which fall within the remit of this Committee including a summary of the responses sent to the lead petitioners by officers.

Discussion:

The Committee received a report setting out petitions received by the Council which fell within the remit of the Committee, including a summary of the responses sent to petitioners by officers.

The Committee was advised that one petitioner had requested that his petition be referred to this Committee and, in accordance with Minute 552 of the meeting held on 10 December 2015, Mr Kale had been invited to attend this meeting to discuss his petition asking for the provision of parking facilities after 6pm in Church Street, Chatham.

A Member advised that prior to the meeting he had received a message via the Member that originally presented Mr Kale’s petition to the Council on 15 October 2015 advising that unfortunately Mr Kale would be unable to attend the meeting as he had not been able to arrange cover for his restaurant.

The Committee noted the officers’ response sent to Mr Kale set out at paragraph 4.7 of the report and the Assistant Director Front Line Services advised that arrangements were in hand for the site visit at Church Street to be undertaken at the beginning of March. If any changes were proposed arising from the site visit, these would be the subject of consultation.

It was suggested that this response be conveyed to Mr Kale. 

Decision:

The Committee:

a)    noted the petition responses and appropriate officer actions set out in paragraph 3 of the report; and

b)    noted the response from officers concerning the petition requesting parking to be provided after 6pm in Church Street, Chatham and requested that this be conveyed to the petitioner.

This report sets out progress made within the areas covered by the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services which fall within the remit of this Committee.

Discussion:

Members received an overview of progress on the areas within the terms of reference of this Committee and covered by the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community Services as set out below:

·         Events and festivals

·         Greenspaces

·         Heritage

·         Leisure Services

·         Libraries and Community Hubs

·         Sporting Legacy

·         Theatres and Arts

·         Tourism.

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Corporate Services responded to Members’ questions and comments as follows:

·         The Pump House in Chatham Dockyard - A Member sought information as to whether there were future plans for the Pump House in Chatham Dockyard. In response, the Portfolio Holder advised that this was currently being converted into a distillery.

·         The Medway Mile – A Member commended this annual event and expressed disappointment that the 2015 Medway Mile had been cancelled. The Portfolio Holder commented that it had been unfortunate that the event had been cancelled as a result of inclement weather in 2015 but confirmed that subject to weather conditions, the event would take place in 2016.

·         Dickensian Christmas Festival

-       Coach parking – In response to a question as to the number of coaches visiting Medway for the Dickensian Christmas Festival and whether sufficient coach parking was available, the Portfolio Holder advised that of the 290 coaches visiting Medway during the festival, 202 had pre-booked parking spaces. However, he reassured Members that sufficient parking facilities were available for coaches.

-       Festival Programme – A Member commented upon the Festival programme distributed during the Festival and asked the Portfolio Holder if this had been successful in informing visitors of the attractions available. In response, the Portfolio Holder advised that in 2015 there had been a greater emphasis on digital advertising and this had proved successful by the record number of visitors attending the Festival. However, in addition to digital advertising, a four page programme had been available during the Festival providing visitors with the times and locations of activities. These programmes had been handed out by stewards and were available at the Visitor Information Centre.

·         Libraries and Community Hubs – A Member referred to the increased number of visitors to the Community Hub in Strood since the building had opened at its new location in March 2015 and sought a breakdown of the services accessed at this Hub and others in Medway. He also asked if it was possible to quantify staff savings achieved and lessons learnt. The Portfolio Holder confirmed that a breakdown of services accessed could be supplied to the Member direct. In respect of staff savings he advised that this exercise had not been about cost savings, and wider efficiency savings had been made through the Better for Less Programme. The Portfolio Holder stressed that the provision of community hubs ensured there was a focal point within neighbourhoods to ensure the accessibility of services, providing facilities for local people to access services digitally. Referring to the Strood Community Hub, the Portfolio Holder advised that the increase in visitors to the Hub had also resulted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 712.

This report sets out progress made within the areas covered by the Portfolio Holder for Inward Investment, Strategic Regeneration and Partnerships which fall within the remit of this Committee.

Discussion:

Members received an overview of progress on the areas within the terms of reference of this Committee and covered by the Portfolio Holder for Inward Investment, Strategic Regeneration and Partnerships as set out below:

·         Heritage Champion

·         Inward Investment

·         Medway Ambassador

·         Strategic Partnerships

·         Strategic Regeneration and Planning.

The Portfolio Holder for Inward Investment, Strategic Regeneration and Partnerships responded to Members’ questions and comments as follows:

·         External funding – Members referred to the successful bids for external funding listed in paragraph 3.8 of the report and the bids submitted but awaiting outcomes listed in paragraph 3.9 and requested further information on the utilisation of funding received from the following:

-       Social Housing Mobility Fund

-       Domestic Abuse Fund

-       Building Better Opportunities.

The Portfolio Holder explained that if successful, the bid for funding for Building Better Opportunities would provide services which would create savings to statutory services as a result of preventative investment. He explained that an External Funding Group had been established to co-ordinate the development of funding bids and to ensure that they were aligned to Council priorities. Unfortunately, he was unable to provide full information on each of the funding bids as not all of them fell within his portfolio. The Assistant Director for Housing and Regeneration offered to respond to Members direct, and provide further information on the three funding bids identified.

·         The Big Screen at the Brook in Chatham – A Member asked the Portfolio Holder whether he considered The Big Screen had been successful. In response, the Portfolio Holder stated that he did consider that this attraction had been successful as several national live broadcasts had been shown on the screen in the Summer and these had proved popular. Officers confirmed that members of staff from both the Regeneration and Events Teams had attended Big Screen events and had provided feedback that events had been well attended.

·           Tour of UTC site – A Member noted that Medway Ambassadors had participated in a tour of the UTC site and requested whether arrangements could be made for Members to visit. The Portfolio Holder supported this request.

·           Medway Place Making Strategy – A Member referred to the £10,000 funding received from the Coastal Community Team Fund and asked when bids would be submitted for the Coastal Revival Fund and how this would help vulnerable communities. The Portfolio Holder confirmed that the £10,000 topped up a previous award and he outlined previous funding received for works at Rochester Riverside. Whilst it had not been possible to reach an agreement with Network Rail on the level of rents to be charged for use of the Railway Arches, that funding would now be used for development at Watermill Wharf in Strood.

·           Rochester Riverside – A Member referred to the proposed development of Rochester Riverside and requested what proposals were in place to ensure that the road network could cope with the additional traffic that would be generated from the development. In response, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that the works that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 713.

This report provides an update on the activity carried out by Veolia Environmental Services providing waste and recycling collection, waste disposal and street cleansing services and FCC providing management of the three household waste recycling centres.

Discussion:

The Acting Head of Waste Services presented a report setting out an update on the activity carried out by Veolia Environmental Services in the provision of waste and recycling collection, waste disposal and street cleansing services and FCC in the management of the three household waste recycling centres.

Melanie Tong from Veolia and Jon Mawyer from FCC were in attendance and undertook brief presentations to the Committee on their individual company’s annual service reports.

During her presentation, Melanie Tong referred in particular to the delays that had occurred with the collection of waste over the Christmas/New Year period. She explained that the days upon which the Bank Holidays fell had affected collections in the rural zones of Medway on the Friday and in Lordswood on the Monday and that over the holiday period, Veolia had collected an additional 300 tonne of waste which equated to 30,000 additional bags of refuse. She advised that the delays were regrettable but confirmed that waste was collected as quickly as possible. She advised that across the country, many local authorities had not returned to normal collections until late January.

Melanie Tong and Jon Mawer then answered Members’ questions as follows:

·         Use of collected waste – In response to a question as to whether Veolia was able to use all waste or whether a proportion of it was being sold on outside of the UK, Melanie Tong advised that currently bulky waste was exported to Holland.

·         Possible review of the layout of Cuxton Recycling Centre  - A Member suggested that consideration be given to the layout of the recycling centre at Cuxton as customers who wished to dispose of an appliance were currently required to queue with those who wished to dispose of general rubbish. In response, Jon Mawer confirmed that this would be investigated to assess whether there were options available to alleviate this problem.

·         Street Cleansing October/September – A Member questioned why the level of street cleansing tonnage had reduced considerably in September/October 2015 in comparison with the level collected in earlier years. In response, Melanie Tong advised that there was now a different reporting method to that in 2012/13 as materials were now separated and this had contributed to the difference in the figures reported.

·         Christmas/New Year Collections – A Member referred to the issue of the delays in the Christmas/New Year Collections and asked Veolia what lessons had been learnt in respect of communications. In response, Melanie Tong agreed that there was room for improvement in communicating information on collection dates both in Medway Matters and in day to day communications and she apologised for the problems experienced in 2015/16. She advised that other local authorities had experienced similar issues with the way that the Bank Holidays fell in 2015/16 and the increase in tonnage of waste to be collected. This had been compounded by the refuse vehicles having to queue for lengthy periods at the transfer station. She confirmed that refuse collectors had worked from 7am – 7pm to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 714.

This report sets out proposals for an all inclusive policy for dealing with shop front displays, tables and chairs and A-boards on the highway to ensure parity amongst traders and the public.

Discussion:

The Integrated Transport Manager presented a report setting out proposals for an all inclusive policy for dealing with shop front displays, tables and chairs and A boards on the highway to ensure parity amongst traders and the public.

This issue had been considered by Cabinet at its meeting in November 2015, following which a draft policy had been the subject of consultation, a copy of which was appended to the report.

The Committee was advised that it was intended that Cabinet would consider and adopt the policy in full at its meeting in March and then a 12 month trial would be implemented in Chatham Town Centre from June 2016. At the conclusion of the 12 month trial, a review would take place and would inform a final policy document that would be implemented throughout Medway.

The Committee discussed the report noting that the proposed policy had been the subject of consultation from which 115 responses had been received, of which the majority had been in favour of the introduction of the policy, including responses from disabled individuals, the Guide Dogs for the Blind and the Chatham Town Centre Forum.

A Member drew attention to an issue with a trader blocking the pavement in Strood South Ward and the Assistant Director Front Line Services advised that this would not be covered by the current proposed policy which was intended to be introduced as a pilot in Chatham in the first instance. However, this could be a highway obstruction and he agreed to undertake investigations.  Another Member also drew attention to a similar site in Rochester High Street and the Assistant Director Front Line Services agreed to also investigate this site.

A Member requested that a further report be submitted to the Committee in the Summer of 2017 providing an update after the 12 month trial.

It was noted that the trial period would also enable officers to assess the effect that the policy would have upon events days held in other areas of Medway, should the policy be rolled out across Medway at a future date.

A Member suggested the following:

·         When the policy is in place, officers walk down Chatham High Street and take enforcement action for each non complying shop keeper.

·         The policy include wording to state that should approval be granted for a shop front display, tables and chairs and/or A boards, this does not give permitted rights to have future automatic approvals

·         The wording of 2 (c) (i), 3 (b) (v) and 5 (b) (viii) be clarified so as to be consistent.

·         Consideration be given to the £40 enforcement fee being an escalating scale for repeat offenders.

Decision:

The Committee:

a)            noted the policy document intended to cover the whole of Medway and the proposed pilot for Chatham Town Centre scheduled to begin in June 2016 pending approval by Cabinet and Full Council and made the following suggested changes to the policy document:

-       The policy include wording to state that should approval be granted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 715.

This report updates Members on the Council’s cultural activities, setting out the progress achieved against Medway’s Cultural Strategy 2014 – 2019.

Discussion:

The Director of Regeneration, Community and Culture outlined progress achieved to date against Medway’s Cultural Strategy 2014 – 2019.

The Committee discussed the progress achieved to date with particular reference to the following:

·         The commemoration of the 350^th Anniversary of the Dutch in the River Medway and events planned for 2017

·         A new HMS Chatham

·         Medway Ambassadors

·         The relocation of Archives to the former Strood Library Building in Bryant Road, Strood and the wider use of the premises for community engagement.

·         Support for the Medway Queen

·         The route of the Open Top Bus

·         Increasing tourism information at the new Rochester Railway Station and other stations in Medway.

The Committee thanked the Director for his presentation.

Decision:

The Committee endorsed the progress made thus far in delivering Medway’s Cultural Strategy 2014 – 2019.

Discussion:

The Democratic Services Officer reported upon the Committee’s work programme.

Decision:

The Committee noted the current work programme.