Agenda and minutes

To approve the record of the meeting held on 7 April 2015 and the joint meeting of committees held on 27 May 2015

The record of the meeting held on 7 April 2015 and the joint meeting of committees held on 27 May 2015 were signed by the Chairman as correct records.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Etheridge and Johnson.

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

There were none.

At the commencement of the meeting, the Chairman welcomed Morounfolu Olatuja (Contracts Lawyer) and Hayley Taylor (Business Support Officer – Regeneration Community and Culture) who were in attendance observing the meeting.

This report sets out progress made within the areas covered by the Portfolio Holder for Front Line Services which fall within the remit of this Committee.

Discussion:

Members received an overview of progress on the area within the terms of reference of this Committee and covered by the Portfolio Holder for Front Line Services as set out below:

·         Local Growth Fund transport projects

·         Parking

·         Public Transport

·         Roads

·         Street Cleaning and waste collection/recycling/waste disposal

·         Traffic management

·         Transport Strategy

·         Travel Safety

The Committee noted a correction to paragraph 3.2.8 of the report in that the sum of £450,00 required amendment to £450,000.

The Portfolio Holder for Front Line Services, Councillor Phil Filmer, responded to Members’ questions and comments as follows:

·         Agreed Transport Projects – In response to a question as to how the   £9 million Local Growth Fund (LGF) monies would be spent in Strood Town Centre, the Portfolio Holder for Front Line Services advised the Committee that officers were currently working on details of potential schemes aimed at getting traffic moving through Strood. This work was ongoing.

Attention was drawn to paragraph 2.7.2 of the report which set out funding received from round 1 of the LGF. It was noted that this funding would be spread over a 4 year period up to 2018/19.

It was confirmed that the Council had received further funding under round 2 for Rochester Airport. No further LGF funding streams were available at this stage but should any be announced, bids would be submitted. 

·         Changes to Bus Services in Medway – Concern was expressed as to recent changes to bus services in Medway and, in particular, the timetabling of certain bus routes. Information was sought as to whether the Portfolio Holder for Front Line Services had been consulted by Arriva and whether he met regularly with Arriva to discuss operational issues. In response, the Portfolio Holder for Front Line Services advised the Committee that he had not been consulted about the proposed changes by Arriva and that he found this to be disappointing. In addition, it appeared that there had been no consultation with residents. The Portfolio Holder for Front Line Services confirmed that he would be contacting Arriva to arrange a meeting to discuss the recent bus changes and the lack of consultation and he agreed to advise the Member concerned of the outcome.

Arising from discussion on this matter, it was suggested that Arriva be invited to attend a meeting of this Committee so that the issues of the recent changes to the bus services in Medway and the lack of consultation on these changes can be discussed.

·         Medway Tunnel -  In response to a question as to the future maintenance of Medway Tunnel, the Portfolio Holder for Front Line Services advised the Committee that following consultation with the Government Minister it had been established that if the Tunnel were to be placed on an Asset Register, it could be considered differently by the Government in respect of future maintenance. He confirmed that funding remained available for maintenance repairs at the Tunnel but he was happy to work cross party on lobbying the Government to change the designation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 179.

This report sets out the performance summary for Quarter 4 Year end 2014/15 against the Council priorities relevant to this committee: Safe, clean and green Medway and Everyone benefiting from the area’s regeneration.

Discussion:

The Performance and Intelligence Manager outlined the performance summary for Quarter 4  year end 2014/15 against the Council priorities for the Committee:

·         Safe, clean and green Medway

·         Everyone benefitting from the area’s regeneration

The Committee noted the following:

·         Street Scene Enforcement Team – A Member highlighted the valuable work undertaken by the Street Scene Enforcement Team, especially when gathering evidence to proceed with prosecution.

·         W8 – Satisfaction with street cleaning  - A Member referred to the note within the report that Community Wardens will be addressing areas of private land that affect the overall perception of cleanliness in Medway. He sought an assurance that this did not affect target levels.  In response, the Assistant Director for Front Line Services advised that he was happy to provide a report or briefing note on the work undertaken by officers on clearance of private land if requested. In addition, he drew attention to the increase in the satisfaction levels with street cleaning.

·         HP26 – Satisfaction with road maintenance – A Member expressed concern that the Council was not meeting its target of 50% satisfaction levels for road maintenance. In response, the Assistant Director Front Line Services drew attention to the 2014 National Highways and Transport (NHT) Survey  which reported a 52.6% satisfaction rate from a response of 1,112 residents, whereas the Tracker Survey had produced a percentage satisfaction rate of 42% based on a sample size of 401 Medway residents.

The Head of Highways and Parking reported that individuals often indicated dissatisfaction with road maintenance, not based on the condition of the road but as a result of works undertaken by utility companies. He informed the Committee that when a utility company undertook works, they were permitted to carry out a temporary repair and then return within 6 months to undertake a permanent repair. Unfortunately, the public would not be aware of this and therefore blamed the Council for undertaking excavations twice in a 6 month period. Work was now underway to inform the public about this through leaflets in libraries and information centres and through press articles and information in Medway Matters.

The Assistant Director Front Line Services confirmed that in recent years, utility works in Medway had been at a high level owing to the replacement of water meters by Southern Water.

A Member suggested that it would be useful for Members to receive information on the budget for Road Maintenance for the next few years. In response, the Head of Highways and Parking confirmed that the Department of Transport had allocated local authorities’ road maintenance budgets for the next 6 years and therefore it was possible for the Council to target funding over the next 6 year period. He suggested that a report be submitted to a future meeting on the National Highways and Transport Survey and the funding regime.

·         LRCC4a and ECD48c – Number of jobs created and safeguarded and employment that has lasted 26 weeks  - The Performance and Intelligence Manager confirmed that the figures contained in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 180.

This report provides a review of the Snow Warden Project following the 2014/15 Winter period and seeking approval to implement the scheme across the whole authority if considered appropriate.

Discussion:

The Head of Highways and Parking outlined a report setting out a review of the pilot Snow Warden Project following the 2014/15 Winter period and seeking approval to implement the scheme across the whole authority.

The Committee was reminded that the Snow Warden Project enabled pavements to be cleared of snow and ice during winter conditions by enlisting the assistance of individuals and community groups on a voluntary basis.

The Head of Highways and Parking stressed that for the scheme to work successfully it was important to enlist volunteers before a period of snowfall, as once snow had fallen, officers would be fully engaged in the clearance of the main road network throughout Medway. For this reason, articles would be featured in Medway Matters in the Autumn inviting volunteers to register their interest.

The Committee was advised that a training video had been produced for volunteers and this could be accessed at:

http://medwaymatters.com/uncategorized/sign-up-to-be-a-snow-warden-this-winter/

A Member suggested that a supply of promotional leaflets be distributed to Councillors so that they could deliver them with their newsletters in the Autumn.

Decision:

a)            The Snow Warden Project be expanded in 2015/16 across the whole of Medway utilising the 250 units of equipment and materials for that purpose, to be funded from the existing Highways budget.

b)            A supply of promotional leaflets about the Snow Warden Project be supplied to Councillors for distribution in their Wards in the Autumn.

This report provides an update on a request to add more restrictive gates to paths leading to a grassed area to the rear of Fowey Close.

Discussion:

The Assistant Director Front Line Services informed the Committee of action taken since the meeting on 7 April 2015 in response to a request from a petitioner for the Council to provide more restrictive gates to paths leading to a grassed area at the rear of Fowey Close.

As the land was in private ownership, an approach had been made to the owners to seek their views on further restricted access to the site and, in the meantime, a consultation exercise was underway with local residents seeking their views on further restricting access to the land, the reasons why they currently access the area and if they consider that more robust gating would restrict their access.

Decision:

The Committee recommended officers to continue the assessment of the scheme, taking into account the results of consultation with residents and land owners.

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 response sent to petitioners by Officers.

Discussion:

The Democratic Services Officer advised the Committee of those petitions received by the Council which fell within the remit of this Committee.

She drew attention to a petition which had recently been received objecting to the withdrawal of buses 181 and 701 affecting the Walderslade Road area. This petition had been referred to Arriva for consideration. The lead petitioner had requested that this matter be referred to this Committee and therefore this petitioner would be invited to attend the next meeting on 29 September 2015.

Decision:

The Committee noted the petition responses and appropriate officer actions set out in paragraph 3 of the report.

Discussion:

The Democratic Services Officer reported upon the Committee’s work programme and advised the Committee that at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee agenda planning meeting on 16 July, it had been suggested that the Air Quality Action Plan be submitted to this Committee on 10 December 2015.

In addition, since the agenda planning meeting, officers had advised that the Annual Action Plan reviewing the progress of the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy would be scheduled for the meeting on 29 September 2015.

The Committee was informed that on 25 June 2015, the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee had agreed the process for the selection of topics for the next round of in-depth reviews to be undertaken by Overview and Scrutiny Committee Task Groups and it had been agreed that the first Task Group in the 2015/16 municipal year undertake an in-depth review into Housing: Demand, Affordability and Supply. This Task Group would cover housing strategy and services, which were within the remit of the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee, in addition to the strategic planning issues associated with housing such as the Local Plan and affordable housing targets, which fell within the remit of this Committee. Therefore, membership of the Task Group would be drawn from both Committees. The final recommendations from the Task Group would be reported to both Overview and Scrutiny Committees before referral to Cabinet.

It had also been agreed that in July, August and September, each Overview and Scrutiny Committee be invited to put forward suggestions for further Task Group topics using the criteria set out at Appendix B to the report. Following this, a long list of topics would be submitted to the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 3 December 2015 to agree a programme of two further reviews for January – September 2016. It was pointed out that as the Task Group on Housing fell within the remit of this Committee, it was envisaged that the two topics for January – September 2016 would likely be on health and adult social care and children and young people topics. However, this Committee could suggest any topics for consideration in a later round of reviews. Any suggestions would be considered at the next Regeneration, Community and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee agenda planning meeting and reported back to the Committee on 29 September for referral onto the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee.     

Decision:

a)            The Air Quality Action Plan be added to the Committee’s Work Programme for 10 December 2015

b)            The Annual Action Plan reviewing the progress of the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy be reported to the Committee on 29 September 2015.

c)                  It be noted that Councillor Saroy has expressed an interest in serving on the  Housing: Demand, Affordability and Supply Task Group as a representative from this Committee.