Agenda item

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 areas of work within the terms of reference of this Committee and covered by the Portfolio Holder for Frontline Services as set out below:

•           Highways

•           Street Lighting

•           Parking

•           Public Transport

•           Traffic Management

•           Transport Strategy

•           Travel Safety

•           Waste collection/Recycling/Waste Disposal and Street Cleaning

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

•           Highway Infrastructure Contract Performance – Reference was made to the one year contract extension granted to Volker Highways after it achieved good performance targets when judged against Key Performance Indicators for the Highways Contract. Concern was expressed that this extension had been granted despite the company not having attended a meeting of this Committee for scrutiny. The Portfolio Holder explained that this was the usual way Highways Contracts operated.

•           Medway Tunnel – In response to questions concerning the maintenance and future funding of Medway Tunnel, the Portfolio Holder advised that Volker Highways was now the principal contractor responsible for maintenance of the Tunnel. He agreed to ask officers to obtain information as to the annual payment to Volker for maintenance of the Tunnel and supply this outside of the meeting.

He also advised that in March 2020, £4.972m funding had been awarded from the Department for Transport’s Challenge Fund Tranche 3a for the Medway Tunnel, associated roads and assets linked to it, along with match-funding from the Council. He confirmed that the Tunnel was a major element of Medway’s highway infrastructure and investigations were also being undertaken as to whether further funding could be obtained through Section 106 payments. Concern was expressed about the potential use of Section 106 developer contributions to help fund the ongoing maintenance of the Medway Tunnel.

•           Waste and Recycling Collections – The Committee expressed its appreciation to Medway Norse for the successful fulfilment of the waste and recycling collection contract not only over the 2019/20 festive period but also during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Reference was made to the slight decrease in kerbside recycling and it was noted that this was a nationwide trend. The Portfolio Holder stated that officers, along with Norse, were currently considering alternative methods of collecting with a view to increasing recycling.

Concern was expressed that when some residents left empty recycling sacks out on the street this encouraged others to do the same and the

Portfolio Holder suggested that if the Member concerned advised him which roads were affected, he would ask officers for this to be investigated.

•           Plastic Free Medway – In response to the suggestion that Medway Norse and Volker Highways sign up as business champions for the Plastic Free Medway Campaign, the Portfolio Holder agreed to discuss this with both companies.

•           Active Travel Fund – The Portfolio Holder agreed to ask officers to investigate the possible inclusion of Horsted Valley into schemes to benefit from the Department of Transport’s Active Travel Fund if Medway’s bid is successful.

•           Spring Clean-Ups across Medway – The Committee expressed appreciation to officers for arranging Spring Clean-Ups across Medway.

•           Booking systems at Household Waste Sites – The Committee acknowledged that the pre-booking system introduced at household waste sites due to the Covid-19 pandemic had worked well and asked whether there were plans to continue this into the future post the pandemic. In response, the Portfolio Holder advised that the continuation of the pre-booking system had not been considered but he confirmed that all three sites were now operational.

•           Flytipping – In recognition that Medway Norse travel throughout the streets of Medway when collecting waste and recycling, it was suggested that Medway Norse be requested take a proactive role in reporting instances of flytipped rubbish. The Portfolio Holder agreed to investigate this.

Decision:

The Committee:

a)         noted that the Assistant Director Front Line Services will provide information on the annual maintenance payment to Volker Highways for maintenance of Medway Tunnel.

b)         requested that its appreciation be extended to all staff at Medway Norse for the work undertaken in fulfilling the Waste and Recycling Contract over the festive period and throughout the Covid-19 lockdown.

c)         noted that the Portfolio Holder will ask officers to discuss with both Medway Norse and Volker Highways the possibility of them becoming ‘Make Medway Plastic Free’ business champions.

d)         noted that the Portfolio Holder will ask officers to investigate the possibility of Horsted Valley being included in the next round of schemes to benefit from the Department of Transport’s Active Travel Fund if the Council’s bid is successful.

e)         requested that the Committee’s thanks be extended to the relevant teams for organising the Spring Clean-Ups across Medway.

f)          noted that the Portfolio Holder will ask officers to investigate the potential for the continuation of the pre-booking system post the Covid pandemic at the household waste sites.

g)         requested that officers discuss with Medway Norse the possibility of their staff taking a proactive role in reporting instances of flytipped rubbish.