Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

No apologies were received.

All Members who believe they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting must declare that interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3 Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore all Members with a Non-Pecuniary interest in a matter being considered at the meeting should consider whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 2 of the Code, consider whether it is appropriate to leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter considered at the meeting they must declare that interest at the time of the relevant debate and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3, Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Non-Pecuniary interest in a matter being considered at the meeting they considered whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 2 of the Code, considered whether it was appropriate to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of the last meeting were reviewed and agreed.

Matters Arising: Under Minute 17 - It was reported that the Road Safety Task & Finish Group held its first meeting the previous week. It was expected that this group would hold further meetings in the next few months, with a view to reporting back to the full Select Committee at the April 2018 meeting.

To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.

No deputations were received.

The Chairman reported that a request to speak had been received regarding a consultation by South Western Railways, however this topic was not on the agenda for this meeting, therefore it did not meet the deputation procedure criteria. The request had been passed to the Economy Transport and Environment Department for a written response instead.

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

The Chairman reminded Members that a briefing had been arranged for the Members on this committee regarding the topic ‘managing a declining highway asset’. This briefing was due to take place on Friday 15 December at 2:00pm in the Mitchell Room.

For the Select Committee to scrutinise a report of the Director of Economy, Transport and Environment regarding a revised overall strategic direction for waste management in Hampshire, in advance of its consideration by the Executive Member for Environment and Transport on the afternoon of 14 November 2017.

The Select Committee received a presentation on behalf of the Director of the Economy Transport and Environment Department regarding waste management, in support of a report on the Waste Strategy (see Item 6 in the Minute Book). The report was due for consideration at the Decision Day of the Executive Member for Environment and Transport later that day.

Cllr Kyrle declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item; that he was Executive Member for Waste at Eastleigh Borough Council, and sat on the Project Integra Board (the Waste Partnership). Cllr Heron also declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item; that he also sat on the Project Integra Board. (both members remained in the meeting)

Members heard that savings of £8m had been made in waste services between 2012 and 2017, however there was a target to make a further £4.8m in savings under the ‘transformation to 2019’ programme. It was reported that while Hampshire has high levels of landfill diversion (93.94%), the area performs poorly for recycling rates compared to other councils (the highest performing collection authority in Hampshire recycles 40.2% of waste, which ranks at 214).

Officers estimate potential growth in waste volumes, and determine the cost implications of growth in waste. Improving recycling rates could help manage the costs of managing waste. Behavioural insights was being explored to help change residents behaviour.

Consideration was also being given to opportunities to invest in infrastructure to support further recycling. From an options appraisal the preferred option was to build a single central Material Recovery Facility (MRF) to replace the existing facilities in Portsmouth and Alton. Discussions were underway with the partners to the Project Integra waste partnership, regarding what additional types of recyclable material the new facility could sort, as this would impact on district and borough councils as collection authorities.

It was also proposed to set up a grant fund to support local enterprise to set up initiatives for the reuse of bulky household waste items.

Members asked questions for clarification, and discussed the proposed direction for waste management in Hampshire. It was discussed that options to improve recycling would need to consider the costs of investment required, and costs that may impact on other parts of the system/other partners. It was noted that it was proposed to hold a workshop on waste for Members in the new year to consider these issues further.  

The Chairman proposed that the Select Committee support the recommendations being put to the Executive Member in section nine of the report. The recommendations were put to the vote and carried (support for 9.2 and 9.3 unanimous, 9.1 9 in favour and 3 abstentions). Those abstaining were not willing to support the strategic direction for waste management without further information. The Chairman noted that at this point it was a direction rather than a strategy, and the committee could continue to comment as the strategic approach was developed further.

RECOMMENDED:

That the Economy, Transport and Environment Select Committee support the recommendations being proposed to the Executive  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

To consider a report of the Director of Economy, Transport and Environment regarding air pollution and air quality.

The Select Committee received a report on behalf of the Director of Economy Transport and Environment regarding air pollution and air quality (see Item 7 in the Minute Book).

Cllr Kyrle declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item; that he was Environment lead at Eastleigh Borough Council (he remained in the meeting).

Members heard that tackling air quality was an area of increasing priority nationally. The County Council had responded to a consultation by central government in the summer of 2017 on their draft air quality plan, highlighting the need for funding to be provided to support councils to implement interventions.

It was acknowledged that the County Council worked in partnership with district councils who hold the principal statutory responsibility for air quality monitoring and improvement planning under their environmental health duties and powers. It was noted that some issues were better tackled at a national level e.g. tax or regulatory initiatives to influence car use, such as a potential diesel car scrappage scheme. It was also noted that the issues are often complex, and there was a need to balance competing demands and potential impacts when making decisions for example about the introduction of traffic calming measures.

RESOLVED:

That the Select Committee note the report, and request a verbal update on this topic in six months time.

To consider a report of the Director of Economy, Transport and Environment providing an update on the concessionary fares scheme, following a request by the Select Committee to consider the impact of a change in policy from January 2017, regarding no longer automatically renewing older persons passes that have not been used for 6 months.

The Select Committee received a report on behalf of the Director of Economy Transport and Environment providing an update on the concessionary fares scheme (see Item 8 in the Minute Book). The Chairman noted that in Autumn 2016 this Select Committee pre-scrutinised proposals regarding the concessionary fares scheme that included a change to be implemented in January 2017. The change was to no longer automatically renew older person’s passes, if they had not been recorded as having been used in the previous six months. Members of the Select Committee requested that a report come back to the committee to consider the impact of this policy change.

Members heard that of around 10,000 passes issued for which usage information was available, 34% were not automatically renewed. Over 1,000 then asked for their passes to be renewed. Therefore on balance approximately 20% did not need renewing. There was no evidence of complaints about the revised approach. The cost of the additional calls to the call centre to request renewals had been factored in, and still generated a saving compared to automatically renewing all passes. It was noted that bus operators were asked to allow passengers a three month grace period to allow for passes to be renewed once they expired.

RESOLVED:

The Select Committee note the report.

To consider the work programme for the Economy Transport and Environment Select Committee.

The Chairman presented the proposed work programme for the Select Committee, as updated since the last meeting (see Item 9 in the Minute Book). Regarding the Transformation to 2019 proposals for the Economy Transport and Environment Department, it was noted that where the department needed to make savings that had a direct service impact, these topics would come back to the Select Committee for scrutiny prior to decision making. The Chairman was liaising with the Director to timetable these items accordingly.

It was agreed to add an update on the air pollution topic in six months time.

Cllr Tod requested that when the 20mph speed limit schemes be reviewed, this include the impact on air quality of the Winchester pilot. It was noted that air quality was not being measured across all 20mph zones.

RESOLVED:

The Work Programme is agreed, subject to any updates made at this meeting.