Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Glass.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 10 November 2016 as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 10 November 2016 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To note any declarations of interest made by members in connection with an agenda item.  The nature of the interest must also be specified.

Members are asked to discuss any possible interests with Democratic Services prior to the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest made by any member in connection with an agenda item.

To note any issues raised during the public participation period.

No issues were raised in the public participation period.

To receive an oral update on progress with the review of the Cemeteries Regulations.

The Panel was advised that the task and finish group that was reviewing the Cemeteries Regulations had met and, subsequent to that, revised draft Regulations had been prepared and would be circulated to them in the following few days.  There would be a number of changes to the existing Regulations and an innovative approach was being taken.  A report would be submitted to the March meeting of the Panel.

To receive any oral updates from the Portfolio Holders for the Environment and for Planning and Transportation.

Cllr E Heron advised Members that work on the evaluation of the responses to the consultation on the Local Plan review was going well and a series of member briefings would be arranged in the Spring.  The Panel would be kept advised of progress.

With respect to the Environment Portfolio, Members were advised that a severe weather warning, for snow, had been received.  Arrangements were being put in place to ensure the roads were well salted and it was expected that the Council’s services would continue to operate normally.

The construction of replacement beach huts at Milford on Sea was progressing to target and within budget. The shells were now in place and little work had so far been lost to bad weather over the winter.  It was hoped that the huts would be opened, on schedule, on 13 April, in time for Easter.

The construction of the replacement toilet blocks at New Milton and Bath Road, Lymington had also started.

Work was starting in preparation for the annual Spring Clean, which this year would start on the weekend of 4 and 5 March under the brand of “Great British Spring Clean”.  Community clean up events could be held at any time after that, perhaps waiting for warmer weather to encourage participation.

To receive a presentation from Chris Noble, Head of Project Integra, on their performance over the last year.

To be advised of the progress being made with the Hampshire Waste Review.

The Panel received a detailed presentation from Chris Noble, Head of Project Integra, on their performance over the last year.

Issues that would be affecting Project Integra into the future included the EU’s recycling target of 50% by 2020.  National performance was currently static at around 44%, while Project Integra’s performance was below the national average.  The future implications of the vote to leave the EU were still unknown.  While Defra remained committed to meeting the target they had stepped back from pro-active waste management over the last 5 years, and there was a further 40% budget cut planned over the next 4 years.  The main focus currently was on a project to achieve greater consistency, between authorities, on the materials that they collected for recycling; the containers used; and the collection system.  Europe was working towards a circular economy, with a 65% recycling rate and standardised reporting.  Work was in progress with manufacturers and producers to achieve this.  Other issues to take into account included changing consumption trends, for example away from paper towards electronic media; changes in markets and processors and rising household numbers.  There was a continuing emphasis on maintaining the quality of the materials sent for reprocessing.

Chris Noble reported on progress against the aims set out in Project Integra’s Action Plan for 2015-18.  Contamination rates of the dry recyclable materials collected had increased in 2016 and the sources and patterns of contamination were being researched, to the level of detail of the days and the rounds most affected.   This supplemented the routine monitoring that was carried out at the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) and Materials Analysis Facility (MAF).

Publicity and communications patterns were changing. This was the first year without Recycle for Hampshire, with the emphasis now being on individual partners. The Web site had however been revamped and there was increasing use of social media.  There was now also standardisation of the training given to collection crews.

There were a number of strands of work under the waste prevention action.  Bulky waste continued to be directed towards reuse whenever possible. There were now also Food Waste Champions who were promoting messages to reduce food wastage, for example by visiting community groups.  Their initiatives included publishing recipes for left-overs on the waste and recycling web pages on Hantsnet.  Project Integra had also signed up to the Courthauld Commitment 2025, which sought to reduce the waste and greenhouse gas emissions associated with food and drink by at least one-fifth per person in ten years and improve water stewardship, with cumulative savings of around £20 billion.

Other actions included continued working with Defra to seek recognition that Incinerator Bottom Ash was being recycled into aggregate for road construction, reducing the need to use mineral aggregate.  The recycling of bottom ash did not currently count towards the County’s recycling performance.

The glass processing contract was also due for renewal and was being reviewed to seek the best possible returns.

The Hampshire Waste Project  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

To receive an oral update on progress on the local plan review.

The Panel was advised that work to analyse the responses received to the consultation on possible proposals for inclusion in the District Local Plan Review was progressing well, including discussions with the landowners of potentially allocated land. This process was now coming to an end and it was expected that Members would be briefed on the developing proposals in the spring, leading to the publication of the submission draft in the summer of this year.  It was hoped that the Examination of the Plan Review would be held in 2018, which would meet the Government’s requirements.

One issue that would need to be resolved was whether the Council was prepared to remove any land from Green Belt designation to allow it to be developed.  The Council had commissioned research to establish how well the existing Green Belt continued to fulfil Green Belt purposes.  The Government would however require the quantum of housing requirements to be met, regardless of any restrictions on certain areas that would be imposed by Green Belt designation.

To receive an oral update on the latest position.

The Panel was advised that a significant problem had recently been identified with the option that had been explored for the establishment of a partnership for the provision of Building Control services. Work would continue to identify a way forward and Members would be advised of progress.

To agree the work programme to guide the Panel’s activities over the coming months.

RESOLVED:

(a)         That a Planning Fees Task and Finish Group be established to review opportunities and to evaluate the non-statutory fees charged under the auspices of the Planning Development Control Committee. The membership of such Group to include Cllrs Rippon-Swaine, Carpenter and Bennison, plus 3 other Members, preferably with knowledge of the planning system.

(b)         That the Work Programme attached as Appendix 1 to the minutes be approved to guide the Panel’s activities over the coming months.