To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Cleaner, Greener and Safer Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 4 February 2014.

The Minutes of the Cleaner, Greener and Safer Overview and Scrutiny Committee, held on 4 February 2014, were approved as a correct record.

To receive additional items that the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was none.

Councillor Roast declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of Agenda Item 5 as he has gym membership at Impulse Leisure.

Councillor Shinnick declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of Agenda Item 5 as she has gym membership at Impulse Leisure.

Councillor Kent declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of Agenda Item 5 as she is a member of the Coalhouse Fort Project and a non-pecuniary interest in respect of Item 7 as she is a member of the Community Safety Partnership Board due to her position on the Essex Fire Authority.

The Committee heard that in relation to the Environment department, a large amount of their budget was tied up in waste contracts and could not be reviewed for savings. As a result, those areas outside this were adversely affected. For example, grounds Maintenance was proposed to be reduced by 57%. Officers briefly outlines those savings that had already been agreed by Cabinet including a senior management restructure and the closing of certain depots, including Curzon Drive. Councillor Roast felt that more detailed and probing questions needed to be asked on each proposal throughout the next few weeks and Members should follow up on queries to ensure they fully understood and investigated the proposals. This should be followed by a public consultation.

Revisions to waste collection and disposal arrangements

A number of proposals were being made. Firstly, there was a proposal to reroute food waste in residual waste collection and charge for garden waste collection. This charge would be around £30 or £40 per year and would consist of fortnightly collections in the summer months and monthly collections in the winter. Other proposals included reducing the operating hours of the Linford refuse site and reducing the cost of waste disposal.

Some Councillors expressed their opposition to reducing the hours at the Linford site on the basis it was a very busy site and shorter hours could create traffic problems. Officers agreed and stated that the company running the site had said no savings could be made by operating the site less days. Therefore, there were other proposals being considered which included limiting rubble waste and charging for vans.

Through the discussion it was highlighted that three enforcement officers would be employed for a year to enforce the new changes in waste collection to ensure residents did not use their residual waste bins for garden waste. It was added that the bins could easily be checked for waste content as they were unloaded onto the truck. 

Restructure and review all grounds maintenance operations

It was proposed to reduce the following services:

·         Reduce maintenance of play areas to ten key sites.

·         Reduce grass cutting from monthly in the summer to two or three times a year.

·         Remove the ranger service from Coalhouse Fort and Langdon Hills, making them self managed public spaces.

·         Reduce or cease the level of maintenance for football, bowls and cricket pitches.

·         Cease winter shrub maintenance and floral planting in town centres except for war memorials. 

The Committee expressed their concern over reducing these greening services and felt that Thurrock’s visual image and street scene would suffer. Officers did respond to a comment that they may look at responding to grass cutting on a ‘as needed’ basis rather than a prescribed schedule.

The Committee identified forty two job losses and Councillor Roast asked whether a service could be provided to private companies to generate income and kept he staff. Officers responded that they did offer limited services in this area already but the savings were so pressing and there was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Members asked why it had taken three years for the pollution levels to be acted upon from their initial assessment in 2011. Officers explained that the levels had to be checked through a national average and therefore the process to identify rising pollution levels took a long time.

RESOLVED That the committee recommend to Cabinet that a new air quality management area is declared along Dock Road, Calcutta Road and part of St. Chad’s Road.

Councillor Roast felt that fifteen anti-social behaviour (ASB) reports per day was a significant amount. Officers agreed that although all ASB reports were taken seriously, there was a potential for multiple reports to distort the figure and also that some of the activities were not indeed ASB but perceived to be.

RESOLVED that:

1.           The performance of the Thurrock Community Safety Partnership for the year 2013/14 be noted. 

2.           The recommendations within the strategic assessment for 2013 be noted.

3.           The four priorities of the Community Safety Partnership for the year 2014/15 be supported.

4.           The links that have been made to support delivery of the Police Crime Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan be noted.

A brief discussion was had on badger snaring and officers agreed they would look into adding the relevant wording into the Animal Welfare Charter.

RESOLVED that the work programme be noted.