Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Priory House, Monks Walk, Shefford

Contact: Rebecca Preen  0300 300 4193

Items
No. Item

42.

Members' Interests

To receive from Members any declarations of interest and of any political whip in relation to any agenda item.

 

 

Minutes:

 

None.

 

43.

Chairman's Announcements and Communications

To receive any announcements from the Chairman and any matters of communication.

 

 

Minutes:

 

The Chairman reminded all Members of the Committee that they had been invited to attend the Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 30 November 2017 due to the cross cutting nature of several items on the agenda.

 

44.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 73 KB

 

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 14 September 2017 and to note actions taken since that meeting.

 

Minutes:

 

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 14 September 2017 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

 

45.

Petitions

To receive petitions from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Part 4G of the Constitution.

 

 

Minutes:

 

None.

 

46.

Questions, Statements or Deputations

To receive any questions, statements or deputations from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Part 4G of the Constitution.

 

 

Minutes:

 

None.

 

47.

Call-In pdf icon PDF 40 KB

To consider any decision of the Executive referred to this Committee for review in accordance with Part 4D of the Constitution.

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

The Committee were advised that a Call-In had been received in accordance with Part 4D of the Constitution to consider a recent decision made at the Traffic Management Committee.

 

The Ward Member for Dunstable Northfields presented the Call-In and outlined concerns regarding a parking permit for a non-resident of Stuart Street, Dunstable. Members were informed that resident parking had been made more challenging in the area as a result of increased numbers of residents from nearby streets parking on Stuart Street. Members were also informed that residents in the adjoining Clifton Road had previously rejected a parking permit scheme for their road. The Ward Member requested that the alternative recommendation previously submitted to the Committee be amended to remove the wording ‘unless no off street parking was available’.  He also stated until the planned review of the whole area was undertaken in 2018 it was felt that no exceptions should be made to the permit scheme.

 

Members were advised by officers and the Executive Member for Community Services that the scheme in that particular area of Dunstable had been in place for approximately 6 months and it was in accordance with policy agreed by Council in 2012.

 

In light of the details presented by the Ward Member the Committee discussed the following in summary: -

·           Concerns that a property located on Clifton Road, with off-road parking for up to 4 vehicles had been granted a permit for Stuart Street, Members felt permits should only be allocated to residents living on Stuart Street, not extended to those living elsewhere.

·           That if permit schemes were applied on an area wide basis, not just individual streets in isolation, similar problems would be avoided in the future.

·           That it could be considered reasonable to offer a permit for a resident whose property abuts the street in question, which was the case in this instance.

 

RECOMMENDED that the decision be referred back to the Traffic Management Committee and that any parking permits issued for 37 Clifton Road, Dunstable to park on Stuart Street, Dunstable be withdrawn.

 

Five Members supported the recommendation, two were against and the Chairman abstained from the vote.

 

48.

Requested Items

To consider any items referred to the Committee at the request of a Member in accordance with Part 4D of the Constitution.

 

 

Minutes:

 

None.

 

49.

Executive Members Updates

To receive a brief verbal update from the Executive Member for Community Services and the Executive Member for Regeneration.

Minutes:

 

The Executive Member for Community Services advised the Committee that the outcomes of a project underway at Houghton Hall had been very positive and would enhance the infrastructure in the area. Works to regenerate Dunstable Leisure Centre were progressing well and all Members were invited to visit the site. Due to the increase in the price of scrap metal, the region had seen a sharp increase in gully thefts.

 

The Executive Member for Regeneration provided Members with an update on the Government’s budget and national infrastructure report and progress on the East/West rail line, particularly the area which encompassed the Oxford to Cambridge arc.

 

In response to the updates Members expressed concerns regarding the increasing cost of land when planning permission was applied and the need to safeguard against developers ‘land banking’, instead ensuring that where possible they were encouraged to build within a reasonable timeframe, acknowledging the difficulties due to planning legislation.

 

50.

Leisure Strategy - Parish Schedule Consultation pdf icon PDF 81 KB

 

The report provides Members with details of feedback from town and parish councils in response to the Leisure Strategy Parish Schedule Engagement in March 2017. The information will help to evidence local need and ensure appropriate Section 106 developer contributions are secured from relevant developments.

 

Minutes:

 

The Policy Manager for Leisure, Libraries and Countryside delivered a presentation outlining the response from the Parish Schedules consultation which sought details of town and parish projects to enable officers to seek Section 106 developer contributions from new developments. The Executive Member advised there had only been 20 Parish Council responses, some of which lacked the project information requested, however officers had subsequently provided advice to councils with further projects identified. Members were advised that the request for project information would be repeated annually but parishes could submit project information at any time.

 

In light of the presentation Members discussed the following in summary: -

·           Concerns at the low response rate from Parish Councils and whether they lacked the expertise to provide costed project information.

·           Whether Parish Councils understood the impact of not submitting their priority project information and the importance of the local authority and Ward Members communicating with the relevant Parish Councils in order to ensure schemes were brought forward.

·           That if parishes did not submit any priority projects, contributions from new developments would be sought for a strategic facility where it benefitted that particular parish and the wider area.

·           That despite no official requests being received from Potton Parish Council or some other towns, officers and Ward Members were working closely with those who wanted projects in those areas to ensure developer contributions were sought to facilitate projects.

·           That it would be useful to include indicative costings for common projects within the next iteration of the consultation document.

 

RECOMMENDED:-

1.     That on receipt of new planning applications, the Committee support the endorsement of the Parish Schedules and Outdoor Sport Priority Project List as the point of reference for Leisure Services in identifying recreational open space and outdoor sports projects to which Section 106 developer contributions are sought.

2.     That on receipt of new planning applications, the Committee support the endorsement of the process whereby, if no local priority project has been identified, Leisure Services may seek Section 106 developer contributions towards the identified strategic priority project within the catchment of that parish.

 

Cllr Graham abstained from the vote.

 

51.

The Waste Collection Contract pdf icon PDF 545 KB

 

To receive a presentation relating to the assessment of options for waste collection for 2019.

 

Minutes:

 

The Director for Community Services outlined the current contract details, including differing methods of collection between the north and south of the region, with proposals to re-procure the contracts in 2019. Members were advised that prior to the UK leaving the European Union, it was likely that the UK would sign up to new European directives around waste disposal and they would be applied post Brexit. Members were provided with information relating to all available options which included an ‘in house’ and external contractor solution.

 

In light of the presentation Members discussed the following in summary: -

·           The need to assess the most appropriate solution for homes without the space for large containers and bins.

·           That the outcomes of the project be made available to the Committee at the earliest opportunity and before it was presented to the Executive.

·           The need to ensure public engagement with regards to any proposed changes to waste collection, particularly if it involved additional separation of different types of waste, ensuring a cost effective and user-friendly option.

 

RECOMMENDED that a further report be delivered to the Committee prior to a decision being made by the Executive.

 

52.

Task Force Update - Planning Enforcement

 

To receive a verbal update on progress following recommendations to improve service delivery.

 

Minutes:

 

The Head of Client and Development Services delivered a verbal update on progress to the planning enforcement task force recommendations. The Committee were advised that a member protocol was in development, staff resourcing was being assessed and that a detailed action plan would be presented to the Committee early in 2018.

 

In light of the update Members welcomed the delivery of those recommendations it had been possible to implement to date.

 

NOTED the update and extended timeline, with a report to be delivered in March 2018.

 

53.

Work Programme 2017-18 and Executive Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 57 KB

 

Members of the Committee will receive information regarding the Work Programme 2017/18 and Executive Forward Plan.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

AGREED the Committee Work Programme subject to the following amendments: -

·           Regeneration of Dunstable High Street – 8 January 2018

·           Local Plan, Regulation 19 – 8 January 2018

·           Task force update - Schools parking - 15 March 2018

·           Task force update – Planning enforcement - 15 March 2018

·           All age skills strategy - 15 March 2018

·           Police Performance Update - 15 March 2018

·           Community Safety Partnership - 15 March 2018

·           Gypsy and Traveller update – May 2018