PERFORMANCE AND OVERVIEW
COMMITTEE
LOCAL ECONOMY
& ENVIRONMENT
RECORD OF MEETING
HELD ON 28TH NOVEMBER 2006
Present:
Councillor S Roberts, (Chair); Councillors D N
Bebbington, P K Butterill, A Crawford, M A Hollins, A C Johnson, A
Moran and L T Wood
Officers in Attendance (for whole or
part):
P Ancell
Chief
Executive
P Burns
Business Development Manager (Direct Services)
P Goodwin
Assistant Director (Accountancy & Audit)
V
Jeffrey
Head of Housing
D Moulson
Democratic Services Officer
In Attendance:
Councillor J Hammond, Portfolio Holder for the
Local Environment and Councillor S W Hogben
Apologies:
Councillors R Cartlidge, P A Hallett and S J S
Mottram
39.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
No Member declared any personal or
prejudicial interest in respect of any item of business on the
agenda.
40. RECORD
OF MEETING
AGREED: That the record of the meeting
held on 17th October 2006 be approved as correct.
41.
WHIPPING DECLARATIONS
In accordance with Paragraph 18 of the
Performance and Overview Procedure Rules, Members were invited to
declare in respect of items where the whip had been applied.
No such declarations were made.
42.
REFERRALS/RESPONSES FROM THE
BOARD/COUNCIL
The Committee noted that there were no
referrals/responses from the Board or
Council.
43. BOARD
REPORTS
The Committee received a synopsis on the
following reports falling under its remit which would be considered
by the Board at its meeting on 30th November
2006:
|
Title
|
Report No.
|
|
Local Area Agreements
|
5
|
|
Corporate Self Assessment 2006
|
10
|
|
2006/2007 Financial
Monitoring report – to 30th September 06
|
12
|
|
Proposed Amendment to Off
Street Car Parking Order in respect of Railway Street, Crewe
|
15
|
|
Open Space
Review
|
21
|
|
Air Quality Management
Area – Hospital Street, Nantwich
|
22
|
|
Race Equality Scheme
2006-2008
|
24
|
A discussion took place on the following reports:
43.1 Crewe
Town Centre Masterplan
The Committee was advised that, in order to
guard against a ‘piecemeal’ approach to the proposed redevelopment
of Crewe town centre and to guide future regeneration, a Masterplan
was required. As the Council did not have the resources ‘in
house’ to undertake such a project, consultants would be appointed
to carry out the work. The plan would not be detailed in
nature but would be a more visual representation of the Council’s
aspirations for the future of Crewe.
The Committee was supportive of the proposal
and made a number of suggestions for inclusion in the plan:
- Definition of the ‘town
centre’ should not be too tightly drawn to ensure that adjoining
areas (Hightown, Mill Street etc) could also benefit
- Guidance on the types of
businesses desired should be included in order to promote diversity
- References to the provision of
leisure facilities (gyms, restaurants, public houses) should be
included
- Traffic management needed to
be addressed in conjunction with the Crewe Town Centre Access
Strategy being developed with Cheshire County Council
It was anticipated that, should time allow,
the draft Masterplan would be submitted to the Committee for
consideration.
43.2 Clean
Neighbourhood & Environmental Act 2005 – Consultation in
Relation to the Making of a Dog Control Order
(Note: In accordance with
Procedure Rule 26(2), Councillor Hammond spoke on the item with the
permission of the Committee.)
The report proposed the adoption of new
measures for dog control following the introduction of the Clean
Neighbourhood and Environmental Act 2005. In accordance with
the Act, any changes to existing controls had to be subjected to
public consultation and Appendix 1 of the report outline the
proposals put forward.
The Committee raised questions in relation
to staffing implications, the application of the Order on all
carriageways with a speed limit of 40mph or less and the impact on
recreational land not subjected to the control, which was responded
to as appropriate by the appropriate officers and the Portfolio
Holder.
43.3
Municipal Square, Crewe – Suspension of Certain
Works
(Note: In accordance with
Procedure Rule 26(2), Councillor Hogben spoke on the item with the
permission of the
Committee.)
On 5th June 2006, the Board had
requested that a report on the abortive costs associated with the
siting of the War Memorial be submitted to a future meeting.
The report of the Chief Executive, now submitted, identified the
resultant cost to the authority.
In discussing the final figure, a Member
queried whether as part of the exercise the cost of officer time
had been identified. Confirmation was also sought as to
whether there had been an overspend on the scheme. In
response, the Chief Executive confirmed that the calculations had
not included staff time due to the difficulty in quantifying this
and that the scheme had remained in budget as the abortive costs
had had to been charged to the Council’s revenue account therefore
not affecting the budget set aside for the works.
43.4 Nantwich
Outdoor Pool – Snowhill Feasibility Study
The carrying out of a commercial assessment
of the Snowhill and Riverside area of Nantwich had been agreed by
Board in July, in advance of funding being secured for a wider
feasibility study. It was reported to the Committee that the
assessment would no longer be progressed as funding for the wider
study had now been awarded.
AGREED: That no comment be
made to the Board on any of the above reports at this
time.
44. FORWARD
PLAN OF BOARD DECISIONS
The Committee received the Board’s Forward
Plan for 4th January, 11th January 2007 and
8th February
2007.
45. BVPI
AND LPI’s MONITORING: APRIL – SEPTEMBER
2006
The report submitted to the Committee provided
service performance information on the agreed basket of Key
National Performance Indicators for the period April – September
2006.
It was noted that for PI’s 109a, b and c, the
actual number of planning applications determined had been included
for ease of
understanding.
46. VACANCY
MANAGEMENT - MONITORING
The Committee received the report of the Human
Resources Manager and noted the decisions of the Vacancy Panel in
relation to those posts falling under the Committee’s
responsibility.
(Note: In accordance
with Procedure Rule 26(2), Councillor Hogben spoke on the item with
the permission of the Committee.)
46.1 Tourism
Development
Officer
The report of the Vacancy Panel indicated that
agreement had been reached to appoint the above post on a
part-time, temporary 12-month basis. Discussions were taking
place with the Cheshire and Warrington Tourism Board with a view to
jointly funding the post to enable it to be increased to full-time
albeit on the same 12-month contract.
The Committee expressed its concern about the
decision. The profile of tourism was increasing and if
harnessed correctly would attract visitors and new businesses to
the area. In addition, the delay in making an appointment had
resulted in the Council not being represented at a local awards
ceremony which, in the opinion of Members, had reflected badly on
the organisation. In Members’ opinion, to satisfactorily meet
the challenges associated with the growth in tourism, the Council
required a person to be in post on a full-time permanent
basis.
RECOMMENDATION TO THE
BOARD:
The Vacancy Panel was asked to reconsider its
position with a view to appointing an officer on a full time
permanent
basis.
47. WORK
PROGRAMME – TASK GROUP UPDATE
47.1 Affordable
Housing
The Head of Housing updated the Committee on
the work of the Affordable Housing Task Group to date.
The Task Group’s remit had been to consider the
following issues in relation to affordable housing, with progress
noted as follows –
Ø
The effectiveness of the Council’s current housing policies
(including a review of current schemes) and identification of
changes that may be required to those policies
The Council’s Housing Planning
Policy had subsequently been revised
Ø
The role of developers, registered social landlords and local
communities in the delivery of affordable housing
The Task Group had received a
presentation from the Housing Association which had been
considered useful and had identified issues in relation to rural
affordable housing needs
Ø
The use of commuted sums in lieu of affordable housing
provision
This issue was of concern and a
discussion had been held as to how the sums could be best
used
Further work on the issues identified would be
required and a revised remit for the Task Group was proposed:
Further guidance should be developed to assist
the Council and its partners to deliver affordable housing i.e.
Development and land – to include design
Disposal of land
Commuted sums
Preferred partners and associated benefits from
this approach.
The current Members of the Task Group confirmed
that they would be happy to continue in their role. It was
therefore -
AGREED: That a) the
current Membership of the Affordable Housing Task Group be
reaffirmed; and b) the Task Group be invited to consider the issues
outlined in paragraph 3.1 of the report (reproduced above) to
include the consideration of a procedure for spending commuted
sums.
47.2 Town
Centre’s Cark Parking
A resume of the outcome of the Town Centre’s
Car Parking Task Group’s discussions had been reported at the
previous meeting. The Committee was now invited to consider
each of the recommendations in more detail.
The Business Development Manager and Cllr Moran
spoke to the report outlining the issues considered and the
rational for each recommendation. It was confirmed that the
relevant proposals had been considered by the Highways and
Transportation Local Joint Committee, following which
representations had been invited. The Task Group had
reconsidered each proposal in light of objections
made.
a) Thomas Street, Crewe
Current Status:
Free Car Park
Proposal:
Pay and Display Car
Park
It was anticipated that following the
displacement of staff from Delamere House (following its demolition
as part of the Modus Scheme), a car parking site would need to be
identified to accommodate the Council’s essential car users.
Thomas Street had been identified as a possible location given its
proximity to the Municipal Buildings. Whilst the potential
future use of the car park would not prohibit it from being brought
into charge, consideration would need to be given as to how the
situation could be managed in the future should it prove
necessary.
b) Browning Street
Current Status:
Free Car Park
Proposal:
Pay and Display Car Park
The original proposal for Browning Street had
been to bring the site into charge whilst setting aside a number of
parking bays for local residents by means of a permit scheme,
although this had not received public support. Given that
there would be pressure on town centre car parks as a result of the
Modus Scheme and to regulate the length of stay it was proposed
that the site should become Pay and Display given that residents
would be able to park free of charge after 6pm. A
limited waiting period loading bay would need to be provided to
service the Limelight Club.
c) Edleston Road
Current Status:
Free Car Park
Proposal:
Pay and Display Car Park
Subject to further discussions with the IRIS
Centre and the Health Authority to accommodate their needs, the
Task Group had recommended that the Car Park be brought into
charge.
d) Wood Street
Current Status:
Free Car Park
Proposal:
Pay and Display Car Park
Intended as a Shoppers car park, this site was
frequently used by long stay users. Although objections had
been received by the public the Nantwich Road Traders and the Task
Group supported charging to return the car park to its primary
purpose.
e) Transferable Tickets on a Sunday
Current Status:
Non Transferable Tickets
at any Time
Proposal:
Transferable tickets on Sunday only
Given the complexity of introducing and
administering transferable tickets and the costs involved in
updating equipment and signage, the Task Group considered that the
non transferable rule should be retained.
f) Residents Parking Off Street
Proposal:
To provide residents parking areas in Off-Street Car
Parks
Proposals had been put forward to explore the
feasibility of providing residents parking areas in Council owned
Off-street car parks. Whilst demand for such spaces existed;
objections to the way in which the scheme would be administered
(i.e. the proposed cost of the permits and allocation method) had
been received. Having considered the advantages and
disadvantages of the scheme, the Task Group considered that the
proposal should not be pursued at this time but could be
reconsidered following the introduction of Decriminalised On-Street
Parking Enforcement (DPE).
g) Nantwich Road Car Parks (Wood Street [E
& W], South St, Edward Rd, Lord St, Union Street)
Current Status:
Free Car Parks
Proposal:
Pay and Display Car Parks
Consideration had been given to i) the
introduction of pay and display at these sites; or ii) residents
parking to regulate the number of long stay users. However,
in light of the problems associated with residents parking and
given that DPE might also have an impact on the surrounding areas,
the Task Group concluded that the car parks should remain free of
charge at present but that the situation should be kept under
review.
h) Parking for Town Centre Workers
Current Status:
No specific policy
Proposal:
Introduce special provisions
The Task Group had considered whether special
car parking provision should be made for Town Centre workers but
has concluded that to do so would contravene Council Policy which
sought to minimise car use with the Town Centre. No action
was therefore proposed.
Having considered the Task Group’s
recommendations, the Committee concurred with the views
expressed. However, a consensus of opinion could not be
reached on Browning Street and it was suggested that this matter be
referred back to the Task Group for further
consideration.
AGREED: That
a) Thomas
Street be considered for Pay and Display charged public parking
only, with further consideration to be given to essential user
provision for Council staff at a later date;
b) Proposals
for Browning Street be referred back to the Town Centres’ Car
Parking Task Group for further consideration;
c) A
previous proposal to introduce pay and display at Edleston Road be
resubmitted;
d) A
previous proposal to introduce pay and display at Wood Street be
resubmitted;
e) The
non-transferable rule in relation to Sunday parking be
retained;
f) Off-street Residents Parking should
not be pursued at this time;
g) The car
parks listed under (g) above remain as free car parks but that the
situation be monitored and reviewed in conjunction with the
introduction of Decriminalised On-Street Parking Enforcement;
and
h) No special car
parking provision be made for Town Centre workers.
i) Next Steps
It was suggested that the Task Group should
turn its attention to car parking sites within Crewe town centre
with a view to assisting in the creation of car parking strategies
which would tie in with the Town Centre Masterplan and the Modus
Scheme.
AGREED: That consideration of
and assisting with the creation of car parking strategies for Crewe
Town Centre be included in the Task Group’s work
programme.
47.3 Waste
Management
The Waste Management Task Group had met once
since the last meeting of the Committee and had considered and
discussed the following topics –
Ø
Nottingham declaration in relation to climate change
Ø
Cheshire Waste Contract
Ø
Memorandum of Understanding
Ø
Joint Waste Strategy
Ø
Service Level Agreements
Ø
Trade Waste
Ø
Waste Minimisation
It was noted that the next meeting of the Task
Group would be in January 2007.
48. DATE OF
NEXT MEETING
9th January 2007
……………………. Chair