Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were noted from Cllr Bill Withers. The Conservative substitute Cllr Jan Warwick attended in his place.

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.

To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.

No deputations were received.

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

Waste Briefing

The Chairman reminded Members that a session on Waste was due to be held in early 2018, in order for Members to hear about the emerging issues around waste in further detail. This session had been scheduled for Friday 16 March 2018 at 10:00am and committee members were encouraged to attend.

20mph Pilots

The Chairman reported that the committee had been due to have an item on this agenda on the review of the 20mph pilots. This item had been deferred, as the consultation with residents was delayed. The Chairman confirmed that the Select Committee would have the opportunity to consider the review at the next meeting, prior to any decision.

For the Economy, Transport and Environment Select Committee to pre-scrutinise the Revenue Budget proposals for the Economy, Transport and Environment Department for 2018/19. The proposals for Environment and Transport are set out in the attached report which is due to be considered at the Decision Day of the Executive Member for Environment and Transport at 2.30pm on 16 January 2018.

The Select Committee received a report and supporting presentation from the Director of Economy Transport & Environment regarding the proposed Revenue Budget for 2018/19 for the services within the portfolio of the Executive Member for Environment & Transport (see Item 6 in the Minute Book).

Members were informed about the latest financial position for the Council overall, and the position for the Economy Transport and Environment Department. It was noted that savings were required under the Transformation to 2019 programme. When the savings proposals were considered by Council in November 2017, an additional recommendation had been made to seek alternative ways to fund the gap to avoid an impact on some of the service areas within this department.

Members asked questions for clarification and debated the proposals. A question was asked regarding how much funding went towards Private Finance Initiative payments and how much was discretionary maintenance spending. It was agreed to provide this detail to members after the meeting. It was requested this also cover the break down between the PFI costs of the street lighting contract and the cost of the energy to power the street lights.

Following the debate, the Chairman proposed the recommendation, which was carried (with three against) as follows;

RECOMMENDED:

That the Economy, Transport and Environment Select Committee supports the recommendations being proposed to the Executive Member for Environment and Transport that the revised revenue budget for 2017/18, as set out in Appendix 1 of the attached report, and the summary revenue budget for 2018/19, as set out in Appendix 1 of the attached report, be recommended for approval by the Leader and Cabinet.

For the Economy, Transport and Environment Select Committee to pre-scrutinise the Revenue Budget proposals for the Economy, Transport and Environment Department for 2018/19. The proposals for economic development are set out in the attached report which is due to be considered at the Decision Day of the Executive Member for Economic Development at 1.00pm on 22 January 2018.

The Select Committee received a report and supporting presentation from the Director of Economy Transport & Environment Department regarding the proposed Revenue Budget for 2018/19 for the services under the portfolio of the Executive Member for Economic Development.

Members asked questions for clarification and debated the proposals. Regarding the proposal that in future business rates may be retained locally, it was noted that the central government position was that this would initially be a cost neutral change. It was anticipated there would be a re-set every few years, therefore any benefit from increased business rates would be limited.

Following the debate, the Chairman proposed the recommendation, which was carried (with 3 against) as follows;

RECOMMENDED:

That the Economy, Transport and Environment Select Committee supports the recommendations being proposed to the Executive Member for Economic Development that the revised revenue budget for 2017/18, as set out in section 5 of the attached report, and the summary revenue budget for 2018/19, as set out in section 7 of the attached report, be recommended for approval by the Leader and Cabinet.

For the Economy, Transport and Environment Select Committee to pre-scrutinise the proposals for the Economy, Transport and Environment Capital programme for 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 (see report attached due to be formally considered by the Executive Member for Environment and Transport at 2.30pm on 16 January 2018).

The Select Committee received a report and supporting presentation regarding the proposed Capital Programme for 2018/19 to 2020/21 for the Economy Transport & Environment Department (see Item 8 in the Minute Book).

It was noted that the capital programme was at a high level for next year as a result of success in competitive bidding processes. Capital spend for 2018/19 would be higher than the revenue budget in that year.

Following the debate, the Chairman proposed the recommendation which was carried unanimously as follows;

RECOMMENDED:

That the Economy, Transport and Environment Select Committee supports the recommendation to the Executive Member for Environment and Transport that the proposed capital programmes for 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21 totalling £264.552 million, as set out in the attached report and its appendices, be put forward for approval to the Leader and Cabinet.

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

The Chairman presented the updated Work Programme of items for this Select Committee (see Item 9 in the Minute Book).

RESOLVED:

The Work Programme be agreed.