Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

All Members were present and no apologies were noted.

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.

Matters Arising: Under Minute 32 Chairman’s Announcements, regarding the 20mph pilots item the Chairman provided a further update that this item was now due to be considered at the June Select Committee meeting.

To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.

No deputations were received.

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

The Chairman announced that she would be standing down from Chairing the Select Committee due to an increase in her workload in her job. The Executive Member for Environment and Transport thanked her for her time Chairing the Committee which was echoed by Committee Members.

Waste Management Infrastructure Visits:

The Chairman noted that in March a briefing was held for Members of the Select Committee about Waste management, at which Members had expressed interest in going to see some of the waste infrastructure in Hampshire. She reported that as part of the Project Integra partnership, a series of dates for Officers and Members to visit key sites had been arranged. Details of the dates of the visits and who to contact to attend one would be circulated by email.

To receive a presentation regarding 'A Green Future: Our 25 Year Plan to Improve the Environment' published by the Government in January 2018.

The Select Committee received a presentation and briefing note on behalf of the Director of Economy Transport & Environment, regarding the Government 25 Year Environment Plan, setting out the governments position in relation to protection and enhancement of the natural environment (see Item 6 in the Minute Book).

Members asked questions for clarification and further detail. It was noted that a national consultation on a potential bottle deposit scheme was due to be launched. The County Council would be following this closely, as this could impact on the Council’s income from recyclable materials if plastic glass and aluminium drinks containers were diverted from household waste recycling to deposit schemes.

The Environment Plan was high level, and more detail was expected on some of the areas later in the year. The County Council would consider the impact when further information was available. It was discussed that partnership working was key on environmental issues as a number of different organisations were involved.

RESOLVED:

That the Select Committee note the information provided regarding the 25 Year Environment Plan.

The Select Committee request an annual update on progress against the Plan be added to their work programme.

To consider a report of the Director of Economy, Transport and Environment regarding the work that is required for Hampshire County Council to assist the Government and District Councils in reaching compliance with a ministerial direction related to air quality exceedances of nitrogen dioxide at various locations in Hampshire, as set out in the UK plan for tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations. The report is due for consideration by the Executive Member for Environment and Transport in the afternoon on 24 April.

The Select Committee received a report on behalf of the Director of Economy Transport & Environment, regarding Air Quality in Hampshire (see Item 7 in the Minute Book). The report was due to be considered by the Executive Member for Environment and Transport at his decision day later that day.

Members heard that the County Council was required to take action in response to a Ministerial Direction regarding tackling roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations at particular locations in Hampshire that exceed EU legal limits. The timescales for submitting a business case setting out costed options to reduce the impact in those areas were challenging (by 31 December 2018).

It was discussed that various measures were being considered, and the likely approach would be a combination of factors. It was noted that air quality was a broad topic with public health implications, and a report on the wider issues would be taken to Cabinet in due course.

RECOMMENDED:

That the Economy, Transport and Environment Select Committee support the recommendations being proposed to the Executive Member for Environment and Transport in section 1 of the report.  

To receive a report from the Task & Finish Group that has been considering Road Safety, to agree their recommendations for submission to the Executive Member for Environment and Transport and Hampshire Constabulary.

The Select Committee received a report on behalf of the Task & Finish Group that had been reviewing Road Safety (see Item 8 in the Minute Book). Cllr Choudhary who had Chaired the group provided a summary of the work the group had undertaken to arrive at the recommendations being presented for endorsement by the full Committee. Committee Members were supportive of the proposals and the Chairman gave thanks to the Members and Officers who took part in the Working Group for their work.

RECOMMENDED:

The Economy Transport & Environment Select Committee supports the following recommendations to the Executive Member for Environment & Transport:

a) All County Councillors be provided with a list of schools & colleges within their divisions that do not currently participate with the various free Road Safety Education programmes and initiatives run by Hampshire County Council, and be encouraged to speak to the schools to encourage take up.

b) County Councillors be asked to help raise awareness and understanding of the 60+ Driver Skills Scheme provided by the County Council, and as part of this Members be offered the opportunity to see first hand what the appraisals are like.

c) Development and use of a targeted road safety poster programme, to supplement engineering based safety measures aimed at promoting cycle safety on pedal-powered two wheeler high risk routes with stubborn casualty problems.

d) Continuation of the policy of casualty reduction spend being evidence based, recognising the role and linkage of each of the three Es (Engineering, Enforcement, Education).

e) In a year’s time to task officers to liaise with the Police to consider any developments in the use of dash cam footage to support Road Safety work.

f) HCC Road Safety team to invite Members to ‘Safe Drive Stay Alive’ road safety education sessions and to help promote 6th Form and College take up.

The Economy Transport & Environment Select Committee supports the following recommendations to Hampshire Constabulary:

a) As part of an upcoming review of Speedwatch, that Hampshire Constabulary consider the option to enable Community Speedwatch in Hampshire to cover 40mph speed limits (to match the approach used in the Thames Valley area).

b) As part of the upcoming review of Speedwatch, that the constabulary consider agreeing thresholds with Community Speedwatch schemes for action to be taken (e.g. at what level above the speed limit incidents should be reported).

c) That Safer Neighbourhood teams continue to work with communities to respond to residents concerns, and explain to their communities how they prioritise their efforts. (e.g. based on threat risk and harm)

d) Hampshire Constabulary continue to work with Hampshire County Council regarding locations to invest in upgrading cameras and other enforcement activity.

To consider the work programme of topics for this Select Committee to consider at future meetings.

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

Cllr Simpson requested that the Waste topic include consideration of the role of Project Integra. The Director of Economy Transport & Environment reported that a ‘Waste Symposium’ was planned to take place in June, and further information would be shared with the Select Committee about that in due course.

Cllr Kyrle requested that an update on overarching air quality issues remain on the work programme.

Cllr Heron suggested a verbal update to the June meeting providing an update on the work taking place on fly tipping.

RESOLVED:

The Work Programme be agreed, subject to any amendments made at this meeting.