To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Neil Bryson and Councillor Avon. Councillor Evans attended as substitute for Councillor Avon.

In accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, Members are requested to declare any interests orally at the start of the meeting and again immediately before consideration of the matter. Members are reminded to specify the agenda item number to which it refers and the nature of the interest.

No declarations of interest were received.

To consider and approve the minutes of the meeting held on 18 June 2012 – attached.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 June 2012 were confirmed as a correct record of proceedings and the Chairman authorised to sign them.

This report provides details of specific changes being implemented, ideas under development and other areas being considered which will have a significant impact on the relevant service’s future budget. This information is provided in respect of the Environment Directorate, Cultural Services and Community Safety.

Report of the Director of Environment attached.

The Head of Finance and Performance, the Director of Environment and the Assistant Director of Commissioning, Corporate Policy and Strategy presented the report to the committee and explained that the budget review had been introduced last year and included provisional plans for the budget which would be reported in January 2013. Ms Makepeace drew the attention of the Committee to the following aspects of the report:

(i)                  The Directorate had forecast an under spend of approximately £1 million for the 2012/13 budget. It was explained that West London Waste Authority set their charges after the budget had been set and some of the saving could be attributed to an over-estimation on the waste services fee.

(ii)                In addition Parking enforcement had generated a better level of income than the previous year due to significant improvements in contractor performance and there were now  fewer challenges to fines.

(iii)               The paper and card disposal contract is due for renewal in November 2012.   Current  prices are  lower than those agreed in the existing contract and Officers were considering what options are available and the impact of this on the 2013/14 budget.  There is a potential loss of up to £500K for the next financial year.

(iv)              Savings of £133 000 had been made on the recycling contract and the potential for greater savings existed if recycling rates increased in the borough.

(v)                The Directorate were on target for efficiency savings for 2012/13 and 2013/14.

Following questions raised and comments made the Committee heard that:

(vi)              West London Waste Authority were in the process of procuring for a residual waste contract and were considering options of waste being treated in the area and shipped out as fuel or waste continuing to be treated elsewhere in the country.

(vii)             There was a programme for road markings including new road markings and re-painting faded markings. However the speed of this process was limited by contractor availability.  Members were invited to provide Feedback to Highways where they felt there were particularly concerns.

It was RESOLVED:

1.   That the report be noted.

This report gives details of the Street Cleaning contract including costs, saving and performance.

Report of the Head of Street Scene attached.

Appendix A attached.

The Assistant Director of Environment for Development and Street Scene and the Head of Street Scene presented the report to the Committee and explained that the council were one year into their street cleaning contract with Continental Landscapes and were pleased with the service being provided.

Following questions raised and comments made the committee heard the following information:

(i)                  There was a high level of customer satisfaction with the street cleaning service.

(ii)                The report indicated a decrease in performance of clearing detritus; however this can be attributed to a change in methodology at a national level.

(iii)               Work had continued on developing a procedure for spilt rubbish. Much of this was caused by foxes searching for food in bins. Rubbish collection teams and street cleaning teams had been working to reduce loose rubbish, however the most effective safeguard against spilt rubbish was residents utilising food waste bins instead of disposing of this with other household waste.

It was RESOLVED:

1.      That the report be noted.

This report provides details of the performance of the indicators and monitors the council priorities for the Environment Directorate, Cultural Services and Community Safety for the period April to June 2012.

Report of the Head of Environment Finance and Performance attached.

The Director of Environment and Head of Finance and Performance introduced the report and explained that the format had changed which meant that the report was now longer. Ms Makepeace explained that performance was measured for the period April-June.

Following questions raised and comments made the Committee received the following information from Officers:

(i)                  The increase in non-residential burglary primarily meant theft against an individual. The time period the performance report covered included the Olympic events held in the Borough and one individual had been arrested and admitted to one hundred opportunistic thefts which had a strong impact on the figures for the quarter. It was also explained that crime figures were subject to change when a neighbouring borough had a campaign about crime.

(ii)                Planning applications were generally being processed quicker, however Officers often requested that alterations were made to existing applications before a decision was made rather than refuse an application and start the process again. This made the planning process lengthier but improved the quality of the service.

(iii)               The latest note regarding ENV 192 related to the previous year and did not reflect the performance indicators displayed on this report.

The Committee expressed their thanks to staff for work put in to organise successful diamond jubilee celebrations and the Olympic events.

It was RESOLVED:

1. That the report be noted.

To receive a verbal update regarding the work surrounding the Cultural Services Trust.

The Assistant Director of Commissioning Corporate Policy and Strategy provided a verbal update on the cultural services trust. The Committee heard that consultants were working on this and would produce a report which would be presented at the next Committee meeting.

It was RESOLVED:

1. That the briefing be noted.

This report gives an update on the Twickenham Street Scene and Highways proposals currently out to consultation (interim results up to 10 August 2012) which has a further three weeks to run at the time of writing before analysis of the full returns can be made. A verbal update of any significant changes since these interim results will be given by officers at the Committee itself.  

Report of the Cabinet Member for Highways and Street Scene attached.

Appendices A and B attached.

The Cabinet Member for Highways and Street Scene, the Director of Environment and the Assistant Director of Environment for Traffic and Transport introduced the report. The Committee heard that the consultation results had not been fully analysed at the time of the meeting. Councillor Harrison explained that 19 000 consultation questionnaires had been sent to local residents and the council received 343 consultation responses; a response rate of approximately 1.5 per cent. Councillor Harrison went on to explain that sources and destination information had not been received from Transport for London at the time of the meeting.

Following questions raised and comments made the Committee heard the following views from Officers:

(i)                  Cabinet would be presented with the number of signatories to the petition titled Retention of Bus Stops. Officers would ensure that Transport for London is also aware of the figure.

(ii)                The decision whether to move bus stops away from King Street was a decision that would be taken by Transport for London.

(iii)               The consultation had focused on the option of creating two lanes for vehicles in each direction on King Street as it had been discerned that this would result in a smoother traffic flow than the alternative options.

(iv)              The proposals included advisory cycle lanes on London Road and a twenty mile per hour speed limit which would have a positive impact on cycle safety. Cyclists would also have preferential treatment at traffic lights. Removing the bus stops from King Street would also increase cycle safety as the hazard of buses pulling out from the curb would be removed.

(v)                Funding the project would not require taking highways and street scene funds away from other areas of the Borough.

(vi)              The distance from Twickenham town centre to the closest bus stop other than King Street would still be relatively short compared to many major town centres.

It was RESOLVED:

1. That the Committee make the following recommendations to Cabinet:

(i)                 That Cabinet receive origin and destination information for bus services travelling through King Street from Transport for London.

(ii)               That Cabinet give due consideration to the impact of the removal of bus stops in King Street which were the only bus stops at which all buses stopped through Twickenham town centre.

(iii)             That Cabinet give due consideration to the impact that removing dedicated bus lanes from King Street would have on the speed of buses travelling through Twickenham.

(iv)             That Cabinet give due consideration to the results of the petition titled Retention of Bus Stops.

(v)               That Cabinet give due consideration to the impact of removing cycle lanes from King Street.

(vi)             That due consideration be given to modelling pedestrian footfall on York Street, for a scenario in which King Street bus stops were removed.

2. That with the addition of the above recommendations, the Committee NOTE the report.

This report provides details of how the London Borough of Richmond supports and promotes biodiversity within the Borough.

Report of the Assistant Director of Environment attached.

The Head of Parks presented the report and informed the Committee that since the publication of the report the Borough had performed well in the London in Bloom awards and Barnes Common had been awarded a silver gilt medal for achieving second place in the biodiversity category for the Borough.

Following questions raised and comments made the Committee heard that:

(i)                  There were approximately 18,000 street trees in the borough and these were important to the biodiversity strategy

(ii)                The Borough had a mixture of municipal bedding and wild flower plantations. Municipal bedding was important in certain locations such as the Terrace Gardens and the wild flowers planted alongside roads had received many positive comments

(iii)               The current maintenance contract was due to expire on 31 March 2013. Part of the tendering process for the next contract would include peat minimisation strategies.

(iv)              An allotment strategy had been adopted in January 2010 by the allotment steering group which included representatives from all 24 allotment sites. Allotments were used in different ways by different owners and some incorporated wild flowers to encourage biodiversity.

(v)                A number of biodiversity sites such as the Leg of Mutton reserve in Barnes had been given new signage to promote the biodiversity aims of the sites. The management committees of these sites had received increased interest as a result of the new signage.

(vi)              Biodiversity was becoming more integrated in a number of areas. A dedicated Ecology Officer commented on planning applications. Ecology was also being taught in schools and many schools had created wildlife areas.

(vii)             Following proposals to introduce a bye-law in May 2012, work has continued on addressing the issue of illegal moorings. Officers were consulting on areas that could provide 24 hour moorings.

It was RESOLVED:

1.                                          That the report be noted.

This report gives details of the proposed work programme for the Environment, Sustainability and Community Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the municipal year 2012-2013.

Report of the Head of Democratic Services attached.

Appendices A, B and C attached.

The Senior Scrutiny Officer introduced the report and highlighted the inclusion of suggestions for potential task groups received from members of the Committee. The Director of Environment discussed three potential task group topic areas with the Committee, comprising:

(i)                  cycle safety and killed and seriously injured statistics

(ii)                participation rates in food and green waste recycling

(iii)               community footpath and roadway fund

The Committee felt that a task group focusing on food and green waste recycling had the greatest potential. Seven members of the Committee expressed an interest in sitting on the task group.

RECOMMENDATION

1. That the work programme for the 2012/13 municipal year be noted.
2. That the topic of participation rates in food and green waste be selected for a task group.