Agenda and minutes

There were none.

DECIDED – That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Panel held on 26 September 2018 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

There were no urgent items of business.

·         Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

·         Other Interests

(At least two clear days notice required, in writing, to the Proper Officer in accordance with Procedure Rule 15).

There were none.

The Panel considered a report which provided an update on the response to consultation regarding the Draft Growth Strategy for Staffordshire Moorlands, which had been developed jointly in partnership between SMDC and SCC.

The emerging local plan had been submitted to the inspector in June 2018. The examination had taken place in October 2018. Dependant on the outcome of the examination, adoption was likely to happen in spring 2019.

In order for the Local Plan objectives to be achieved a delivery plan was required which would support appropriate development to come forward in identified locations and maximise community benefits from such development. The Growth Strategy provided the strategic vision and context to the development and proposed key actions to achieve the vision. While the Local Plan identified where the development should be, the Growth Strategy identified how it could be delivered and what benefits it could achieve.  A Draft Growth Strategy had been presented to the Service Delivery Overview and Scrutiny Committee and approved for consultation by Cabinet in May 2018.

A four week consultation exercise was held in August 2018. The document was published on the Council’s website and email notifications were sent out to all relevant stakeholders, district and county councillors and parish councils. Press releases were issued to notify the residents of the consultation period.

Responses had been received from eight organisations/Individuals including Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce, Biddulph Town Council, Leek Auctions, Churnet Valley Living Landscape Partnership as well as a number of individuals.

In total there were 34 separate comments or suggested alternations as well as a number of endorsements and welcome for the proposals. A summary of key points and actions taken were contained within appendix 2 of the report.

DECIDED:

1)    That the Panel NOTED the response to the draft growth strategy consultation.

2)    The Panel RECOMMENDED that CABINET adopt the Growth Strategy for Staffordshire Moorlands as the Council’s policy for regeneration.

The Panel received a report which considered the service specification for the services to be transferred to Alliance Environmental Service (AES) in the third phase, to ensure that future service delivery met the requirements of the Council.

The services included in this phase  were set out in more detail in a presentation delivered by Martin Sollis, Operations Manager - Direct Services. The presentation covered the following topics:-

·         Services currently provided by the Council

·         Services which AES would provide and deliver

·         Services which would remain with the Council

·         Service standards and policies

·         Performance monitoring

·         The process for future changes to the service

·         Summary

Councillors from the Biddulph area hoped that the level of service  would improve following the transfer to AES as it was felt that the street cleansing and the maintenance of plants was unsatisfactory. It was also reported that there were issues with the cleanliness of the streets in Cheadle and that the street furniture was in need of repair. Both towns had volunteer groups which maintained the town centres. The Officers advised that weed control and maintenance of railings were the responsibility of the County Council and that the District Council did not have any additional resource available. However, the points of view were noted and the Street Cleansing Team would look at these areas.

Questions were raised in relation to time periods for change, how requests for service would be made and co-ordination of litter picking and cutting of grass verges. It was confirmed that reasonable notice would be required for any changes to the contract, each service would have a contact officer and AES would attend a meeting of this Panel each year to enable performance to be monitored. There had been discussions with the County Council and co-ordinated activities had now taken place.

Councillor Atkins requested clarification around the upkeep of the bowling green at Brough Park. It was explained that this was not included in the AES contract and that separate discussions would take place with Parkwood Leisure. 

DECIDED: The Panel supported the development of the new operating arrangements and service specifications to be transferred in Phase 3 – Transfer of Service – Street Cleansing and Grounds Maintenance.

Any additional items to be added to the Work Programme:

·         Chair’s Items

·         Members’ Items

The Panel considered its Work Programme and agreed the items listed, subject to, an item being added to monitor the new arrangements following AES Phase 3.

DECIDED: That the Panel’s Work Programme for 2018/19 be agreed, subject to the above addition to the programme.

The Chair to move:-

 “That pursuant to Section 100A (2) and (4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or nature of the proceedings whereby it is likely that exempt information as defined in Section 100A (3) of the Act would be disclosed to the public in breach of the obligation of confidence or exempt information as defined in Section 100I (1) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act would be disclosed to the public by virtue of the paragraphs indicated.”

RESOLVED -    That, pursuant to Section 100A(2) and (4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings whereby it is likely that confidential information as defined in Section 100A (3) of the Act would be disclosed to the public in breach of the obligation of confidence or exempt information as defined in Section 100 I (1) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act would be disclosed to the public by virtue of the Paragraphs indicated.

The Panel considered a report which agreed a way forward for establishment of the future arrangements for the management of the Council’s leisure centres post March 2019.

The Panel received an update report on the progress on the reinstatement of the heritage rail link from Leekbrook to Leek (Cornhill).