Agenda and minutes

The Committee noted the minutes.

The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.

The Committee scrutinised the following matters.

Cabinet Board Proposals

3.1    Procurement of Recycling Vehicles

The Committee received information in relation to the Procurement of Recycling Vehicles as contained within the circulated report.

Members asked if the new smaller vehicles would be able to navigate the narrow back lanes throughout the County Borough which could alleviate complaints in relation to collections in these areas. Officers explained that while the smaller vehicles will assist with collections in some smaller gated back lanes, where Health and Safety issues do not permit access to certain roads currently this will continue to be the case with the new vehicles.

Members stated that in some areas, refuse lorries need to drive over grass verges in order to navigate parked cars on the road and queried if smaller vehicles could alleviate this. Officers explained that indiscriminate parking is a continual issue and while appropriate size vehicles are used wherever possible no silver bullet solution exists. Members agreed that continued communication with residents is vital.

Members raised concern that shredded paper from the recycling bins can blow onto the street and looked forward to receiving the Waste Strategy Review Report in a future meeting of this Committee whereby issues such as this could be discussed in further detail.

Following scrutiny, the Committee were supportive of the proposals to be considered at Cabinet Board.

3.1    Public Lighting Asset Report

The Committee received information in relation to Public Lighting as contained within the circulated report.

Members stated that some residents have raised concern that some street areas are poorly lit as the energy saving bulbs don’t disperse the light in the same way as previous bulbs. Officers explained that the light had been deliberately made more directional towards the roads to lessen levels of light pollution and that higher columns had been installed in residential areas to broaden the area in which the light can disperse.

Members were pleased to note the ongoing trials into solar powered lighting.

Members noted that when new housing sites are under development, the Council provides the developers with the agreed lighting specification in anticipation of adopting the land at a later stage. 

Following scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted.

Resolved:          that pursuant to Section 100A(4) and (5) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded for the following items of business which involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 12 and 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12 A to the above Act.

The Committee scrutinised the following matters:

Cabinet Board Proposals

5.1    Acceptance of a Single Tender

The Committee received information in relation to the acceptance of a single tender as contained within the circulation report.

Members queried if the gritter route navigation monitoring and reporting system could be utilised in any other function outside of the winter months when gritting vehicles are not employed. It was explained that the system is specific to the gritter vehicles and will only be utilised when the gritting vehicles are in use but the benefits include staff budget savings, increased resilience and greater vehicle intelligence.

          Following scrutiny, the report was noted.