Agenda item

To consider a report by the Director for Digital, Sustainability and Resources, copy attached as item 8

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Digital, Sustainability and  Resources, a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as item 8. The report before members set out background information on the Portfolios of the Adur Executive Member for Environment and Worthing Executive Member for Digital and Environmental Services to enable the Committee to consider and question the Executive Members on issues within their portfolios and any other issues which the Executive Members were involved in connected with the work of the Councils and the Adur and Worthing communities.

The Executive Members each gave a precise of their portfolio work to date.

A Member asked the following question: Will ADC consider introducing a beach patrol to ensure that the issues experienced last Summer are better monitored  - for example bonfires, barbecues, widespread litter, incursions into the Swimming Only zone, dog fouling etc? The Executive Member told the Committee that the matter would be examined and a proposal put forward if appropriate. Members were told further of a new litter enforcement programme

A Member asked the following question: Are there are any plans for an audit of HMOs which have had the most trouble switching over to fortnightly collections, not due to lack of recycling but bin space? Members were told that and audit had been carried out and £50k had been secured for where there were particular problems

A Member asked the following question: What are the priorities to improving the Street scene for Shoreham and Lancing post Covid to rejuvenate the areas and encourage people in and to stay? The Executive Member told the Committee that the question was better directed to the Executive Member for Regeneration, however, the Council continued to work with West Sussex County Council to identify improvements within the budgets available. There had been investment in Queensway lancing including seasonal planting and the installation of further bike racks. Regular contact was had with partner organisations to ensure localised communities were involved in the process. The Authority was ensuring that the important matters of good waste and cleansing services were being carried out correctly.

A Member asked the following question:  Can a review be undertaken to identify ways to help ensure better enforcement of parking regulations at peak times (weekends, school holidays etc) to ensure that residents and the emergency services can access and exit the Beach without the widespread delays, blocked driveways, double parking that were experienced last year? The Executive Member told the Committee that Officer would go and patrol the area, however West Sussex determined where the controlled parking zones were as they were the Highway Authority.

A Member asked the following question: What do you see as being the top priorities for the Council in energy management to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030? The Committee was told that interventions were needed to tackle the biggest sources of the Authorities’ emissions which included boilers, trucks and the crematoria. In the first year since its adoption the Councils had achieved over a 10% reduction.

A Member asked the following question: Given ADC motion passed on pension divestment (re Fossil fuels) and WSCC recent decision not to divest and not to even survey members? What more are you attempting? Members were told that trustees had been contacted as requested, however lobbying was the only action available to the authority.

A Member asked the following question: Since the change of hands to SDL how has membership uptake been going for Lancing, Southwick and Shoreham? Members were told that it was early days as yet. The contract had only been signed the previous Monday.

A Member asked the following question: Given some of the potential public health challenges of a fortnightly waste collection in the absence of food waste collection, such as residents struggling with flies in hot weather, are there any plans for a town wide consultation on how the current collection regime is being experienced by residents in summer? Members were told that the survey was being prepared and that the first waves of the consultation being released in the next few months

A Member asked the following question: Bearing in mind the crucial importance of the climate emergency declaration, what if any are the concerns about the way that the pandemic and economic challenges ahead may impact our climate emergency programme? Members were told that the programme to tackle climate change is making strong progress, with significant funds recently secured from the Public Sector Decarbonisation fund enabling the authority to take forward a programme of solar installations on buildings, low carbon heating systems and insulation.  Further detail was due to be reported to Joint Strategic Committee in Februrary. The Councils had also made significant progress in natural habitat and biodiversity improvement, recently acquired land at New Salts Farm, Pad Farm and the acquisition of 100 acres at Shepherds Mead in Worthing, at the foot of Cissbury Ring, this was for the purpose of habitat restoration.

A Member asked the following question: In terms of performance achievement over the coming twelve months: (i) what specific and measurable targets would you consider need to be met in order to rate performance as “good” in relation to the delivery of the services within your portfolio? And (ii) which specific , as yet incomplete deliverables/commitments within PFOP Going Further 2020-2022 / PFOP “And then…” would need to be successfully delivered/met in order to rate performance as “good” in relation to your areas of responsibility? Members were told that there was an established approach to reporting the Councils’ performance against the Platforms for Our Places strategy and the COVID response document “And Then ..” This is done through comprehensive 6 monthly reports to Joint Strategic Committee.  Each platform is reported on using a Red-Amber-Green rating against each strategic action, and summary pie charts are produced to quantify progress overall.  These ratings are established using data, such as the recycling rate, as well as a broader assessment on progress with actions.

A Member asked the following question: Can the Member give us an update on the development of Brooklands Park and any potential challenges to the project in coming months?  Members were told that the Brooklands Park development was progressing as planned. A new project manager had come on board to take charge of the cafe build and manage the progress through procurement. The Parks team were mobilising to make a start on the planting in the first glade. The winter maintenance on the reed beds had been completed, and the friends group had completed the new planting in the ‘boat’. Planning permission had been granted for the Cafe and Play areas with procurement being the next priority.

A Member asked the following question: Would you please describe what progress is currently being made to bring forward plans for the deployment of a cost-effective domestic food waste collection service in Adur and Worthing and for the remunerative and responsible treatment of that waste as a potential source of renewable energy and agricultural fertiliser? (Reference “PFOP Going Further 2020-2022 3.6.1 (a)”:  The potential for the collection of food waste being made mandatory. Timescale: Summer 2021 (or other timetable set).Members were told that in 2018 the councils made a commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030. This pledge covered emissions from the councils' estate and vehicles and sends an important message to suppliers and contractors about the direction in which the council wishes to take its activities. Since the councils made the pledge, the UK as a whole has also increased its own level of ambition and now aims to reduce overall carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. A domestic food waste offer had been discussed many times, and whilst Council officers have been motivated to partake in food waste trials with WSCC we have found that funding for such trials was dependent on moving to a 1:2:3 strategy - something our electorate oppose. Officers made representations that data gathered from a food collection with an alternate weekly strategy would be valuable as a comparator, however WSCC would not fund a food waste trial with alternate weekly collection. The Councils have procured a food waste vehicle for commercial food waste and the data and knowledge gained from this will help inform our domestic strategy going forward. A mandatory food waste scheme is not expected until 2023, but the Councils were well geared up to make that change should it be required sooner.