Agenda for Environment & Economy Select Committee on Tuesday, 10 March 2020, 6.00pm

Agenda and decisions

Venue: Shimkent Room - Daneshill House, Danestrete. View directions

Contact: Lisa Jerome 01438 242203 

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Decision:

There were no apologies for absence and no declarations of interest.

2.

MINUTES - 11 FEBRUARY 2020 pdf icon PDF 64 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Environment and Economy Select Committee held on 11 February 2020.

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Environment and Economy Select Committee held on 11 February 2020 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

3.

ENVIRONMENT & ECONOMY SELECT COMMITTEE WORK PROGRAMME 2020-21 pdf icon PDF 142 KB

To agree the Scrutiny Work Programme for the Select Committee for the new Municipal Year 2020-21.

Decision:

The Scrutiny Officer presented a report detailing potential items for the Committee’s Work Programme for the new Municipal Year.

 

Following discussion it was RESOLVED:

 

(1)   that the items listed below be included in the 2020/2021 work programme:

 

·         Continuation of the review of Neighbourhood Centres;

·         The economic and environmental impact of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) on the Town;

·         Climate Change Strategy including individual issues such as recycling, grasslands, trees, transport and parks.

 

(2)  That the policy development work identified for the Portfolio Holder Advisory Group meetings be noted.

 

4.

REVIEW OF NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRES - UPDATE pdf icon PDF 79 KB

To receive an update from the Scrutiny Officer regarding the Review of Neighbourhood Centres.

Decision:

The Scrutiny Officer gave an update regarding the Review of the Neighbourhood Centres following the site visits to Oaks Cross, The Oval, Symonds Green, Bedwell and St Nicholas. Photographs of the visits were circulated and shown at the meeting.

 

Members agreed that the outcomes of the Community Centre Review which was currently being undertaken by the Council would have an impact on this review.

 

The following issues were raised:

 

Oaks Cross

 

·         Trees had been removed from the planters;

·         Some Members had used locality budgets for neighbourhood improvements;

·         Fly tipping at the rear of the commercial premises was an issue;

·         Unsightly barbed wire around a storage area;

·         Possible evidence of drug use;

·         The area could be enhanced by changing colours of the concrete around the centre which was all one colour and very drab;

·         Half finished painting on the wall.

 

Symonds Green

 

·         The area to the rear of the shops was unsightly particularly where the scaffolding was in place;

·         Members were pleased to hear of the successful programme at the recently expanded Community Centre.

 

St Nicholas

 

·         Unsightly security fence probably from the 1990’s;

·         2 concrete planters previously situated in the Town Centre had been purchased through a Member’s LCB allocation which would be installed shortly. Clarification was sought regarding whether or not a fee should be payable for these previously used planters which were currently stored at Cavendish Road Depot to be redeployed in Neighbourhood Centres;

·         A new notice board would be put up in the centre;

·         The telephone box had now been removed;

·         There was a dispute regarding the ownership and responsibility for the damaged wall and flagstones to the rear of the community centre which was currently being looked into;

·         Officers agreed to check to see if the area was included on the replacement programme for rails and shrub beds;

 

The Oval

 

·         The damaged steps were dangerous and could easily result in accidents and potential claims. There was still a dispute regarding ownership and responsibility for the repairs between SBC and HCC. Strategic Director (TP) agreed to take the matter up with the appropriate officers. Councillor Callaghan also advised she would speak to the HCC Portfolio Holder responsible for highways;

·         New signage and a new mural would shortly be in place;

·         The flower beds would be full of wild flowers in the summer. Cllr Callaghan as Chair of the Community Garden advised that a national charity offering crocus bulbs had been approached and that these would be planted late in the year for flowers to come up early next year.

 

Bedwell

 

·      All but one of the shops were let;

·         Paint was peeling on some of the railings and a deep clean was required;

·         Graffiti on walls including the mural which needed updating;

·         Cash machines all charged a fee for use.

 

Members were keen that any lessons learnt from this review should be fed into new developments such as the Town Centre and Bragbury End.

 

It was RESOLVED:

 

(i)            That the individual actions noted above and those included in  ...  view the full decision text for item 4.

5.

URGENT PART 1 BUSINESS

To consider any Part 1 business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

Decision:

None.

6.

EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS

To consider the following motions –

 

1.  That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

 

2.  That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

 

Decision:

Not required.

7.

URGENT PART II BUSINESS

To consider any Part II business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

Decision:

None.