(maximum of 40 minutes duration)
Minutes:
Questions to members of the Cabinet and responses given were as follows:
a) Question: air quality in Chichester
Mr Galloway had submitted a question in advance which was circulated at the meeting as follows:
In view of growing concerns over air quality in parts of Chichester is the Cabinet member aware that in London there is an organisation supported by the Mayor called the London Low Emission Construction Partnership? It promotes a reduction in emissions by pressing for diesel particulate filter equipment saying this can be fitted to almost any piece of machinery for on and off road use that uses a diesel engine.
When site preparation and building work starts on the Whitehouse Farm development due to the lack of a southern access, there will be a large number of construction vehicles using residential roads in the city and these will also pass a number of schools. Among the roads involved will be Orchard Street where there have been concerns for some time over air pollution.
Will she ask the developers to follow the lead of the London Partnership and insist that construction vehicles involved in the Whitehouse Farm scheme are fitted with diesel particulate filters?
Response:
Officers considered the content of the Whitehouse Farm, Construction and Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) prior to the determination of the planning application and the draft is still subject to approval. The draft conditions relevant to Councillor Galloway’s question are:
(d) during school term time (as defined annually by the Local Education Authority for West Sussex) no HGV movements shall be made to or leave the site between the hours of 07.45-09.00 and 14.45-15.45.
(p) measures to reduce air pollution during construction including turning off vehicle engines when not in use, plant servicing, best endeavours to use EURO VI emission standard HGVs and transport reduction
The draft CEMP is intended to manage the air quality impact of the development phase both on and off-site. This includes not allowing HGV’s to travel to or from the site at school start and finish times so as to assist in road safety, traffic flow and avoiding exposure to related vehicle emissions (condition (d)). The CEMP also encourages the applicant to use best endeavours to procure Euro VI engine technology for construction haulage services (condition (p)). Unlike similar emission tests for cars the Euro VI HGV engines are performing very well in real-world testing. HGVs fitted with Euro VI engines have been available since 31 December 2013. The final CEMP will be subject to discussion with CDC and we will push for the best CEMP possible using the draft as a start point.
Councillor Galloway’s question refers to the London Low Emission Construction Partnership. The retro-fitting of Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) to which the partnership refers is for on-site plant and not HGVs travelling to and from sites. Under the Euro engine standards new HGVs have mandatorily been fitted with DPFs since 2007. Given the location of the site it is not considered that the Council would be able to justify requiring the developer to fit DPF to plant on site. This is as the air quality impact on receptors from such plants’ emissions will be minimal.
Additionally the developer submitted a written commitment to delivering the southern access to the site 21 months after commencement. This should also assist in lowering the pollution burden on the local road system. Officers are mindful of reducing the air quality impact from any development and we are currently reviewing our responses to developers in that regard. Whilst we are aware of London’s lead in this regard, air quality in Chichester City and District is generally far better than that in London.
b) Question: Government funding for homelessness
Mrs Apel was concerned at the increase in rough sleepers in the district and requested details of new central Government funding for homelessness and whether this money had been received and how it would be spent.
Response:
A written response to this question would be provided.
c) Question: Southern Rail strike
Mr Plowman was concerned the Secretary of State for Transport, Mr Grayling’s lukewarm response to the strike. He stated that people’s lives were being hugely affected, particularly jobs, relationships, education and schools, health and non-attendance at appointments and operations. He requested that this Council write to the Prime Minister to express deep concern at the Government’s lack of response to the Southern Rail situation.
Mr Oakley suggested that at the same time the Council should write to the trade unions involved.
Response:
Mr Dignum advised that it was an absurd situation and a complete breakdown in industrial relations and confirmed that he would liaise with the Chief Executive to write such a letter to the Prime Minister and to the trade unions.
d) Question: A27 Chichester Bypass Improvement Scheme
Mr Ransley asked whether, given the late reply from HE, Cabinet had reflected on their recommendation having had the option to remove the item from the agenda.
Response:
Mr Dignum advised that the Council’s recommendation had been to write to the Secretary of State. The response we had received was from HE. The recommendation today was to write to the SoS to instruct HE to do what we wanted. Mrs Hardwick advised that she had reflected on it and had abstained from the vote today.
e) Question: Marketing of the development site in Midhurst
Mr Morley asked whether the development site adjacent to the Grange in Midhurst had been actively marketed.
Response:
Mrs Keegan advised that the site had been marketed and that a deadline had been given to the preferred tenderer to provide a more detailed tender. However that the deadline had expired and the site would now be re-advertised. Mr Over (Executive Director) confirmed that the intention was to put the site back on the market.
f) Question: Chairman’s attendance at Remembrance Day services
Mr J F Elliott had written to the Chairman regarding his concern that she had not fully reported her attendance at Remembrance Day services at the last meeting. He advised that he had found this disrespectful and requested an apology.
Response:
The Chairman stated that she in no way meant to disrespect those who had lost their lives in both world wars and in subsequent wars and apologised.
g) Question: tree stumps on New Park Road
Mr J F Elliott stated that there were three large tree stumps on New Park Road which were heavily diseased and should be removed. The borders which should be retained in that area have not been looked at.
Response:
Mr Barrow responded that he would look at these and respond in writing to Mr Elliott (copy attached to the official minutes).
h) Question: Rubbish on the college roundabout
Mr Hixson was concerned at rubbish collecting at the college roundabout. He asked whether there was anything that the Council could do to request major stores to put up signs asking clients to put rubbish in bins.
Response:
Mr Barrow responded saying that there had been challenges to rubbish collection on highways due to the change of traffic regulations which require a closure of lanes. With regard to asking stores to erect signs he stated that it may be planning matter. Mr Carvell (Executive Director) was not sure that asking stores to make provision for litter would resolve the issue, as litter thrown from moving traffic would still find its way onto roundabouts. Mr Barrow undertook to provide a written response to this question (copy attached to the official minutes).
Mr Barrow continued that an article was going into the next Initiatives magazine aiming to education people about litter. Mr Shaxson applauded the work of Chichester Contract Services (CCS) in picking litter, especially in Harting where a road closure was needed and suggested that parishes be encouraged to undertake litter picking.
i) Question: Support to councils for Keep Britain Tidy event
Mr Oakley wondered what support was being given to communities to support for the Keep Britain Tidy event from 3 to 5 March 2017.
Response:
Mr Barrow advised that the Council would help with that event and that Mr Hixson had been taking a great interest in the event.
j) Question: Increase in fly tipping
Mr McAra had noticed an increase of hard-core fly tipping in his locality which reflected the new WSCC charging regime for rubble at recycling sites. He wondered whether this had been noticed district wide.
Response:
Mr Barrow advised that a recent statement from WSCC since the closure of recycling sites had suggested that there had been no spike in fly tipping. However, the CCS team was collecting evidence which showed that fly tipping had got significantly worse. WSCC had stated that if there was an increase in fly tipping that they would reimburse the Council for any increased cost. This would be discussed at an inter-authority waste group meeting later that week.
Mr Ransley suggested that the data on fly tipping could be used to write to WSCC with the evidence when seeking recompense for increased costs in collection of fly tipping.
k) Question: Future waste collection arrangements
Mrs Dignum advised that fly tipping was discussed as part of the Corporate Plan task and finish group review recently. Two councils in the country had recently introduced a once a month refuse collection and had been concerned that this would have an effect on fly tipping in their areas. She wanted reassurance that it was not this Council’s intention to alter the frequency of waste collection in the district.
Response:
Mr Barrow advised that CCS kept thorough records on fly tipping (where it was collected and how much it cost to be collected etc.) and he would be presenting this information to the inter-authority waste group. Mr Carvell, Executive Director, advised that a report was due to be considered by the Cabinet on the litter picking and cleansing regime and that further information would be added to that report on fly tipping.
l) Question: App for smartphone to allow fly tipping to be recorded
Mr Potter queried whether there was an app which could be used on a smartphone to record fly tipping.
Response:
Mrs Shepherd, Chief Executive, advised that there was a facility on the Council’s website to allow fly tipping to be reported. This was usually cleared very quickly.
Mrs Shepherd reminded members that constitutionally they had the right to ask only one oral question during Questions to the Executive.