Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 25^th November 2015, having been circulated, were signed as a correct record.

            The Board considered the Minutes of the meetings of the Executive Board relevant to the Environment and Urban Renewal Policy and Performance Board.

            RESOLVED: That the Minutes be received.

            The Board received the draft Minutes relating to the Environment and Regeneration Specialist Strategic Partnership from 19^th May 2015.

            RESOLVED: That the Minutes be received.

          The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Community and Resources, which detailed the second quarter performance management report for 2015/16 on progress against service objectives/milestones and performance targets and provided information relating to key developments and emerging issues that had arisen in relation to:-

·       Development and Investment Services;

·       Highways and Transportation, Logistics and Development Services;

·       Waste and Environmental Improvement and Open Space Services; and

·       Housing Strategy.

RESOLVED: That the second quarter management report be noted.

          The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Community and Resources, which advised on objections that had been received following public consultation on a proposed Traffic Regulation Order to introduce “At Any Time” waiting restrictions on part of Naughton Road, Widnes. In August 2015, the intention to introduce “At Any Time” waiting restrictions on part of Naughton Road, Widnes was advertised. This was in response to a request from a Ward Councillor on behalf of adjacent residents. The residents’ complaints concerned obstructive parking close to the junction of Naughton Road with Cameron Road.

          Consequently, two objections had been received, details of which were outlined in the report, together with officers’ responses.  The main issue in Naughton Road related to parking outide the residents’ houses, particularly when there were matches at the Stadium. Members were advised that residents’ had now advised that they no longer wanted the restrictions as the restrictions would apply to them, even when there was no match at the Stadium. Therefore, it was recommended that the Board should not support the original proposal.

          RESOLVED: That this Board does not support the proposal to introduce an Order to implement waiting restrictions on Naughton Road, Widnes, as set out in Appendix B, on the grounds of the objections received, and that the report be submitted to the Executive Board for its consideration.

          The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Community and Resources, which advised on an objection which had been received following public consultation on a proposed Traffic Regulation Order to introduce various waiting restrictions on sections of various roads in Hale Village. In August 2015, after public consultation with residents, the Parish Council and Ward Councillor, limited waiting restrictions were introduced on parts of Ireland Road and Hesketh Road in Hale Village adjacent to Hale C of E Primary School. The waiting restrictions were introduced to address parking obstruction issues near to the School gate at school times and also through the school working day. All properties fronting the proposed restrictions received a notice letter individually hand delivered, notices were posted on site and also advertised in the local paper. During the consultation period, no objections were received.

          The Board was advised that the requisite yellow lines were unfortunately applied incorrectly, extending several metres further north along both sides of Hesketh Road than should have been the case. As a result, complaints were received from residents who fronted the area where yellow lines were installed incorrectly and who had not been consulted on the original proposals as they would not have been affected. Following a site meeting with affected residents and discussions with the Ward Councillor, it was agreed that apart from removing the erroneously installed lines, consultation would take place on minor alterations to the extent of the recently placed waiting restrictions adjacent to 21 Hesketh Road and also on the introduction of junction protection restrictions on the Wellington Gate/Hesketh Road junction.

          It was reported that during the subsequent consultation process, an objection was received from a household near to the entrance of Hale C of E Primary School off Hesketh Road, objecting to both the existing waiting restrictions and the proposed revisions and requesting all waiting restrictions be removed from the area. Details of the objection and officers’ responses were outlined in the report. Members were advised that the main issue related to parking, particularly at school times and the original request came from the Parish Council a resident of Hesketh Road. The problem would continue to exist without any restrictions. As the proposed restrictions only applied during the working day, to deal with the original complaints and minimise the inconvenience for residents, it was therefore recommended that the objection be overruled.

          RESOLVED: That this Board supports the proposal to introduce Orders to implement revised waiting restrictions on various roads in Hale Village as set out in Appendix B and that the report be submitted to the Executive Board for its consideration.

          The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Community and Resources, which sought approval for the Policy, Strategy and Objectives of Chapters 1 to 4 of the Draft Highway Asset Management Plan. Approval of these Chapters would enable further development of the remaining Chapters which would cover the Operational Plan and Procedure.

          Members were advised that a Highway Asset Management Plan (HAMP) was a guidance document used by the Council’s Highways Service which identified current assets, developed a framework for Asset Management to enhance existing good practices and improve the management of the highway network and addressed maintenance challenges moving forward. Some of the potential benefits of adopting Asset Management practices were as follows:

·       Formalised and documented standards and processes;

·       Provided an informed response to budget pressures;

·       Recorded assets and what condition they were in;

·       Allowed an understanding how infrastructure had aged and the risks associated with it;

·       Led to consistency of practices;

·       Provided an audit trail;

·       Assisted with managing public expectations; and

·       Acknowleged that future spending requirements were not always the same as historical ones.

It was also noted that unless each local Highway Authority was actively committed to Asset Management and other Highways Maintenance Efficiency Programme principles, then they could expect a cut in future funding of up to 15.5% by 2020/21, through the Incentive Element Funding Formula. This demonstrated the importance for the Council to develop and sustain its highway asset management capability.

RESOLVED: That

1)    Chapters 1 to 4 inclusive of the Draft Highway Asset Management Plan (attached as Appendix 1) be endorsed;

2)    the Board recommend, for approval, the adoption of Chapters 1 to 4 by the Executive Board; and

3)    the remaining chapters of the HAMP be brought to this Board for its consideration at the appropriate time.

          The Board considered a copy of the Waste Local Plan (WLP) Monitoring Report for 2014/15, which was the second annual report prepared by the Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service (MEAS) on behalf of the six Liverpool City Region Councils. The Joint WLP for Merseyside and Halton was adopted by Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St. Helens and Wirral Councils (together with six partner councils), with effect from 18^th July 2013. The WLP Plan Period was from 2013 to 2027 and formed part of Halton’s adopted development plan.

          Production of a Monitoring Report was a statutory requirement under Regulation 34 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, which required Local Authorities to publish a Monitoring Report on an at least annual basis.

          The second Monitoring Report covered the 12 months period from 1^st April 2014 to the end of the financial year 31^st March 2015 and highlighted developments within the LCR and Halton. Due to some of the Merseyside local authorities’ monitoring information not being available, it was difficult to take a City Region-wide judgement on overall performance. However, from a Halton perspective, Halton had performed well and continued to improve its Waste Management procedures.

          RESOLVED: That the report be noted.