Agenda and minutes

          The Minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 2023, having been circulated, were agreed and 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 a report from the Assistant Director for Bus (Liverpool City Region Combined Authority) which provided an overview of bus franchising in the Liverpool City Region (LCR).

Following a major public consultation in summer 2023, the LCR Mayor made the decision to build a London-style integrated public transport network and bring bus services into public control in order to improve connectivity; facilitate social mobility; and provide a lifeline to the most vulnerable. 

The Board also received a presentation which outlined the proposed objectives, the timeline for implementation, the change to roles and responsibilities and the scope and priorities of the franchise.

Overall, members of the Board were in favour of the proposals and following discussions, further information was provided in answer to some of the questions raised: 

·       The budget had been set for the transition work and further costs would be set out in the consultation;

·       Non-electric buses would be phased out in line with net zero targets;

·       The LCR will own their own depots; these would look very different in the future due to technology required to work with net zero targets; and

·       Employees would be transferred to new depot via TUPE.

Resolved:  That Members of the Board note the contents of the report and presentation.

The Board received a report from the Corporate Director, Chief Executive’s Delivery Unit, which gave an update on ‘The Big Conversation’, since it was presented at the last meeting in November 2023.  The report shared the analysis of the consultation and outlined the next steps. 

The report set out the five themes which had all been scored highly by stakeholders in terms of what they deemed to be a priority:

• Improving health, promoting wellbeing and supporting greater independence – 93%;
• Building a strong, sustainable local economy – 91%;
• Supporting children, young people and families – 89%;
• Tackling inequality, helping those who were most in need – 84%; and
• Working towards a greener future – 78%.

   In addition to these, stakeholders were asked to identify any additional themes which they felt were significant and those were the environment, local economy and housing.  This feedback resulted in a sixth priority being created called “Place and Community”. 

          Members were advised that the consultation closed on 30 November 2023 and the total number of responses received was 1,076; an analysis of the feedback was outlined in the report. 

          A copy of the draft Corporate Plan was emailed to Members on 6 February 2024 for information and this would be presented to the Executive Board for approval on 22 February 2024. Thereafter, it would be launched in April 2024.

Members were also advised that following the launch, a further piece of work would be carried out, linked to the performance management framework, and this would be presented to future Policy and Performance Boards.

          RESOLVED:  That:

1)    the report be noted; and

2)    the Board continues to endorse the approach to facilitate the implementation of a new Corporate Plan.

          The Board considered a report of the Executive Director, Environment and Regeneration that sought approval from the Board on the proposed update to the Local Development Scheme (LDS) (Appendix 1).  The LDS underpinned Halton’s Delivery and Allocations Local Plan which provided a timetable for a number of Supplementary Planning Documents due in 2023/24.

            In accordance with the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, Local Authorities were required to prepare, maintain and publish information on LDS on an annual basis.  Once the LDS had been approved by the Council’s Executive Board, it would be made available on its website.

          RESOLVED: That the Halton Borough Council Local Development Scheme 2021 Revision (Appendix 1) be endorsed and presented to Executive Board for approval.

          The Board considered a report of the Executive Director, Environment and Regeneration that sought approval on the proposed draft Electric Vehicle Charging Point (ECP) Strategy. 

          The Strategy set out the ECP infrastructure implementation plan, which would help the Council’s long-term commitment to reach net zero in 2041.  It also explored a pathway to meet the future needs of residents and businesses in the Borough.

          Members were advised that endorsement of the Strategy would enable officers to seek external funding opportunities from the Liverpool City Region (LCR).

          The report outlined the vision for Halton’s ECP Strategy which would identify future need and delivery strategy for electric vehicle charging infrastructure within the Borough. By 2032, it was estimated that Halton would require 1520 residential chargepoint sockets across 312 locations; 496 destination chargepoints across 17 catchment areas (long stay hubs such as hospitals and schools); and 228 rapid chargers over 18 catchment areas (short stay hubs such as supermarkets and fuel stations).  The Strategy set out how these may be distributed and delivered. 

Members of the Board expressed concerns and frustrations regarding the inequality of the EVC’s, for example, those on lower incomes or those who do not have driveways to install chargers at their homes; those that abuse the charging bays by parking non-electric cars in the bays; and the price variants of EVC’s across the Borough. 

          Members were advised that the Council had worked with operators to cap the charges where possible to be as equable as possible, however, there was no Government legislation to enforce that but the pilot areas would be monitored.  The Council had also worked with Scottish Power Energy Networks to install charging points in Runcorn Old Town where there was a severe lack of energy supply and funding had been secured with the LCR to upgrade sub-stations.

          RESOLVED:  That the Board endorse the Electric Vehicle Charging Point Strategy.   

Members of the Board received a report from the Executive Director, Environment and Regeneration, regarding the draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) on Climate Change. 

The Council adopted a revised Climate Change Strategy in April 2022 which set a target to be net zero by 2040.  It set out both short-term and long-term actions.  To date, the Council had successfully implemented a range of actions aimed at reducing its carbon footprint and the Climate Change SPD would provide a useful tool in assisting the Council to meet the targets set out in the action plan.  The SPD would also introduce further guidance on measures to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change that may otherwise result from new development proposals.

          In accordance with the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement and the regulations set out in the Town and Country Planning Act, the Council was required to consult on the SPD for a minimum of 28 days.  It would also need to produce an Adoption Statement as outlined in the report.  Thereafter, the SPD would require approval from the Council’s Executive Board.

          RESOLVED:  That the Board endorse the draft SPD for public consultation.

The Board received the Draft Authority Monitoring Reports (AMR) from the Executive Director, Environment and Regeneration which provided a progress update on the Halton Delivery and Allocations Local Plan (DALP) policies for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.  It also contained the Housing AMR and the Economy AMR.

          Local planning authorities were required to publish information, at least annually, that showed progress with local plan preparation.  They also needed to report any activity relating to the duty to co-operate, provide any information which may have been collected relating to indicators in the plan and highlight any polices which had not been implemented. 

          RESOLVED: That the Board endorse the draft AMP’s so that the documents can be made publicly available and published on the Council’s website.

The Board received the Performance Monitoring Report for Quarter 3 of 2023/24.

The key priorities for development of improvement in 2023/24 were agreed by Members and included in Directorate Plans for the various function areas reported to the Board as detailed below: 

·       Development and Investment Services;

·       Highways and Transportation, Logistics and Development Services; and

·       Waste and Environmental Improvement and Open Space Services. 

The reports detailed progress against service objectives and milestones, and performance targets and provided information relating to key developments and emerging issues that had arisen during the period.

Members were asked to note the good progress on the projects set out in the report and also note the Directorate’s positive budget position as set out in pages 448-466 of the report.  

          RESOLVED:  That the Quarterly 3 Performance Monitoring Reports be received and comments made be noted.