43.
MINUTES
RESOLVED :
THAT the Minutes of the meeting held on 25 November 2003 be confirmed.
44.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
No interests were declared at this stage.
45.
URGENT
BUSINESS
The Chairman agreed to an urgent item of business
being raised relating to the announcement, that week, that the Council’s
submission for special transport grant relating to works at Undercliff Drive,
Ventnor, amounting to £12.1m, and bridge works, amounting to £750,000. The
Portfolio Holder indicated that the Council had also been granted an additional
£370,000 grant because of its performance during 2003/04 on the implementation
of schemes in accordance with the Local Transport Plan.
RESOLVED :
THAT
the matter be noted.
46.
INTEGRATED WASTE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT
(During the course of the debate on this item Mr A J
Mundy and Mr G P Price declared a personal interest in aspects of waste
management)
The Chairman welcomed Mr B Gilmore, General Manager
of Island Waste, to the meeting. The Select Committee was advised by the Head
of Engineering Services of the key aspects of the operation of the Integrated
Waste Management Contract since members last debated the matter in December
2002. The background to the contract, which started in October 1997, was
outlined. This had allowed a substantial investment to be made in the Island’s
waste management infrastructure. This had enabled high levels of recycling to
be achieved, although these had been affected since October 2002 following the
closure of the power plant operation adjacent to the processing plant in Forest
Road, Newport. Island Waste’s parent company, Biffa, were in negotiations to
acquire the facility.
Members were advised of some of the Best Value
Performance Indicators relating to waste services. This identified the Island
as a high achiever in respect of recycling and diversion of waste from
landfill. However, as a result the recycling targets set for the Council by the
Government were proportionately higher than for other lower achieving Councils.
This placed an additional burden on the Council to divert still higher amounts
of material. The collection of trade and commercial waste did not form part of
the contract and was undertaken by
other licensed operators including Biffa.
The Select Committee viewed a video describing the
waste collection, management and street cleansing operations undertaken by
Island Waste on behalf of the Council.
The Select Committee clarified elements of the
contract. The contract was for a back door collection service. Whilst there
were problems with black plastic sacks splitting any change to an alternative
form, such as wheelie bins, would be the subject of negotiations between the
Council and Island Waste. Collections were also not to commence before 6.00 am.
Mr Gilmore advised that Island Waste employed 135 staff in its operation. When
the company first took over operations it had 78 staff transferred from the
Council.
The former landfill site at Lynnbottom had been
progressively restored to return the area to heathland. Additional works had
been recently undertaken with both the National Trust and the Forestry
Commission to further develop areas of the restored site. In addition a gas
utilisation scheme had been developed, in conjunction with Island Waste and
BETEC (a subsidiary of Biffa) to utilise landfill gas from Lynnbottom and
Standen Heath landfill sites, which would use a waste product to produce
electricity.
RESOLVED :
THAT the targets being achieved under the Integrated
Waste Management Contract be welcomed.
47.
LOCAL AGENDA 21
(During the course of the debate Mr G P Price
declared a personal interest in a domestic appliance industry project)
The Chairman welcomed Mr J Fawcett, the newly
appointed Principal Policy Officer with responsibility for Health and
Sustainable Development.
The Select Committee was reminded of the extensive
community involvement in the Council’s Agenda 21 Strategy. It was necessary for
the Council to take on a leadership role so to encourage the adoption of its
principles across all sectors on the Island. The four priority areas were
Environmental Stewardship, Sustainable Economy, Sustainable Transport and
Sustainable Resource Management. Work on these required close working with the
Isle of Wight Primary Care Trust.
Linked in with the aspirations of the Agenda 21
Strategy were the Ecological Footprint, Green Island Awards and the Renewable
Energy Strategy. There was a need to recognise that all policies should take
into account initiatives contained in these. The Select Committee was advised
that the strategies would have to be amended to reflect changes brought about
by new advancements and changing circumstances.
The Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Development,
Environment and Planning Policy referred to the work required to raise the
profile of Agenda 21 across all Council Services. The principles involved were
widely supported but this had to be reflected in positive action being taken.
Members were made aware that the Best Value Review of procurement, currently
being undertaken, looked at sustainability of supplies. It was also noted that
the Council now purchased all its energy supplies from renewable sources.
RESOLVED :
THAT the Select Committee consider progress being
made by the Council on the four priority areas identified within the Local
Agenda 21 Strategy in 12 months time.
48.
MEMBERS’ QUESTION TIME
Mr J Effemey submitted three written questions in relation to the
capital scheme at Ventnor Haven, bus lane at St Mary’s Hospital and the Forest
Road junction with the main Newport to Cowes Road. A copy of the questions and
replies given are contained in the Members' Question Register.
CHAIRMAN