MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORT SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON FRIDAY, 30 JULY 2004 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM

 

Present :

 

Mr G P Price (Chairman), Mr J R Adams, Mr M J Cunningham, Mr J Effemey (deputising for Mr A J Mundy), Mrs M J Miller, Mr V J Morey, Mr R C Richards, Mr A A Taylor (deputising for Mrs E Oulton)

 

Portfolio Holder :

 

Mrs T M Butchers, Mr E Fox

 

Apologies :

 

Mr A J Mundy, Mrs E Oulton

 

Also Present (non voting) :

 

Mr A C Bartlett, Miss H L Humby

 

 

 


12.              MINUTES

 

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2004 were confirmed.

 

13.              DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

There were no declarations at this stage.

 

14.              PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

 

A question had been submitted that morning by Mr P Cave in relation to the new car park at the old Hurst site in Sea Street being designated as short stay.

 

The Head of Engineering Services indicated that the location was ideally suited for short stay.

 

15.               FORWARD PLAN

 

The Select Committee was advised of the items contained in the Forward Plan for August 2004 to November 2004 relating to areas coming within its remit.

 

Members were made aware of a delegated decision to be made by the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Development, Environment and Planning Policy relating to the public convenience cleaning and minor maintenance contract.  The need for the Council to ensure that the performance of the successful tenderer was maintained throughout the contract period was stressed.  Failure to keep facilities at seaside locations up to standard could seriously affect the Blue Flag status of the Islands beaches.

 

The Select Committee was advised of the existing system for dealing with non compliance.  Similar conditions had been included within the new contract.  The Head of Engineering Services explained the difficulties that would be encountered if the terms under which tenders had been sought were amended at this late stage.  Members noted that the award of the contract was already being looked at by Councillor Joyce and there would not be sufficient time for a Task Group to look at the issues raised.

 

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY COUNCILLOR P JOYCE :

 

THAT in looking at the contract on behalf of the Resources Select Committee he ensures that the conditions relating to performance are sufficiently robust.

 

16.              CHARGING AND TRADING UNDER THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 2003

 

The Head of Engineering Services indicated that it had not been possible, within the timescales and resources available, to submit an in depth report on the implications of the new powers available to the Council under the Local Government Act 2003.  He believed that it might be necessary to establish a Task Group to look at the potential brought about by the new legislation.

 

The Select Committee indicated that this issue had been raised as a priority area at the Awayday following comments made by the Head of Engineering Services and Portfolio Holder.  It was believed that by reviewing existing policies changes could be implemented which could raise additional revenue for 2005/06.  Although there was a need to look at charging and trading corporately there were major implications for highways.

 

Members concluded that it would be useful to have a report on the activities that could be incorporated in the revised policy.

 

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE HEAD OF ENGINEERING SERVICES, HEAD OF LEGAL AND DEMOCRATIC SERVICES AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER :

 

A report on the implications arising from the new charging and trading powers available to the Council be reported to the October 2004 meeting.

 

17.              SAFETY CAMERA PARTNERSHIP – FUNDING

 

The Select Committee was reminded that at its meeting on 25 June 2004 representatives of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Safety Camera Partnership had outlined its operations since being established in April 2002.  Arising from that meeting the Chairman of the Select Committee had sought clarification on funding and the relevant details were contained in the report of the Head of Select Committee and Best Value Support.

 

The Chairman circulated a letter from Superintendent M Bradford of Hampshire Constabulary’s Road Policing Unit who was also the Chair of the Safety Camera Partnership Steering Group.  Superintendent Bradford raised concern as to views being expressed publicly on funding arrangements.

 

The Select Committee were in total support of the aims and objectives of the Safety Camera Partnership.  It was however raising views expressed by the public over the clarity, transparency and local accountability of funding arrangements.  Members accepted that safety cameras were not a source of revenue but a means of reducing the number of deaths and injuries arising from accidents caused through inappropriate speed.  The balance of the monies arising from fixed penalty notices issued for speeding offences was returned to the Treasury.  The Select Committee considered that it would be more appropriate if this could be utilised for other road safety initiatives.  The legislation had been drafted in such a way as to allow this to happen, but it was not the Government’s intention to implement such arrangements at the present time.

 

The Select Committee discussed the possibility of such surplus income going into a central fund which local authorities could then bid for when wishing to undertake safety initiatives.  Consideration was also given to whether there should be an elected member on the Partnership.  It was believed that this was not necessary at the present time.

 

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE HEAD OF SELECT COMMITTEE AND BEST VALUE SUPPORT

 

A request be made to the Department for Transport for consideration to be given to the surplus funds generated through Safety Camera Partnerships to be held centrally to enable Police Authorities and Highway Authorities to jointly bid for new road safety initiatives where there is a proven local need.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN