Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors N M Murray and C J T H Brewis.

There were no declarations of interest declared at this point in the meeting.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 December 2015 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

The Executive Councillor for Economic Development, Environment, Planning and Tourism advised the Environmental Scrutiny Committee of the following items:-

·         That during the following week he was meeting with the Chief Executive of the Environment Agency to discuss issues pertaining to Lincolnshire;

·         That Black Sluice Internal Drainage Board were discussing the potential for taking on responsibility for the Black Sluice Pumping Station from the Environment Agency; and

·         That a four year funding package had been secured for the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which would need to be match-funded locally.

The Committee asked the Executive Councillor the following questions:-

·         The Lincolnshire situation regarding anaerobic digesters.  The Committee noted that there were a number in Lincolnshire, some were farm based; and some were industrial based.  Some applications were dealt with by District Councils, some by the County Council.  It was felt that this created grey areas, the ideal situation would be for the County to deal with applications under the Waste and Mineral Plan, with District's acting as a consultee.  It was highlighted that if the proposed devolution bid was successful, better joint working would be happening;

·         A member of the Committee asked the Executive Councillor if he could raise with the Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, the issue of the River Steeping.  The Executive Councillor advised that the meeting was for more strategic matters such as the impact of the winter storms and long term planning. 

(To receive a report which provides the Committee with an update on the Water Recycling Centres)

Consideration was given to a report which provided the Committee with a summary of the situation regarding odours from Ingoldmells, Spalding and Fishtoft Water Recycling Centres (previously Sewage Treatment Works).

The Committee received a joint verbal update from Paul Dimbleby (Tactical Support Manager, Anglian Water) and Brian Kane (Anglian Water), which provided the Committee with an update with regard to odours at each of the three premises below:-

Ingoldmells Water Recycling Centre

The Committee were advised that they had received nine odour complaints relating to Ingoldmells, and that no complaints had been received since August 2015.  The complaints received had been received from two properties, investigations had then identified that the source of the odours were localised issues in the sewer networks and not from the Water Recycling Centre. One of the properties was on a caravan site and the other was upstream from a section of sewer that had been prone to partial blockage with grease and fat discharge from local trade premises.  As a result Anglian Water had increased the frequency of cleaning this particular length of sewer and as a result had not received and further complaints.

The report also highlighted that Anglian Water had invested almost £1,000,000 at the Ingoldmells Recycling Centre and the Ingoldmells Sewerage Network.  Details relating to the works carried out were shown within the report presented.

It was also highlighted that community engagement had taken place and a resident's group odour meeting would be held later in the year.

Spalding Water Recycling Centre

It was reported that there had been six odour complaints relating to the Spalding Water Recycling Centre during 2015, (two in July, one in August, two in October and one in November).  The complaints had been reported by two nearby commercial properties.  The Committee were advised that the six complaints had been linked to Anglian Water having the temporary loss of one of their on-site chemical septicity treatments, or the increased sludge on-site as a result of high loads received from food traders which had increased production before Christmas.  The problems had been rectified within 24/48 hours.

The Committee noted that the Spalding Recycling Centre had during 2015 been running on a trial, which had involved mixing iron rich sludge from other water recycling centres with sludge produced on site at Spalding.  The trial had been successful in significantly reducing the amount of odorous sulphide gas released during sludge dewatering. It was reported that funding had now been obtained to install an iron dosing system on site.

In conclusion, the Committee was advised that Anglian water continued to review the location and volumes of chemical used in the light of samples results, of their odour monitoring and any customer complaints.  The Committee was advised that works had identified a location where the discharges from two factories had combined to rapidly produce septic conditions in the downstream sewers and ultimately at Spalding Water Recycling Centre.  It was hoped to address this issue by installing an additional nitrate dosing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56.

(To receive a verbal update which provides the Committee with more information in relation to the Lincolnshire Energy Switch Scheme)

The Committee received a verbal presentation from Steve Willis, Chief Operating Officer, which provided information in relation to the Lincolnshire Energy Switch Scheme.

The Committee were advised that collective energy switching was a way for communities to try and get cheaper gas and electricity tariffs from energy suppliers, rather than just switching energy provider as an individual.

All a resident needed to do was to register their interest in the scheme to look for a cheaper energy tariff.  At the end of the registration period which was reported as being 1 February, an auction was the held on the 2 February with energy suppliers to find out which one would provide the best price.

It was reported that in the most recent auction held in May 2015, the average saving per household to take up their offer was £220.85, and 3,000 householders had expressed an interest to date.

Members were advised that a further report would be presented to the next meeting advising the Committee of the outcome of the February auction.

During discussion, the Committee raised the following issues:-

·         One member enquired with the IT problems were residents still able to register up to the deadline.  Officers agreed to look in to this matter;

·         Clarification was given that the County Council did not underwrite the arrangement; it only acted as a broker in this matter.  One member suggested that residents would have more confidence in such a scheme with the County Council being involved;

·         Some concern was expressed that signed up to the scheme involved using IT, which the elderly and more vulnerable people in the community did not always have access to;

·         Clarification was given that once the auction had been completed, and an offer was made, it was up to the individual if they accepted, or not;

·         Some members felt that the systems needed to be promoted more, particularly to those without access to IT.  A suggestion was made that better promotion needed to be done by an article in County News.

RESOLVED

1.    That the verbal update be noted.

2.    That a update report on the Lincolnshire Energy Switch Scheme be presented to the next meeting of the Environment Scrutiny Committee.

(To receive a report which describes the budget proposals arising from the Local Government Finance Settlement issued on 17 December 2015 and its implications for the commissioning strategy "Sustaining & Developing Prosperity Through Infrastructure" which included the following activities: waste; Flood and Water Risk Management; Natural Environment; Sustainability; and Planning)

Consideration was given to a report from Richard Wills, Executive Director for Environment and Economy, which described the budget proposals arising from the Local Government Finance Settlement, issued on 17 December 2015; and its implications for the commissioning strategy Sustaining & Developing Prosperity through Infrastructure, which included the following activities:-

·         Waste;

·         Flood & water Risk Management;

·         Natural Environment;

·         Sustainability; and

·         Planning

Member received an introduction to the budget proposal from Michelle Grady (Head of Finance – Communities).  Background details relating to the budget were shown on page 11 of the report presented.  It was highlighted that the budget proposals reflected the level of government funding available to the Council and the proposal to increase Council Tax in 2016/17 by 3.95%.   For the second year running, the Council was only able to set a one year budget.  This was as a result of the continued reductions in government funding, growing cost pressures from demand led services and the Council's responsibility from 2016/17 to pay staff and contractors the National Living Wage. 

The budget proposals made by the Executive therefore had taken a mixed approach to meeting the current challenges of reduced levels of local government funding.  It was highlighted that during the next twelve months the Council would have to explore further opportunities to bridge the gap between the funding available and levels of expenditure.

Information relating to the Proposed Revenue Budget for 2016/17 for Protecting & Sustaining the Environment was circulated to members at the meeting. 

Councillor Marc Jones the Executive Councillor with responsibility for Finance and Property advised that a series of seven budget consultation meetings had been held around the County in January 2016, to get feedback on the proposed budget.  It was also reported that the Council had consulted with representatives of businesses, District Councils, Police and other partner organisations; and that the budget proposals had been published on the Council's website and members of the public had been invited to comment on the proposals accordingly.

It was noted that the collectable amount of Business Rates collected by the seven District Council's in Lincolnshire; and a top up grant from Central Government would still not be enough to cover local authority spending in the area.  It was noted further that only 10% of the business rates collected locally was passed on to the Council.

Steve Willis (Chief Operating Officer) presented to the Committee the Proposed Revenue Budget for 2016/17, for Protecting and Sustaining the Environment.  It was reported that currently the Council spent £22.467m revenue and £6.65m of capital expenditure delivering waste management services, planning, flood and water risk management, the natural and built environment and carbon emissions.

Waste Management

The Committee were advised that Waste Management was a statutory provision, and therefore the function had to be undertaken.  The disposal cost and the cost for provision of waste treatment amounted to £15m.  It was noted that there was an expectation that a saving could be made in 2016/17 from dry recycling, however, a change in market prices for materials  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

(To receive a report which enables the Committee to consider and comment on the content of its work programme for the coming year)

Consideration was given to a report from Richard Wills, Director responsible for Democratic Services, which invited the Committee to consider and comment on the content of its work programme for the coming year.

Daniel Steel, (Scrutiny Officer), presented the report to the Committee, highlighting to members that from today's meeting, two items would be added to the forward plan for 11 March 2016, these were:

·         Water Recycling Centres Update (for centres who had received complaints during the last 12 months period – specific requested was made for the Boston Water Recycling Centre); and

·         Update on the Lincolnshire Energy Switching Scheme for 11 March 2016 meeting.

The Scrutiny Officer also advised that since the last meeting, a further item had been added to the Committees work programme for 11 March 2016, which was a Capital Appraisal for Boston Household Waste Recycling Centre (A pre-decision scrutiny item for Executive Councillor Decision on 18 March 2016).

The Chairman explained to the Committee that as a result of the increased items on the Flood and Drainage Management Scrutiny Committee, whether members of the Environmental Scrutiny Committee would support increases to the number of Flood and Drainage Management Scrutiny Committee meetings; and a reduction to the number of Environmental Scrutiny meetings.

The Committee agreed for the Chairman and Vice-Chairman in association with officers to re-adjust the scheduled meeting dates; and report back to the next meeting of the Committee (11 March 2016) their proposals.

RESOLVED

1.    That the report be noted and that the Appendix A as presented be agreed subject to the inclusion of the two items detailed above.

2.      That a report be presented to the 11 March 2016 meeting detailing the way forward with regard to Flood and Drainage and Environmental Scrutiny Committee meeting dates.