Agenda item

(To receive a report which sets out the work programmes of the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee; Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee; and the Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee, in accordance with the Board's agreed programme)

The Chairman of the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee, the Chairman of the Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee and the Chairman of the Flood and Water Management Committee outlined the recent work undertaken by their committees, and the prospective work programmes.

Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions to the Chairmen in relation to the information contained within the update and the work programmes, and some of the points raised during discussion included the following:

Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee

• The potential impact on County Farms of replacing the European funding subsidy was referred to.

·         It was felt that there could be some negative impacts within the Agriculture Bill including whether there would be any impact on the ability of the County Council to dispose of county farms land.  However, it was observed that it was not the Council's policy to dispose of county farms.  If a tenant was reaching retirement age, then the authority would look at succession planning and would encourage this where possible.  It was also noted that if there were a number of small parcels of land that the Council would see if these could be combined to form a larger parcel.

·         Members were advised that Councillor Dobson, Chairman of the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee had attended the forum which aimed to influence the Agriculture Bill.

·         There was a need to consider the availability of electric car charging points in car parks throughout the county. It was suggested that the North Sea Observatory might be a good location for a charging part in that area of the east coast. (Councillor K Cook declared an interest and left the meeting as her company was an installer of electric car charging points.)

·         It was noted that the Council was working with Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) sites to find out what could be done in terms of simplifying the message around recycling.

·         It was noted that the company Mars had a scheme encouraging customers to return plastic bags from their pet food products to them free of charge for recycling.

·         In terms of education, it was highlighted that the Energy from Waste facility in North Hykeham ran a programme of school trips for young people to learn about how the waste was processed.

·         Councillor Mrs Brockway requested that if there was any action in relation to the Riseholme site, she would like to be informed.

·         It was noted that the theme for this years' Looked After Children and Care Leavers FAB awards had been recycling.

·         In terms of the future work programme, interest was expressed in further consideration of Lincolnshire's developing relationship with the Hunan province in China and that as part of this it was important to consider the ethics of any business relationship.

·         It was noted that there was a reference to an item in relation to the Skegness Countryside Business Park and members were advised that this outline plans for the development of a new business park in Skegness.

Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee

·         It was noted that the schedules for the April and June 2019 meetings of the Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee were full, but that they did not include any items in relation to the Lincoln Western Growth Corridor.  It was noted that there had been a press release by the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT.  It was thought that there was a need for improvements to the Birchwood roundabout, and that the infrastructure should be in place before any new houses were built and it was suggested whether something could be added to the work programme to consider this.  It was highlighted that these issues may come under the Lincoln Transport Strategy, which would be coming to the next meeting, and any concerns should be put forward at that point.

·         In terms of the winter treatment of roads, it was queried whether there was any room in the system to introduce additional roads for treatment.  It was noted that the Council had maintained the same number of roads and the policy had always been that if a new road was added then one needed to be taken out of the winter salting routes.  The winter maintenance report was on the agenda for the next meeting.  If there was a new route that members wanted included, there needed to be a case made for it.

·         It was queried whether there were any plans to programme in an item on the Coastal Highway.  It was noted that it was listed as an item to be programmed, but there was not a date for it as yet.

·         In relation to road classifications and frequency of inspections of pot holes, it was noted that in some cases there was more traffic on 'B' roads than 'A' roads.

·         It highlighted that there was a technical link which did not work on the 'Fix my Street' fault reporting system.  The Chairman of the Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee advised that if the details could be passed to him he would follow it up with officers.  It was queried whether it was thought that this was an IT issue or a highways issue, and members were advised that there had been some data matching issues between the old and new systems.

·         In relation to the CCTV monitoring outside of schools, it was noted that the schools were selected based on need.

·         It was noted that the road from Nettleham had now been resurfaced and it was highlighted that the highways officers had been very responsive to the parish councillors.

Flood and Water Management Scrutiny Committee 

·         In terms of sustainable drainage and riparian ditches, it was commented that no one was taking responsibility for them and they were a significant part of the drainage system and were being filled in and covered over.  It was suggested that there was a need for a piece of work to be carried out on this issue, and it was reported that some of the drainage boards were now looking into it.

·         In terms of water resources, it was commented that there was a need to look strategically as Lincolnshire was one of the driest counties in the country, and it was queried whether there was a plan to build reservoirs in the south of the county.

RESOLVED

            That the content of the work programmes of the Environment and   Economy, Highways and Transport and Flood and Water    Management Scrutiny Committees be noted.