Agenda and minutes

Councillor Collins declared a personal interest at item 6b by virtue of using the Unicorn School Green Garden Waste Satellite Site.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, questions to this Committee must be received in writing four working days before the date of the meeting.  Therefore please ensure that questions are received by the Democratic Services Team by 5pm on Wednesday 29^th October 2014.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, questions to the Portfolio Holder must be received in writing four working days before the date of the meeting. Therefore please ensure that questions are received by the Democratic Services Team by 5pm on Wednesday 29^th October 2014.

In view of the number of questions to the Portfolio Holder, it was agreed to extend the 15 minutes allowed for questions in the Council’s constitution, to 30 minutes.

Details of the questions are at Appendix A along with replies from the Portfolio Holder.

After a period of 30 minutes it was agreed to proceed with the Committee’s substantive business; remaining questions would receive a written response from the Environment Portfolio Holder.

Report ES14096

Members considered a proposed revision to the Green Garden Waste (GGW) Satellite service.

In recent years GGW tonnages collected at satellite sites had reduced.  Provisional 2014 tonnages suggest that tonnages might have risen slightly, but were still projected to be lower than tonnages in 2012. GGW tonnages delivered by residents to the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) had also declined since 2010 (although good weather this year had seen a slight rise in tonnages).

With over 15,000 customers having subscribed to the GGW collection service and new customers subscribing monthly, the original objective of the Satellite Sites – to address congestion issues near the HWRC sites – had become less crucial. Improvements to customer areas at the HWRC sites had also helped to address congestion pressures.

Two options were therefore proposed as savings to the GGW Satellite service:

Option 1: Open 3 sites on Saturdays and 2 different sites on Sundays between April and November with an annual saving of £136k;

Option 2: Open 3 sites on Saturdays and 2 different sites on Sundays between April and October with an annual saving of £151k.

The cost of operating the sites is highest on Sundays due to additional wage costs for Sunday working. Sunday opening hours are also more limited due to restrictions on HWRC opening hours and the need to empty vehicles ready for normal Monday work. With more sites open on Saturdays, site availability will also be maximised to avoid congestion.

The proposed service change also assumed that the sites would be operated one weekend each January to enable residents to recycle Christmas trees, with three sites open on Saturday and two open on the Sunday.

Where necessary the operating day of a site could also be changed during a particular weekend e.g. switching the day for Charles Darwin from Saturday to Sunday to avoid a Saturday open day at the school. Contingency measures would also be available should fly-tipping increase. 

Councillor Mellor (Copers Cope), attending as a visiting Member, referred to a number of comments received from residents in Copers Cope ward. These included concern over the level of consultation. Two elderly residents, without online access, had not been advised of the proposed change. Financial constraints were recognised but it was also necessary to consider the concerns of residents. There was also a view that the HWRCs would not be able to cope with an increased demand. Some pensioners might also find an annual £60 fee for the collection scheme difficult to afford. Based on financial considerations, Councillor Mellor suggested that Option 2 provided a more favourable option, delivering savings to both residents and the Council.

In response to a question from Councillor Benington, also a visiting Member, it was confirmed that a spare vehicle was available for GGW, although for satellite site collections, fewer vehicles would be necessary in future. Councillor Benington highlighted the high level of courtesy and flexibility of staff at the Charles Darwin site.

Members considered the proposed service change,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30b

Report ES14027

Arrangements had been made with Ward Security to continue delivering a littering enforcement service, concurrent with the existing Parks Security service, from 1st January 2015 to 31st March 2020 at net zero cost to L B Bromley. The existing parks security contract would need to be extended and varied.

It was intended to deliver the service on a seasonal basis around peak hours and events, with a focus on the busiest days at town centres. It was proposed to operate the service from a Tuesday to Saturday, capturing market days and rush hours. Two full time Enforcement Officers would work in conjunction with the Parks Security Contract to increase coverage, particularly in winter months when parks are not so busy. The team would also be supplemented in peak seasonal times with two additional officers for 72 days of the year.

The average cost of the service per month was estimated at £10,750, inclusive of administrative support and management supervision, and would be paid to Ward Security monthly in arrears. Ward Security would invoice L B Bromley for the hours worked;  in return L B Bromley would retain income received from FPNs paid. Should the level of income received not equal the cost of labour paid to Ward Security, Ward Security would then provide a credit note to LBB for the difference. 

It was also possible to link the processing of FPNs with the parking enforcement system. This would result in Ward Security being able to reduce current supervision and administration costs. Use of electronic handheld devices from existing parking equipment stock would greatly improve the reconciliation process and accuracy of data. A one-off £2k set up cost for four hand held devices would be necessary along with on-going costs of £2.2k for year 1 and £1k per annum from year 2 onwards for licences and stationery. Ward Security would meet these costs from year 2 onwards. L B Bromley would continue to take non- paying offenders through the court process.

Ward Security would also be developing an option to take over full management of the service, including collection of income and managing the court process.

Members supported the recommendation to the Portfolio Holder. It was possible to have a break clause in the contract and to be flexible on this.

It was hoped that Enforcement Officers would not over penalise offenders for accidentally dropping litter. Enforcement officers would generally be in uniform to make a challenge but this might not always be the case e.g. challenging for dog fouling offences. Enforcement Officers would also wear body cameras. 

RESOLVED that the Environment Portfolio Holder be recommended to approve a variation and extension to the existing Parks Security Contract to include the issuing of Fixed Penalty Notices where individuals are in breach of the requirements of the Clean Neighbourhood and Environment Act, including offences for littering and dog fouling on the public Highway.

Report ES14075

As a condition to planning approval for the Tesco Store, Orpington, £80k has been set aside to enhance bus stops within the Orpington area, the money being held by L B Bromley on behalf of TfL.

It was proposed to use the £80k sum to facilitate changes to the bus stop outside Orpington Station, subject to agreement from TfL. A sum of £50k was also available from the LIP budget for Public Transport Interchange and Access. The existing forecourt taxi stand  would be split between the forecourt and Crofton Road, enabling installation of the new bus stop and lay-by, as well as space for disabled person parking bays as part of the station car park/forecourt scheme.   

The existing bus stop next to the carriageway requires buses to stop directly on the main carriageway, often resulting in vehicles queueing to overtake a stationary bus. The new bus stop and lay-by would provide a solution, significantly contributing to a free flow of traffic.

As the new forecourt provides space for no more than five taxis, it was proposed to reposition the existing zebra crossing on Crofton Road to enable a new two vehicle lay-by as an additional Hackney carriage taxi stand. Further on-street parking for five Hackney carriage taxis was also proposed by extending the existing dedicated loading bay on Crofton Road (adjacent to York Rise) and amending the Traffic Management Order to permit: (i) loading Monday to Saturday 8am to 5pm; and (ii) dedication of the bay as a Hackney carriage taxi stand Monday to Saturday 5pm to midnight and all day Sunday.

Members supported the recommendations to the Portfolio Holder.

RESOLVED that the Environment Portfolio Holder be recommended to: 

(1)  approve the allocation of £80k of S106 monies towards access and bus stop improvements as part of the Orpington railway station car park and forecourt scheme, subject to TfL agreement;

(2)  agree that informal consultation proceed based on the proposed changes to Crofton Road identified on drawing number ESD/11745-02; and

(3) delegate authority to the Executive Director of Environment and Community Services to implement the detailed scheme design following consultation with the Environment Portfolio Holder and Ward Members.

Report ES14092

An update was provided on progress concerning the proposed congestion relief scheme at the junction of Heathfield Road with Westerham Road. This  included summarised results from consultation on the scheme, the consultation having concluded at the end of September 2014. A clear majority of respondents supported the scheme.

The Portfolio Holder was asked to approve the scheme and delegate detailed final design to the Executive Director of Environment and Community Services, following consultation with Ward Councillors and the Portfolio Holder. The scheme is low cost for a full sized roundabout and will help address congestion at the location. It will also help reduce the number of speed related personal injury collisions along Westerham Road.

Congestion issues primarily relate to southbound traffic along Heathfield Road. Motorists would most likely continue to use the route to avoid the Keston Mark junction as it provides the most direct route. A further traffic count in Heathfield Road between the end of September 2014 and beginning of October 2014, indicated that the proportion of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) using the road during the count period was less than 1%.  

Based on road safety and congestion considerations, officers would continue to lobby TfL for improvements at the Keston Mark junction. A point had been reached in TfL’s Programme where the junction would be subject to review. There was some hope that it would be possible to introduce a countdown signal for pedestrians and increase capacity at the junction.

The Chairman highlighted further views of Ward Councillors (in addition to those reported). Councillor Carr, unable to attend the meeting, considered the scheme unnecessary. Cllr Michael favoured the scheme. Considering the junction dangerous and noting a clear majority in support, she felt that HGVs using Heathfield Road should be treated as a separate issue. Councillor Ruth Bennett, in broad agreement with the recommendations, also suggested that traffic considerations for Keston Village be addressed separately.

To avoid an increase in HGVs along Heathfield Road, it was suggested the scheme be implemented following completion of the Cherry Lodge development in Darwin Ward. It was also suggested that sight lines at the roundabout should be particularly clear and a certain amount of deflection provided. If the scheme could be reviewed some six to nine months after completion, consideration could then be given to safety measures along Heathfield Road and any options related to the Primary School.

Aware that completion of Cherry Lodge could take some months, the Chairman suggested that TfL be lobbied in the meantime on improving the Keston Mark junction. It was also necessary to take account of views from Keston Villagers on safety related measures for Heathfield Road. The Portfolio Holder advised against a width restriction on approach to the village given access requirements for vehicles such as emergency vehicles, buses and refuse vehicles.

Following debate, Members agreed to support the recommendations in Report ES14092 and to additionally recommend that implementation of the scheme is delayed until the Cherry Lodge development is completed. Members also  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30e

Report ES14093

Members considered programmes of planned road and footway maintenance for completion by close 2015/16. Schemes were also presented for subsequent years as was information on the Council’s annual bid to Transport for London (TfL) for bridge assessment and strengthening.

Planned maintenance minimises the level of reactive maintenance necessary, so increasing value for money and customer satisfaction. It also reduces unplanned network disruption and contributes to fewer damage claims.

The overall programme was prioritised by expected budget and based on highway condition and other factors such as use, location, adjacent services, frequency of reactive maintenance, level of public enquiries and consultation responses.

Additional Local Implementation Plan (LIP) funding was also available during 2014/15 for resurfacing busy bus routes (£120k) and resurfacing other roads where accidents had been attributed to skidding (mass action £135k).

A one-off sum of £504,982 had also been received from the Department for Transport (DfT) to permanently repair potholes. It was necessary to spend the sum by 31^st March 2016 and approval was sought to its release from central contingency.

Approval was also sought to submit a £987k bid to the London Bridges Engineering Group (LoBEG) for structural projects, TfL advising later in the year on actual allocation.

Although Members supported the recommendations, the Chairman highlighted a Ward Councillor’s disappointment that Pope Road, Bromley had not been included within the proposed programme. It had also been suggested that Cross Road, in the same Bromley Common and Keston Ward, might not be a high priority for maintenance. The Chairman also asked that sections of Sevenoaks Road be considered for maintenance and noted that  Rye Crescent, Orpington was listed at Appendix C but as a bus route should be considered for “mass action” resurfacing. He therefore suggested that the maintenance programme needed to compare the priority road lists with bus routes to ensure the correct funding source.

RESOLVED that:

(1) the Executive be recommended to agree the release of £505k Department for Transport (DfT) funding from Central Contingency for planned highway maintenance; and

(2) the Environment Portfolio Holder be recommended to -

(a)  agree that the schemes listed at Appendix A to Report ES14093 form the basis of the Council’s programme of planned highway maintenance on borough roads for 2015/16 and, subject to budgetary provision, the works be progressed;

(b)  note the schemes of work for future years as listed at Appendices B and C to Report ES14093;

(c)  agree that the additional DfT funding of £505k be allocated to planned highway maintenance, with authority delegated to the Director of Environment and Community Services, in consultation with the Environment Portfolio Holder, to select schemes from Appendix B for completion during 2015/16;

(d)  agree the proposed TfL funded programme of highway maintenance works for 2014/15 and 2015/16, as set out at Appendices D and E to Report ES14093; and

(e)  approve the bid for bridge strengthening and assessment, 2015/16, at Appendix F to Report ES14093, and its submission to Transport for London.