Agenda item

Report ES19029

Members considered the Committee’s future work programme and progress on previous Member requests.

For the Committee’s meeting on 18^th June 2019 it is intended to bring a report on replacing the Parking Management System for the Civic Centre Car Park. The report will not include proposals for the Hill Car Park as there are currently structural issues and negotiations concerning related development. Officers are not yet able to recommend a suitable replacement Management System for the Civic Centre Car Park but are looking to identify a good quality system e.g. an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system.

A report was suggested on the Council’s Transformation Programme and its impact for the Portfolio. Initial proposals from the Programme would be considered in the summer and the Committee’s 5^th September meeting would probably be a suitable date for a report. As it would cover all work of the Environment and Community Services Department, one report would be provided to all three PDS Committees supported by the Department. 

The highways maintenance performance of JB Riney would also be considered in a further six months along with APCOA’s parking services performance at an earlier meeting. Additionally, the Chairman suggested a written update to Committee Members on outcomes from the trial of dockless e-bikes in the borough (including numbers using the bikes).

On previous Member requests, Parking Services were awaiting full data from thetrial use of a vehicle with ANPR camera technology in permit zones (the technology facilitating detection of a vehicle without a valid permit). However, data so far shows that desired benefits are not being provided from the technology; unless more productive data is received, officers would not advise investment in the technology.

Concerning a Member visit to a progressive waste and recycling facility, Surrey County Council’s Earlswood Depot had been identified as a good option. The depot has seen improvements to enhance its functionality and operates as a Waste Transfer Station and Household Waste and Recycling Centre. Its size is similar to L B Bromley’s Central Depot and Surrey County Council is open to Members visiting the site. The Chairman encouraged all Members of the Committee to attend a visit to the Earlswood Depot. 

Following the Committee’s previous meeting, Members agreed to trial a paperless approach for the current meeting. As such, no printed agenda packs were provided to the Committee’s Membership (apart from A3 extracts of Parts 1 and 2 of the ECS Contract Register and the Part 2 Fly-tipping Action Plan); instead, Members relied solely on viewing material for the meeting online both in advance of the meeting and during the meeting itself. Reports and other material at the meeting were also projected to screen in the meeting room. A limited of printed agenda packs continued to be provided for Members of the Public attending the meeting.

On conclusion of the meeting, Members expressed their continued support for a “paperless” approach to future meetings of the Committee. It was agreed that future material normally provided on A3 sheets should continue to be printed for Members and provided prior to the meeting. However, all remaining material would be viewed by Members online. 

The Chairman also highlighted that the Assistant Director of Environment would shortly be moving to a new position. The Chairman thanked the Assistant Director for all his work at L B Bromley and for his key role in ensuring that the new Environmental contracts were successfully procured.

As this was the Committee’s final meeting of the Council year, a Member also thanked the Chairman for chairing the Committee. 

RESOLVED that:

(1) the latest Forward Work Programme (appended to Report ES19029) be agreed subject to –

·  a report being provided on the Council’s Transformation Programme and its impact for the Portfolio (probably to the Committee’s 5^th September 2019 meeting)

·  the highways maintenance performance of JB Riney being considered in a further six months

·  the parking services performance of APCOA being considered at an earlier meeting

·  a written update being provided to Committee Members on outcomes from the trial of dockless e-bikes in the borough (including numbers using the bikes);

(2)  Members of the Committee attend a visit to Surrey County Council’s Earlswood Depot, Redhill (visit to be arranged);

(3)  progress concerning other Committee requests (appended to Report ES19029) be noted; and

(4)  future meetings of the Committee continue to be “paperless” as far as possible (with future material normally provided on A3 sheets continuing to be printed for Members).