Meeting documents

Apologies for absence were received from Bill Chapple and Dev Dhillon.

To disclose any personal or disclosable pecuniary interests.

There were no declarations of interest.

Of the meeting held on 4 March 2014 to be confirmed as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on the Wednesday 4 March 2014 were agreed as a correct record subsequent to the following changes;

Community Transport Schemes in Bucks

Page 13 – Leader to be amended to LEADER

Matters Arising

See attached document

This is an opportunity for members of the public to put a question or raise an issue of concern, related to Environment, Transport and Locality Services.   Where possible, the relevant organisation to which the question/issue is directed will be present to give a verbal response.  The member of public will be invited to speak for up to four minutes on their issue.  A maximum of 30 minutes is set aside for the Public Questions slot in total (including responses and any Committee discussion). This may be extended with the Chairman’s discretion. 

For full guidance on Public Questions, including how to register a request to speak during this slot, please follow this link:

http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/about-your-council/scrutiny/get-involved/

There were no public questions.

For the Chairman of the Committee to provide an update to the Committee on recent scrutiny related activity.

The Chairman reported the following;

A working group of the Environment, Transport & Localities Select Committee met to develop the scope of the review of public transport.

He had recently attended a Parliamentary seminar on Scrutiny which a very informative session.  Discussions took place with other scrutiny chairman from around the country and how they approach scrutiny.  Some sessions with the Parliamentary Scrutiny Committee related to the Department of Communities and Local Government, which touches on some of the work being carried out by this Committee. The Committee clerk gave some very useful information on how they structure their sessions and how they deal with evasive answers from Ministers and senior members of staff.  There was also the opportunity to see a meeting of the DCLG Select Committee on Financial Devolution to Regions.  A summary of key points to be circulated to Committee Members.

Action: Chairman

Value for Money – TfB for Bucks Contract

The report of the ETL Select Committee went to Cabinet in January.  It was disappointing to learn that the Value for Money review has not commenced. It is hoped there will be an interim update in May with a view to reporting back in June on Value for Money review. The Value for Money contract will commence after TfB have completed their own internal audit.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

KPIs were another issue of the TfB review.  Some useful meetings to discuss KPIs took place before Christmas.  A further meeting has taken place since the ETL Select Committee meeting in March, with another meeting due at the end of April.  One useful development is the improvement of the transparency in how the KPIs are developed with members, officers and the contractor.

EU & external funding for transport issues

A further meeting took at the end of April. The ELT Committee agreed to keep the Local Enterprise Partnerships in mind during discussions.

Input is being given into the annual report for all of the Select Committees to advise work that has been undertaken during the last year.

Members will receive a briefing on the delivery of library services in Buckinghamshire. They will consider the key recent changes and developments, and the opportunities and challenges for library services going forward.

Martin Phillips, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement

David Jones, Service Delivery Manager

Julia King, Development Manager

Papers:

·         Buckinghamshire Library Service: an Overview

The Chairman welcomed Martin Phillips, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, David Jones, Service Delivery Manager, Julia King, Development Manager, to the meeting.

An information paper was circulated with the agenda.

The following questions were asked;

The report sets the position and current situations for the Library Services following recent changes.  What is the County Council’s long term vision and aspiration for future of the Library Services for the next 5-10 years and are there plans in place for this? Mr Phillips explained that the library service is currently going through a 4-5 year transformation which has just passed the halfway point. The management structure was looked at a couple of years ago, followed by the community libraries and how library services were delivered in Bucks.  One of the commitments made was made not to close any libraries unless the community did not want them.

There has been a review of the mobile library services in Buckinghamshire to see how this can be delivered more effectively.  This includes the use of community shops and pubs etc within the smaller villages and hamlets of Buckinghamshire i.e. an order of books being delivered by a small van to a shop/pub which would be a better use of resources. The next part of the review is to look at the retained library service to see how the number of volunteers can by increased whilst maintaining a professional staff.

There has been a change in the way that libraries are used which the County Council has to react to i.e. the move to increased self-service and check in/check out of books, better IT resources and the sharing of library buildings with other services. There are a couple of libraries in Buckinghamshire where the police force is sharing the facility. Health checks have taken place in Libraries. The Health and Wellbeing Team have used 26 locations and health checked 1825 people. 3 locations were BCC libraries at which 835 residents were seen.  This equates to 46% of those seen in the 26 locations.

What is the succinct vision/concept for Library Services? The succinct vision is reacting to the market and making better use of the buildings in the next 5-10 years.

To what extent it is feasible to roll out the community library service even further i.e. using other community buildings and what are the opportunities and risks for this model of delivery? Mr Jones explained that points 1-6 in the report give an analogy of model - looking at county and community as a complimentary partnership.  At the moment there is a very clear relationship of the support given in the county which in turn influences the success of the community. The scaled up of a model is i.e. in the biggest and busiest community partnerships in Wendover and Gerrards Cross, begs the question of whether the dynamic in terms of the number of volunteers, the range, volume and complexity of the transactions would be successful.  The plan at the moment in terms of future  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Members will receive an update on Council’s Carbon Management Plan and the new Energy Strategy. They will review the progress to date and consider any future opportunities and challenges.

Lesley Clarke OBE, Cabinet Member for Environment

David Sutherland, Sustainability Manager

Rachel Toresen-Owuor, Energy Manager

Papers:

·         Carbon Management Programme & Energy Strategy for Buckinghamshire

·         Carbon Management Plan (CMP) 2012-2017

·         Buckinghamshire Energy Strategy Workshop

Link to Resource Efficiency Sustainability Plan 2013-2016

http://democracy.buckscc.gov.uk/documents/s45553/Cabinet%20Report%20-%20Resource%20efficiency%20update%20Nov%202013%20Final%2020131127.pdf

Lesley Clarke, OBE, Cabinet Member for Planning & Environment, Netta Glover, Deputy Cabinet Member for Planning & Environment, David Sutherland, Sustainability Manager & Rachel Toresen-Owuor, Energy Manager were welcomed to the meeting.

The Cabinet Member explained that Buckinghamshire County Council has been looking at its energy consumption, for buildings in particular. Savings are beginning to be made and water consumption is now being looked into for the first time. The consumption figures can be presented to the Committee if required.

In response to the question about fracking raised in the letter dated 4 February, Lester Hannington, Lead Officer for Waste and Minerals Planning has compiled a document entitled ‘frequently asked FAQ’s concerning on-shore oil and gas development which is on the BCC website. The Government is about to issue the 14^th licensing round for fracking.  Buckinghamshire County Council will look into fracking once the details of where the licences are going to be given are known. The Minerals and Waste Strategy will also be updated. Details can be found via the following web link;

http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/media/1789957/Buckinghamshire-Fracking-FAQs-note.pdf

We may have fracking in Buckinghamshire but the county does not have the right shale clay that is easily used. There is one license at the moment for exploration around Windsor Castle which ends this year. Fracking has not started in this area as yet. BCC are well aware of having to ensure that that energy efficiency projects are started.

Ms Toresen-Owuor outlined the following salient points of the report;

The Carbon Management Programme and the Energy Strategy are two different strands of work but they will come together as BCC move towards Future Shape as a transformation plan for energy in Buckinghamshire.

Carbon Management Programme (CMP) looks at energy consumption and 

·         BCC is focussing on its own estate and energy consumption (including schools).  This is primarily energy efficiency projects, with some renewables (biomass boiler programme).

·         The Plan will help the Council to achieve a 10% absolute reduction in CO₂ by April 2017 compared to 2011/12 emissions

·         BCC are a mandated participant in Phase 1 of the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme, which requires reporting of energy consumption and purchase of allowances for CO₂ emissions. Phase 1 of the scheme ends in July 2014. 

·         Reporting on carbon reduction and the Greenhouse Gas to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).  This is not statutory but all Local Authorities are expected to report.  

·         Reports to Carbon Management Board, Property Board and COMT.

·         Invest to Save projects funded using Salix ringfenced fund, MTP capital bids, corporate energy efficiency reserve. 

·         Upgrade the street lights  to LED lamps on the A &B roads and the installation of a bio-mass boiler this summer

The Energy Strategy looks at what measures Buckinghamshire can take as a county and includes;

·         A countywide strategy, developed in partnership with District Councils and stakeholders.

·         Focussing on opportunities for community owned energy generation projects, and overcoming barriers to implementation of energy schemes.

·         Aims to increase long term energy security and local supplier competition  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Committee Public Transport Inquiry Scope

For Members to discuss and agree the draft proposal for the Committee’s public transport inquiry.

Crime and Disorder Committee - Information and proposal paper

For Members to consider their role as the Crime and Disorder Committee and agree the proposal for Crime and Disorder Committee meeting in May.

Members were referred to the following;

Public transport inquiry

The Committee Inquiry Draft Proposal paper examines what is the Council’s aspiration for public transport in Bucks for 2010 (page 93 of the agenda).  The proposal gives details of the task and scope of the inquiry which has been broken down into the following three stages;

Stage one

To identify, examine and review the Council’s current policies, transports landscape, budget allocation and funding challenges in relation to public transport

Stage two

To understand what the future of public transport may/should look like.  This stage could begin by exploring and identifying what the future needs and demands are likely to be, examine the options available, and the options available for the use of transport funding to meet the needs of Bucks residents.  This could also consider the wider impacts of the county’s growth and connectivity and the interplay or not of other reviews.

Stage three

Findings and recommendations

Following discussion, the Committee agreed the following;

·         Home to School Transport is to be included in stage one of the inquiry

·         Evidence sessions are to be set up over 1-2 days in June/July to include witnesses and the Committee.  Meeting dates are to be confirmed.

Action: Kama Wager

Crime and Disorder Committee remit and relationship with the Police and Crime Panel

The Committee information and Proposal Paper outlines the role of the Environment, Transport and Locality Services Select Committee as the designated statutory Crime and Disorder Committee and consider the relationship between the Committee and the Police and Crime Panel.

Mr Gomm declared an interest as he is Chairman of Crime Stoppers.

Mr Carroll declared an interest as he is the Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley Police Authority.

Concern was expressed that various acts of Parliament were enacted at different times i.e. the 2006 Act was before the advent of the Police and Crime Commissioner. 

The following comments were made and questions asked;

·         The ETL Select Committee should only fulfil their statutory obligation.

·         What is the membership of the partnerships shown on in the chart on page 100? 

·         There is a distinct difference between policing and Community Safety.  There needs to be a better understanding of how the County Council works in relation with the District Council in Community Safety Partnerships

The Policy Officer explained that the statutory obligation of the ETL Committee is to review and scrutinise the County’s Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (the Safer and Stronger Bucks Partnership) and the work of the Partnership as a whole.

The Committee agreed that they would meet as the Crime and Disorder Committee at the 13 May Environment Select Committee meeting. The ET: Committee will receive the annual statutory update and review the Safer and Strong Bucks Plan (the Council’s Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership).

The following paper is for information;

·         Call in update: Daws Hill Travel Link – Consultation Material

Members noted the Daws Hill Travel Link – Consultation Material paper which has been submitted for information.

For Members to discuss the Committee’s work programme and proposals for future items.

Members were referred to the proposed work programme for the Committee.

The Policy Officer advised that the 2014/2015 work programme will be available after the AGM.  Key issues/items have been requested from Cabinet Members and Service Directors and Strategic Directors of portfolios that fall within the remit of the Environment Select Committee which will allow for longer term planning of the work programme.   This will be confirmed at the May meeting of the Committee.

Action: Policy Officer

The next meeting is due to take place on Tuesday 13 May 2014 in Mezzanine 2, County Offices, Aylesbury at 10.00am.  There will be a pre-meeting for Committee Members at 9.30am.

Future meeting dates for 2014

Tuesday 17 June

Tuesday 2 September

Tuesday 14 October

Tuesday 18 November

The next meeting is due to take place on Tuesday 13 May 2014 in Mezzanine 2, County Offices, Aylesbury at 10.00am.  There will be a pre-meeting for Committee Members at 9.30am.

Future meeting dates for 2014

Tuesday 17 June

Tuesday 2 September

Tuesday 14 October

Tuesday 18 November