Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Big plans, bright future

Environment Select Committee Minutes

Date:
Monday, 24th January, 2011
Time:
2.00pm
Place:
Lecture Theatre, Stockton Library, The Square, Stockton-on-Tees.
 
Please note: all Minutes are subject to approval at the next Meeting

Attendance Details

Present:
Cllr Mrs Maureen Rigg (Chair), Cllr Dick Cains, Cllr John Gardner, Cllr Roy Rix, Cllr Michael Smith, Cllr Mick Womphrey, Cllr Bill Woodhead
Officers:
M Chicken, Mrs S Daniels, Mrs J Robins (DNS); Mrs T Harrison. J Trainer (LD)
In Attendance:
J Stockill (UNISON)
Apologies for absence:
Cllr Mick Stoker
Item Description Decision
Public
ENV
38/10		 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Preamble
 
ENV
39/10		 MINUTES FOR SIGNING - 4TH OCTOBER 2010
 The minutes of the meetings held on 4th October were signed by the Chair.
ENV
40/10		 DRAFT MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 24TH NOVEMBER 2010
Preamble
CONCLUDED that the minutes of the meeting held on 24th November 2010 be agreed as a correct record.
ENV
41/10		 DRAFT MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 1ST DECEMBER 2010
Preamble
CONCLUDED that the minutes of the meeting held on 1st December 2010 be agreed as a correct record.
ENV
42/10		 EIT REVIEW OF BUILT AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT - ACTION PLAN FOR AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS
Preamble
CONCLUDED that the action plan be agreed.
ENV
43/10		 QUARTERLY PROGRESS UPDATE ON PREVIOUSLY AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS
Preamble
CONCLUDED that the updates be noted and the assessment of progress be endorsed.
ENV
44/10		 CYCLING ON PAVEMENTS - TASK AND FINISH GROUP
Preamble
CONCLUDED that the report be noted and Members forward any comments to be considered as part of the task and finish review.
2.00 - 3.30pm

Preamble

ItemPreamble
ENV
38/10		Councillors Smith and Mrs Rigg declared personal non prejudicial interests in relation to the EIT Review of Built and Natural Environment item due to each having a relative that held a blue badge.
ENV
40/10		Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 24th November 2010.
ENV
41/10		Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 1st December 2010.
ENV
42/10		Members were presented with the action plan for review of Built and Natural Environment recommendations for their approval.

Members queried whether savings from the reduction of school crossing patrols would be used to install more puffin crossings. Officers advised that savings would be on revenue but it was hoped that there would be scope to direct some capital investment to install additional puffin crossings.

Discussion took place regarding the negative media coverage in respect of the proposals to remove some school crossing patrols. Members referred to the Oxbridge crossing and suggested that signs could be erected to warn drivers of the school crossing.

Discussion took place regarding the fact that estimated savings on the production and issue of the blue badge scheme would not be as much as originally estimated due to the reduction in funding from central Government. Officers advised that discussions would take place on the allocations with Government.

Members commented on the importance of having better blue badge access in town centres.
ENV
43/10		CARBON MANAGEMENT

Members were advised that carbon trading had been replaced by a carbon tax but Councils were still being incentivised to reduce carbon.

CUSTOMER FIRST

The Chair reminded Members that if they had any concerns relating to customer service, they should contact the Head of Customer Services & Taxation.

CEMETERIES AND MEMORIALS

Members were provided with a presentation highlighting the progress which had been made in implementing the recommendations from the previous reviews.

Members were pleased with the significant progress and the success of the schemes that had been put in place.

Discussion took place regarding memorial inspection and repair and the checks carried out on memorial masons.

Discussion took place regarding the proposals for extending memorial options.

Discussion took place regarding the need for a crematorium in Stockton and Members wished to record their support for a facility within Stockton Borough.

Members wished to express the Environment Committee's support for the effort of the Head of Performance and Business Services and all other officers involved with implementing the reviews.
ENV
44/10		The Chair advised that the review of cycling on pavements would be carried out as a task and finish group so would not be the responsibility of the Committee. However, Members were invited to submit comments to be considered as part of the review.

It was noted that recent consultation on community safety priorities ranked cycling on pavements as the lowest priority for Stockton residents.

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