Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors June Molyneaux, Shaun Smith and Joyce Snape.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda. If the interest arises only as result of your membership of another public body or one to which you have been appointed by the Council then you only need to declare it if you intend to speak.

If the personal interest is a prejudicial interest, you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

No Members declared an interest in respect of items on the agenda.

Members of the public who have requested the opportunity to ask a question(s) on an item(s) on the agenda will be asked to put their question(s) to the Panel. Each member of the public will be allowed to ask one supplementary question within his/her allocated 3 minutes.  

There were no questions from members of the public.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group-Streetscene held on 21 October 2008 (to follow)

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group – Streetscene held on 21 October were confirmed as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

The Task Group is requested to consider further evidence for the Streetscene Inquiry relating to the consultation with the Parish Council’s, services providers as well as any external consultants and litterbin manufacturers.

Attached is the response received from the Parish Council’s at the time the agenda was published. Any responses received after will be reported at the meeting.   

The Task Group considered further evidence for the Streetscene Inquiry relating to the consultation with the Parish Councils.

Responses had been received from some of the Parish Councils following a request made to them for their experiences of the Streetscene service satisfaction/dissatisfaction and whether they wished to make the Inquiry aware of any issues.

The response received confirmed much of the findings of the Group and highlighted areas which the Inquiry will consider.

The Group considered the merits of the Parish Council providing lengthsmen as it was identified that it was those Parishes that did not have a litter problem that had a lengthsman.  Some Parishes felt that they would benefit from having a resident lengthsmen who may be able to address some of the litter issues.

A suggestion was put forward that those Parish Councils that did have a lengthsman could assist those Parish Councils without one.  Also a suggestion for a support package to give advice.  This would have to be a separate piece of work.

The Task Group received a briefing paper outlining the Lancashire County Council’s role in streetscene and waste as well as our relationship with the County Council.

From the streetscene point of view under the Remedial Highways Agreement (RHA) Chorley cut the County Council’s verges in urban areas and County make a historically agreed contribution of £32,400 to cover cutting the grass to their more basic specification.

Similarly the County Council contributes £10,200 to weed treatment annually.

The Chorley Council clean the streets in accordance with our statutory duty and the County again make a historically agreed contribution of £10,600 to clear leaves from highways etc.

The Task Group also received a document published by a Glasdon company that produces litter bins and focusing on case studies and their solutions to various litter issues.