Agenda item

Report of the Director of Public Protection, Streetscene and Community (enclosed)

The Committee received the third and final monitoring report from the Director of Public Protection, Streetscene and Community informing them on progress made against the recommendations of the Task Group review into the Adoption of Estates.

The final report of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group considering the Adoption of Estates was presented to the Executive Cabinet on 20 June 2013, and detailed fourteen recommendations, all of which were agreed by the Executive Cabinet in its response on 24 October 2014.

Members were made aware of adoptions that had been completed.  Some of them would be full developments such as Fairview.  Others would be elements of particular streets for example Buckshaw and Gillibrand.  However, a number of factors had resulted in progress not being made as anticipated against some recommendations which included –

·         Internal staffing issues

·         Lancashire County Council not able to provide pre-application highways and transport related advice.

Members welcomed the progress that had been made. However, concern was raised about the length of time it was taking for some areas to be adopted such as Lower Burgh Way.  It was recognised that timescales were an issue.  However, the Director of Public Protection, Streetscene and Community reiterated to members that the developer could choose not to transfer areas to be adopted by either the Borough or County Council and instead make their own arrangements, such as engaging a management company to maintain the development.   

In response to a query raised by Councillor Beaver regarding an un-adopted estate in his ward, the Director of Public Protection, Streetscene and Community advised that he would speak to Councillor Beaver outside the meetings.

It had been suggested that small areas of Buckshaw Village located within the South Ribble boundary had already been adopted.  The Director of Public Protection, Streetscene and Community agreed to establish how South Ribble Borough Council had achieved this progress given adoptions for this area were in the main led by Chorley Council and would seek speedy adoption for the rest of Buckshaw Village.

The Director of Public Protection, Streetscene and Community advised that one key finding from the Task Group was that all those involved in the adoption process, including developers, were keen to work together to progress adoptions of estates faster.  It was made clear that a more co-ordinated response was required from the Council and its partners, in particular from Lancashire County Council and United Utilities, to help speed the process along by making their relevant inspections in a timely fashion.  Members of the Committee went on to discuss the role of management companies.

It was suggested that a Member Learning Session be held on the adoption of estates.

AGREED –

1.    That the report be noted,

2.    The Director of Public Protection, Streetscene and Community to investigate how the quick adoption of some parts of Buckshaw Village that fell within the South Ribble borough boundary had been achieved, and seek a speedy adoption for the rest of Buckshaw Village.

3.    The Director of Public Protection, Streetscene and Community to meet with Councillor Beaver to discuss issues related to an un-adopted estate in his ward

4.    A Member Learning Session on the Adoption of Estates be programmed in to the Member Development Programme for 2016/17.