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51  (50) BUILDING CONTROL JOINT PARTNERSHIP – The Director of Infrastructure Services submitted a report seeking approval to set up a formal joint partnership arrangement with West Lindsey District Council for the provision of Building Control related services across the North Lincolnshire and West Lindsey District council administrative areas, and to set up a Joint Committee to oversee the running of the joint partnership.

It was explained that the council had a statutory duty to provide a Building Control Service, to administer and enforce Building Regulations, and also deal with other duties such as: dealing with dangerous structures; demolitions; street naming and numbering.

North Lincolnshire Building Control had managed the West Lindsey Building Control service since 1 October 2008 to ensure so far as possible that the commercial service was self-financing in the face of competition from the private sector and the effects of the recession. North Lincolnshire Council received an annual management fee of £47,351 for providing this service.

It had proven increasingly difficult for both commercial services to be self – financing and it was considered that it would be beneficial to form a formal joint partnership to deliver Building Control services across both geographical areas, as was common practice for Building Control across the country.  This was permitted under Section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972.

It was considered that the formation of a joint partnership between North Lincolnshire Council and West Lindsey District Council to deliver the Building Control function across both areas was a natural progression to the existing arrangement, where North Lincolnshire Council currently managed West Lindsey Building Control as a separate service.

Resolved – (a) That the establishment of a Joint Partnership to deliver Building Control services for both North Lincolnshire and West Lindsey District Councils to operate with effect from 1 April 2012 be approved; (b) that the partnership operate for an initial period of four-years; (c) that a Joint Committee to oversee the running of the Joint Partnership from 1 April 2012 be established; (d) that an interim Shadow Joint Committee be established to agree the name, charges and structure of the Joint Partnership to operate from 10 February 2012, and (e) that the delegation of functions listed in Appendix 4 to the Joint Committee be approved.

52  (51) TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDER – VARIOUS RESTRICTIONS CLIFF GARDENS, WEBSTER AVENUE AND AGARD AVENUE, SCUNTHORPE – The Director of Infrastructure Services submitted a report seeking consideration of requests from residents and local ward members to introduce a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) on Webster Avenue and Agard Avenue in Scunthorpe which they considered would aid visibility and combat inconsiderate parking in the area.

Officers had discussed various options with residents in the area, and it was considered that the introduction of a TRO was the best option.  An objection had been received by the council to the proposed traffic restrictions around Webster Avenue, and therefore consideration of this was sought.

Resolved – (a) That the introduction of the Traffic Regulation Order, as shown on the plans in Appendix 1 be approved, and (b) that officers write to the objectors advising them of the decision, in accordance with normal statutory procedures.

53  (52)  HIGHWAYS LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN PROGRAMME UPDATE – The Director of Infrastructure Services submitted a report to advise on the progress made in delivering the Local Transport Plan programme and confirm the recent announcement in relation to an additional grant fund contribution for Integrated Transport.

The Transport capital expenditure was secured through the Local Transport Plan (LTP) process and an LTP submission to the Department for Transport (DfT) was required.  The plan set out transport priorities for the council, which would see the current year as the start of the third generation of these plans and covered a 15-year projection submission.

It was explained that as part of the LTP submission, the plan set out the programme of themes and the expected outcomes that the council aimed to achieve within a three-year Delivery Plan.

The report detailed that there were two funding streams within the LTP award which covered Integrated Transport and Highway Maintenance. The current years allocations were:

• Integrated Transport £ 993,000
• Highway Maintenance £ 4,423,000

In the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Autumn Statement, it had been announced that an extra £50 million would be allocated nationally to the LTP Integrated Transport Block for 2011/12. The DfT had subsequently confirmed that North Lincolnshire Council would receive an extra grant of £165,000 and consideration was to be given as to whether to add the new allocation to the LTP Integrated Transport programme for 2011/12.

Resolved – (a) That the Cabinet Member be kept informed of progress on the delivery of the programme on a monthly basis, and (b) that the new grant allocation be added to the current Integrated Transport elements of the Local Transport Plan programme, as outlined in Option 1 of the report.

54  (53)  DRAINAGE INSPECTOR – INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES – The Director of Infrastructure Services submitted a report seeking approval for the establishment of a fixed term post of Drainage Inspector in the Bridges and Drainage Team within Infrastructure Services.

The report outlined that the council had new duties and responsibilities under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 (FWMA) for which the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) had provided additional funding to undertake these for an initial period of three years.

It was explained that the council would be required to undertake specific tasks under the FWMA and that an Inspector would be required to investigate flooding incidents, inspect watercourses so that a flood risk register could be developed and also designate structures that had an effect on flood risk management.  In addition the council would also be expected to inspect watercourses to ensure that the owners maintained them to sustain water flow.

The role of Drainage Inspector would be to carry out inspections and then advise on enforcement notices.

The Cabinet Member was advised that as a Lead Local Flood Authority under the Act in areas not covered by Internal Drainage Boards, the Council had a responsibility for leading the coordination of flood risk responsibility in North Lincolnshire.

DEFRA was committed to funding all new burdens resulting from the FWMA and has announced funding for 3 years.  DEFRA had provided £131,000 to the council in 2011/12 and that this would rise to £207,000 in the subsequent two years (2012/13 and 2013/14).

Resolved – (a) That the establishment of a temporary fixed term post of Drainage Inspector within the Bridges and Drainage Team be approved, and (b) that the commencement of a recruitment process to fill this post be approved.

The following items contain exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

55  (54) APPLICATION TO WAIVE FULL REPAYMENT OF RENOVATION GRANT 001380 – The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submitted a report seeking approval to waiver the repayment of the renovation grant monies for the above application due to the specific circumstances of this case.

The report outlined the exceptional circumstances surrounding this particular case and confirmed that to waiver the right to repayment of the grant had been agreed in other similar cases. Both the occupants were elderly and due to their separate health conditions needed to receive residential care. This was considered the preferred option.

Resolved – (a) That the sale of the property outlined within the report be approved as an exempted disposal, and (b) that under the grant conditions, the repayment be waivered.

56  (55) MUNICIPAL WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY – The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submitted a report seeking approval to review the draft municipal waste management strategy and suspend the Waste Project until further notice.

The council embarked upon a procurement exercise in 2008/09 to secure a residual waste treatment facility.  However since the appointment of a preferred bidder, the government had announced the abolition of the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme and the levying of landfill penalties.

In light of the above developments, it was considered appropriate to carry out a Value for Money (VfM) review of the waste procurement project outcome. The review revealed that although the procurement had achieved the objectives it had set for itself, the context in which the procurement was being undertaken had changed. It followed that the council needed to determine its policy on Municipal Waste Management so that in due course the value for money aspect of the procurement could be fully determined because of the changed context.

Resolved – (a) That the Director of Neighbourhood & Environmental Services be authorised to undertake a review of the Municipal Waste Management Strategy including appropriate consultation with interested parties and elected members; (b) that the outcome of the review be reported to the first available briefing for the Highways & Neighbourhoods Cabinet Member, and (c) that the waste procurement project be suspended until further notice.

Where there is no report this is because it is exempt, as it contains information which is considered to be of a confidential nature, as detailed in the Local Government (Access to Information) Act.