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157  (34) AIR QUALITY PROGRESS REPORT 2014 – The Director of Places submitted a report seeking approval for the 2014 Draft Progress Report sent to DEFRA on 6 November 2014, allowing for consultation of the Progress Report.

The council was required to carry out a review of pollution every year. Industrial, domestic and traffic sources were compared with limits for seven major pollutants.  The report was written using Technical Guidance LAQM.TG(09) issued by DEFRA in April 2009.

The Progress Report for 2014 showed that dust levels in Scunthorpe and Santon were still high.  The two Air Quality Management Areas that had been declared for dust should remain. Data showed that schemes in the Santon area had successfully reduced levels of dust in this area.

Monitoring locations on the eastern side of Scunthorpe had shown no recent improvement in the amount of dust.  This area would now be prioritised for improvement schemes.

The council would continue to put in place the actions in the Air Quality Action Plan. The plan aimed to reduce the effect of steel making on air quality in Scunthorpe. The council would work with local industry and the Environment Agency to achieve this.

Levels of Nitrogen Dioxide at South Killingholme were monitored.  After 12 months a detailed assessment would be undertaken to determine if an Air Quality Objective was being breached.

Resolved – That the proposal to consult with the organisations listed at Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

158   (35) CONCESSIONARY FARE REIMBURSEMENT 2015/16 – PUBLICATION OF DRAFT SCHEME – The Director of Places submitted a report seeking approval to publish a draft Concessionary Fare Reimbursement scheme, prior to the commencement of a new scheme on 1 July 2015.

The council by law must provide free travel on local buses for older people and people with disabilities. Bus operators were also required to be reimbursed for concessionary travel.

The Transport Act 2000 set out the process for reimbursing operators for mandatory concessions: 

•  The Travel Concession Authority (TCA) must publish reimbursement proposals in as much detail as possible to allow for meaningful negotiation. This must be completed four months prior to the start or variation of the statutory scheme; and
• The TCA must determine final reimbursement arrangements 28 days prior to the start or variation of the statutory scheme.

The council should have published a draft scheme by 31 December 2014.  However, the report had been delayed to align more effectively with the council’s budget cycle.  It was the intention to continue with the current payments, until the new scheme came into effect on 1 July 2015. The scheme would finish on 31 March 2016.  A new scheme would replace it.

The principal of the scheme was to ensure that bus operators were “no better off” and “no worse off”. The money operators received should depend on how much they would get if all passengers paid a fare. It was difficult to estimate this because free travel encouraged more journeys.

It was also not possible to present the final scheme.  Further information was awaited from operators and as such the average fare increase could not be finalised prior to the publication of the scheme.

The current scheme provides reduced or free rate local rail reimbursement.  This cost approximately £76,000 per annum.

Resolved – (a) That the publication of the draft scheme for concessionary fare reimbursement, to start on 1 July 2015, be approved, and (b) that negotiations start with all bus operators to agree the individual reimbursement rates.

159   (36) THE SCUNTHORPE EASTER FAIR – The Director of Places submitted a report seeking approval to use the Carlton Street car park in Scunthorpe for the Easter Fair.

For a number of years a travelling pleasure fair had visited Scunthorpe each Easter.  On most occasions it had been sited on the surface car park in Carlton Street.

In these instances the council had suspended use of the car park.  A legal agreement had been put in place and the layout of the fair had been approved by the council’s health and safety section.

The council had received a request to allow the use of the car park once again between 22 March and 7 April 2015.

Resolved – That the proposal to temporarily close part of the Carlton Street pay and display car park, from 22 March to 7 April 2015, for the purpose of accommodating the Easter Fair, be approved.

160   (37) ISO14001 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT REVIEW – The Director of Places submitted a report informing the Cabinet Member of the last review for the ISO14001 Standard and seeking approval for the action plan.

The ISO14001 Standard measured the council’s environmental impacts and helped to measure what was used and what was wasted.  The main idea of the Standard was to reduce, reuse and recycle.

To deliver this principle the council:

• Made real cost savings
• Reduced environmental impact
• Improved environmental standing

The council were audited twice a year against the standard by BMTrada.

To maintain the Standard a Management Review was required to be undertaken every year which presented the following information:

• Details of the external auditors findings
• Results of environmental and legal audits
• An action plan to address issues identified within the external and internal audits and by the steering group

The report gave details of internal and external audits completed in 2014.  An action plan, appended to the report at Appendix 1 had been produced to progress any actions which had resulted from the audits.

Resolved – That the ISO14001 Standard audits and consequential actions that had arisen be approved.

161  (38) PARKING RESTRICTIONS – FRODINGHAM ROAD, SCUNTHORPE – The Director of Places submitted a report considering objections received by the council to the experimental Traffic Regulation Order on Frodingham Road, Scunthorpe

The council received a petition from residents in March 2013. The residents asked for the removal of parking restrictions on Frodingham Road, between Ferry Road and Sheffield St. The petition was appended to the report at Appendix 1.

An experimental order was made on 9 September 2013.  This order removed the parking restriction for a period of up to 18 months.  The council received one objection to the order (at Appendix 2 to the report). The ward members, officers and a local business owner held further discussions. It was agreed to amend the order. This included small sections of limited waiting, 30 minutes no return within 1 hour, at either end of the parking bay to create turnover for businesses.

One objection was received to the amendment order (at Appendix 3 to the report). This was from a resident who objected to the loss parking for residents.

Resolved – (a) That the permanent Traffic Regulation Order, as set out in Appendix 4 to the report, be approved, and (b) that officers write to the objectors advising them of the decision.

162   (39) PARKING RESTRICTIONS – NEWLAND DRIVE, SCUNTHORPE – The Director of Places submitted a report considering objections received by the council to the proposed Traffic Regulation Order on Newland Drive, Scunthorpe.

The council received a petition in October 2013 opposing an increase in parking charges at Scunthorpe General Hospital.  Residents felt that raising charges would increase parking on local streets.  Details of the petition were included at Appendix 3 to the report.

The council agreed to undertake some further consultation involving residents in the Newland Drive area.  This would discuss possible options.

The proposed restrictions were to prevent the perception of all day parking on street.  The parking was by staff at the nearby hospital.  Restrictions would be similar to those in operation on other nearby streets.

Resolved – (a) That the Traffic Regulation Order, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved, and (b) that officers write to the residents advising them of the decision, following the normal statutory procedure.