Neighbourhoods Cabinet Member – Minutes – 16 July 2015

1   (1)AIR QUALITY PROGRESS REPORT 2014 – The Director of Places submitted a report seeking approval for the 2014 Air Quality Progress Report.

The council must carry out a review of pollution every year. Industrial, domestic and traffic sources were compared with limits for seven major pollutants.  Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs guidance was used in preparing the report.

Dust levels in Scunthorpe and Santon were still high. As such, the two Air Quality Management Areas that had been declared for dust needed to be retained.  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. Data was currently being used to prepare a detailed assessment. This would show if an Air Quality Objective was being breached.

Resolved – That the Air Quality Progress Report 2014 be approved for public availability.

2   (2) AIR QUALITY UPDATING AND SCREENING ASSESSMENT 2015 – The Director of Places submitted a report seeking advising the Cabinet Member about the 2015 Draft Updating and Screening Assessment sent to DEFRA on 5 June 2015, and seeking approval to carry out consultation and publish the final document.

The council must carry out a review of pollution every year. Industrial, domestic and traffic sources must be compared with limits for seven major pollutants.  DEFRA guidance was used to write the report.

The Updating and Screening Assessment for 2015 showed that dust levels in Scunthorpe and Santon were still high.  As such, the two Air Quality Management Areas that had been declared for dust should remain.  Data shows that schemes in the Santon area were successful in reducing levels of particulate matter in this area.

Monitoring locations on the eastern side of Scunthorpe had shown very little 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 do this.

Levels of Nitrogen Dioxide at South Killingholme were monitored to determine if an Air Quality Objective was being breached.  Officers were currently preparing a detailed assessment.

Resolved – (a) That the proposal to undertake consultation be approved, and (b) that the Director of Places be authorised to incorporate relevant feedback into the report and produce the final document for publication.

3   (3) REVISED ALLOTMENT TENANCY AGREEMENT – The Director of Places submitted a report seeking approval for a revised allotment tenancy agreement.

The council had reviewed its existing Allotment Tenancy Agreement.  Some changes were suggested in order to simplify the document and improve its consistency and clarity.

The council was responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of five allotment sites (Buckingham Avenue, Healey Road, Somervell Road, Westcliff and Wheatfield’s) within the Scunthorpe area.

The new agreement pulled together the main sections from the old agreement (contract, terms and conditions, appendices etc.) into a single document.  The wording had been revised to remove possible ambiguity and mis-understanding, set out a clear procedure for dealing with instances of non-compliance and it was now proposed to restrict bonfires/burning on allotment sites. This issue had previously resulted in many complaints and although there were no laws against having a bonfire, there were laws relating to the nuisance they could cause, including harm to people’s health, pollution and danger to traffic.

The date for payment of fees had also been revised to later in the year (October) in order to allow sufficient time for the council’s “Fees and Charges” to be formally approved before tenants were invoiced. It would also make it more convenient for the letting of plots allowing new tenants the Autumn/Winter period to work them up in readiness for the forthcoming growing season.

Resolved – That the implementation of the revised Allotment Tenancy Agreement be approved.

4   (4) DISPOSAL OF HOUSEHOLD ASBESTOS – The Director of Places submitted a report considering the options for providing disposal facilities for household asbestos.

Asbestos was classed as hazardous waste.  As such, its handling required strict control.  The council had a legal duty to provide an asbestos disposal service for residents.  A disposal facility was provided at the Scunthorpe Household Recycling Centre (HRC) site.

When introducing this service, the intention was to provide residents with the opportunity to dispose of small quantities of white bonded asbestos that they may have had in their own homes.  Examples included the heat proof mat fitted in the end of an old ironing board, a small quantity of asbestos vinyl floor tiles or an old piece of asbestos cement drain pipe.

This aligned with the principle of domestic waste coming from within the household dwelling and excluding construction and demolition waste. This was classed as waste which could be charged for when receiving and disposing.

Currently there was no approved policy on the amount of asbestos a single household could bring into the site. Householders were bringing in large volumes of asbestos, including whole sheds and garage roofs. This was not what the service was originally designed for.

These large scale quantities were legally classed as construction and demolition waste. As such individual households had the responsibility to arrange for its proper disposal and pay all the associated costs.

The council’s current policy was to provide two bags to residents to assist them to safely dispose of asbestos. The asbestos went in the red bag and this then went in the clear bag. This was in accordance with recommended health and safety procedures that asbestos was double bagged to protect the people who handled it.  Loose asbestos was not accepted but larger asbestos items would be accepted if they were securely wrapped in plastic sheeting.

In 2014, Lincolnshire County Council implemented restrictions to the amount of asbestos waste each household could dispose of. These were the supply of the same bags used by the council on no more than two occasions per year. It was recommended that the council adopt a similar scheme to avoid the risk of cross border disposal.

Resolved – That Option 2 of the report, that a new policy restricting the amounts of asbestos that could be disposed and not allow the disposal of asbestos arising from construction and demolition work, be approved.

5    (5) HEALTH AND SAFETY SERVICE PLAN 2015/2016 – The Director of Places submitted a report seeking approval of the council’s Health and Safety (H&S) Service Plan for 2015/2016.

The council must make suitable arrangements to carry out H&S work within its area.  The council uses HSE guidance which set out an enforcement framework to guide them.

The H&S Service Plan 2015/2016 (Appendix 1) required the approval of the council.

The plan showed the resources needed to do the different aspects of the H&S service.

Fewer visits were being carried out again this year and only high risk premises would be visited. Advice and support would still be given to business and complaints and enquiries would be responded to quickly.  Work would be carried out in line with the council’s H&S Enforcement Policy.

The council would report to the FSA on its performance against the plan at the end of March 2016.

Resolved – That the Health and Safety Service Plan 2015/2016 be approved.