Highways & Neighbourhoods Cabinet Member – Minutes – 7 August 2012
The council had to carry out a review of pollution every year. Industrial, domestic and traffic sources were compared with limits for seven major pollutants.
Technical guidance LAQM.TG (09) issued by DEFRA in April 2009 had been used to write the report. The USA for 2012 found no new issues since the previous report in 2009, and showed that dust levels in Scunthorpe were still high.
The council would continue to put in place the actions in the Air Quality Action Plan. The plan aimed to reduce the impact of steel making on air quality in Scunthorpe. The council would work with local industry and the Environment Agency to do this. Work would also continue on measuring levels of NO² at South Killingholme, and levels and causes of air pollution in the area would be reported on.
Resolved – (a) That the 2012 Draft (USA) submitted to DEFRA be approved, (b) that the proposal to consult with the organisations shown within Appendix 1 to the report, be approved, and (c) that thanks be recorded for the work that Ross Thompson had carried out prior to his departure from the council and that he be wished well in the future.
91 (8) ISO14001 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT REVIEW – The Director of Places submitted a report informing the Cabinet Member of the latest reviews for the ISO14001 Standard, and seeking approval for the audits and action plans.
The ISO14001 Standard (the standard) assessed the council’s environmental impacts and helped to measure consumption and reduced waste. The main principle of the standard was to reduce, reuse and recycle.
To deliver the principal produced real cost savings, reduced the council’s environmental impact and improved environmental standing. B M Trada audited the council twice during the year against the standard.
To maintain the standard a Management Review was undertaken every year, each Management Review required the council to present the following:
- Details of the external auditors findings
- Results and environmental and legal audits
- An action plan to address the issues identified within the external and internal audits and by the steering group
The report gave details of areas throughout the council where internal audits would be completed in the current year and which areas were looked into. The Action Plan attached to the report gave details of several non conformances identified by internal audit, and how these were being progressed.
The E-Learning training package went live in March 2012 and was optional. To improve understanding of the standard throughout the council, it was recommended that the training was made compulsory for employees.
Resolved – (a) That the ISO14001 Management Review be accepted, (b) that the audit programme be approved and accepted, (c) that the action plan be approved, (d) that the E-Learning training package in Environmental Management and Policy be made compulsory for employees, and (e) that no amendments to the Environmental Policy be required at this time.
92 (9) FOOD SERVICE PLAN 2012/2013 – The Director of Places submitted a report seeking approval of the council’s Food Service Plan for 2012/2013.
The Foods Standards Agency (FSA) required the council to write a plan that set out how food work would be carried out. The council enforced both Food Safety and Food Standards (Consumer Protection) legislation. It also carried out work on the composition and safety of Animal Feed products.
Appendices 1 and 2 to the report contained two documents which made up the council’s Food Service Plan. The planned activity was in two documents, one for Food Safety and one for Food Standards, as the latter now included Feed Law Enforcement work. The FSA required the council to approve the food service plan.
The report gave details of what was included in the plan and work that the council would continue to carry out within the Environmental Health Team and Trading Standards Service. The council would report to the FSA on its performance against the plan at the end of March 2013.
Resolved – That the Food Service Plan 2012/2013 be approved.
93 (10) HEALTH AND SAFETY (H&S) SERVICE PLAN 2012/2013 – The Director of Places submitted a report seeking approval for the Health and Safety Service Plan 2012/2013.
The council had to make suitable arrangements to carry out H&S work within its area, HSE guidance which set out an enforcement framework was used for the purpose. The H&S Service Plan 2012/2013 at Appendix 1 to the report required approval by the Cabinet Member.
The plan showed the resources needed to provide the different aspects of the H&S service. The council would again be carrying out fewer visits this year, only high risk premises would be visited. Support and advice would still be given to businesses 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 had signed up to the ‘HSE Working Together Partnership’ and included HSE high risk issues in their work plan. The aim was to reduce the number of work related deaths, injuries, ill health and working days lost.
The team also began working with the HSE under the ‘Flexible Warrant Scheme’ in 2005. Officers in the team with these warrants could work across the council and HSE boundaries on behalf of and alongside the HSE to deal with serious H&S issues.
Resolved – That the Health and Safety Service Plan for 2012/2013 be approved.
94 (11) TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDER – NO WAITING AT ANY TIME HILTON AVENUE, SCUNTHORPE – The Director of Places submitted a report considering an objection received by the council to the proposed traffic restrictions on Hilton Avenue, Scunthorpe.
Buses were experiencing problems travelling around Hilton Avenue due to poor vehicle parking. The proposed restrictions would stop vehicles parking around junctions of cul-de-sacs. This would improve visibility and aid residents’ journeys.
The proposed restrictions would also prevent poor parking. Problems often occurred when football matches were being played at nearby Glanford Park.
Letters were sent to many consultees, which included all properties in the area, during the statutory consultation process. Notices were posted on site. One resident raised an objection.
Resolved – (a) That the introduction of the Traffic Regulation Order, as shown on plans in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved, and (b) that officers write to the objector advising them of the decision, following the normal statutory procedure.