northlincs.gov.uk

15 (15) NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL ANNUAL ENERGY REPORT 2014/15 – The Director of Places submitted a report seeking approval for the Annual Energy Report for the financial year 2014/15 and to providing an update on the council’s Carbon Management Plan.

One of the recommendations of Greening the Workplace (Scrutiny Panel 2010) was for the production of an Annual Energy Report.

The council agreed its Carbon Management Plan (CMP) in 2009 and committed to reduce the council’s carbon emissions by 33% by 2014/15.

From April 2015, public buildings with a floor area more than 250m2 must have a Display Energy Certificate (DEC).

In 2012 the council achieved the Carbon Standard Certification. Energy data was externally verified in line with the ‘Green House Gas Protocol’. The standard publicly recognised the council’s efforts in reducing carbon emissions. The council will be reassessed in 2015 to maintain the certification. A further report would be presented to a future meeting.

All Annual Energy Reports since 2008 had included data for Academy Schools. This allowed for consistent reporting.  TEAM Sigma software had provided the energy data for the report. The software also delivered the council’s centralised billing for gas and electricity.

The report gave details of the council’s energy usage and CO2 emissions.

Twenty two schools now had Academy status.  Many of the schools had not signed up to the School’s Service Level Agreement.  For ease of reporting on future performance it was proposed to set a new baseline excluding Academy schools.

Resolved – (a) That the Annual Energy Report 2014/15 be noted and approved; (b) that a further report be submitted to the Cabinet Member at a later date on renewing the Carbon Standard, and (c) that future Energy Reports exclude Academy schools and establish a new carbon baseline.

16 (16) CATERING SERVICE DEVELOPMENT PLAN – The Director of Places submitted a report seeking approval for an updated version of the Catering Development Plan.

The catering service had two previous development plans. The plan had provided a structure for the continuous improvement of the service and had in the past allowed the service to offer improved services to more customers.

The plan had been reviewed and refreshed to reflect changes in the service as a result of taking forward actions in previous versions.

The service continued to develop.  This was reflected in the 97% contract retention. In addition, several schools had opted for a three year contract, giving stability to both the school and the council.

In the last twelve months the service had begun to provide community meals.  The service was now extending this provision with an aim of increasing the numbers even further.

The service had also increased the number of meals served by approximately one third due to the increase in free school meals available to key stage one pupils.

The catering team had again been awarded the Food For Life Catering mark at bronze level. The council was now working towards the silver award which would require a higher organic spend.

The commercial agenda was an important part of developing the service and the team had recently been awarded the catering contract at the Humber UTC.

Resolved – That the updated Catering Service Development Plan be approved.

17 (17) PROGRESS REVIEW OF MUNICIPAL WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY ACTIONS – The Director of Places submitted a report informing the Cabinet Member of progress against the actions in the Municipal Waste Management Strategy action plan.

By law the council had to publish a Municipal Waste Management Strategy. This explained how statutory targets and obligations for managing waste would be achieved. The last review of the strategy was in 2012.  This was the current policy for waste management in North Lincolnshire.

The action plan for the strategy showed how proposals would be delivered.  Progress against the actions was reported on an annual basis.

Actions were prioritised as High, Medium or Low to show how important they were towards achieving the strategy’s aims. The short term action plan covered the period from 2012 to 2017. There were seventeen actions. These were detailed in the appendix to the report.

Resolved – That the progress against the individual actions of the Municipal Waste Management Strategy be noted.

18 (18) DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT INCENTIVE FUNDING FOR HIGHWAYS MAINTENANCE – The Director of Places submitted a report informing the Cabinet Member of the changes in the funding arrangements for highway maintenance and its future impact.
Traditionally highways and transport related capital expenditure was secured through the Local Transport Plan process. The council was required to submit an LTP submission to the Department for Transport (DfT).  This plan set out transport priorities for the council. Last year saw the continuation of the third generation of these plans.  These now covered a 15-year period.

The funding made available by the DfT was historically split into two categories.  Both were calculated on a “needs” basis from various sets of data.

• Highway Maintenance
• Integrated Transport

In December 2014 the DfT announced funding totalling £6 billion nationally between 2015/16 and 2020/21 for the local highways maintenance capital funding element. The majority of funding made available to local authorities was on a “needs” basis calculated from various sets of data.  A further amount was set aside for a bidding process called the Local Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund.  The remaining amount had been set aside for an incentive funding.

The report gave full details of the changes in funding arrangements.

Resolved – (a) That the proposal to develop a robust Transport Asset Management Plan (TAMP) to maximise funding potential for highway maintenance through the incentive funding process be supported, and (b) that the Cabinet Member regular updates on progress towards the development of the TAMP be received.

19 (19) SCHOOL SAFETY MEASURES – KIRTON LINDSEY PRIMARY SCHOOL – The Director of Places submitted a report considering objections to the proposed Traffic Regulation Order for Kirton Lindsey Primary School.

Changes to current on-street parking arrangements in the vicinity of Kirton Lindsey Primary School were proposed. The proposals would deter parking outside the school and involved restrictions on Fairfields and Dunstan Villas.

The proposals were part of wider efforts to reduce the number of children travelling to school by car.  It would encourage more healthy and more ‘green’ methods.

The scheme included various restrictions including :-

• No Waiting At Any Time
• No Waiting Mon-Fri, 8.30am-9.30am & 3pm-4pm
• No Stopping Mon-Fri 8am-6pm on Entrance Markings
• No Stopping 7am-7pm Except Busses

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