Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence for the meeting were received from Councillors A Humphreys and S Knox.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 March 2021 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 April 2021 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in the agenda.

There were no declarations of pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests.

There was no public participation.

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed.

The Chief Executive submitted a report outlining the working groups under the remit of this committee and recommending that both the Grants working group and the Car Park working group be re-established for the 2021/22 municipal year.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve the continuance of both the Grants working group and the Car Park working group with the following membership –

·         Grants working group – Councillors Newmark, Atkinson, Alcock and Robinson, and

·         Car Park working group – Councillors Newmark, Atkinson, Mirfin and S O’Rourke

Report of Director of Resources enclosed.

The Director of Resources submitted a report reviewing the final outturn of the 2020/21 capital programme for this committee and seeking member approval for the slippage of some capital scheme budgets from the 2020/21 financial year to the 2021/22 financial year. The slippage items related to play area Improvements, replacement of Pickup Ford Ranger and the replacement of CCTV system.

Consideration of an additional capital scheme was also requested for the 2021/22 financial year relating to the concreting of the floor at the Waste Transfer Station that would be jointly funded by this Council and Lancashire County Council.

Actual expenditure on this committee’s 2020/21 capital programme was £331,349, which was 84.5% of the revised estimate budget. Seven of the ten capital programme schemes had been completed in-year and overall expenditure on these schemes was contained within the revised estimate budget approved in February 2021. Slippage of £60,320 had been requested for the remaining three schemes.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.    Approve the slippage of the following budgets into the 2021/22 capital programme:

·         Play area improvements 2019/20 - £16,500

·         Replacement of Pickup Ford Ranger PK60 HKN - £25,250

·         Replacement of CCTV System - £18,570

2.    Recommend to Policy & Finance that a new scheme be included in the 2020/21 capital programme of £24,000 for concreting the floors at the Waste Transfer Station of which £12,000 would be funded from Lancashire County Council.

Report of Director of Community Services enclosed.

The Director of Community Services submitted a report outlining details about the Council’s play areas, together with a proposal for improving two of the sites which the Council owns and manages. The report also sought approval for an increase to the budget for the Play Areas Capital Programme budget of £62,660 for 2021/22 due to funding for two specific sites where S106 funding had been received.

The report highlighted the budget available for the 18 play areas that the Council owns and manages, that is used for small scale improvements to some play areas each year arising from maintenance and general wear and tear, and the impact of vandalism.

Committee was informed that where the opportunity arises, S106 funding is sought from developers to improve a council play area. As a result of this the Council would be able to improve both Longridge Kestor Lane and Clitheroe Castle site this year along with the additional funding requested to the capital programme of £62,660.

A strategic replacement scheme programme for play equipment was not possible as annually the cost of essential maintenance elements was unknown. The approximate value of all the existing equipment in the 18 play areas including the safety surfacing was £950k.

An update on the Whalley Woodland play area was given where the supplier was having problems with supplies from the EU.

Members discussed the issues surrounding play areas and the need to keep children safe, maintenance checks, and available budgets. A more comprehensive report covering details of all 18 play areas was requested from officers to a future meeting of this committee.  

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.    Recommend to Policy and Finance committee the approval of the additional capital budget of £30,000 in respect of Longridge Kestor Lane and £32,660 in respect of Clitheroe Castle site for the 2021/22 Capital Programme, and

2.    Authorise the Director of Community Services to procure new play equipment as detailed in the report for play areas at Kestor Lane, Longridge and Clitheroe Castle play area.

3.    Ask the Director of Community Services to submit a more comprehensive report on all the play areas under the control of the Borough Council.

Report of Director of Community Services enclosed.

The Director of Community Services submitted a report outlining three consultations that had been received from DEFRA, namely Deposit Return Scheme (DRS); Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Consistency of Collections.

He briefly explained to members what each of the three schemes were consulting upon and the implications for the Council particularly with regard to financial and staffing resources.

The EPR consultation related to reforms to the packaging waste regulations with the intention of producers paying for the cost of packaging from cradle to grave. The DRS consultation sought views on proposals to introduce a DRS for drinks containers where an upfront deposit is paid and returned on redemption of the container. The Consistent Collections consultation was concerned with having consistent recycling collections from all waste collection authorities in order to improve the quantity and quality of municipal waste recycled in England to achieve a national recycling rate of 65% by 2035.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Delegate authority to the Director of Community Services to respond to the consultations on behalf of Ribble Valley Borough Council and that this response be shared with the District Councils Network.

Report of Director of Community Services enclosed.

The Director of Community Services submitted a report regarding grant funding from Lancashire County Council to improve Clitheroe Town Centre maps. It was proposed to redesign the maps in the existing poster cases in 9 locations around the town to improve orientation for residents and visitors.

A proposal had been submitted for the grant and the Council Solicitor was currently looking at the terms of the agreement. There was no financial commitment from the Borough Council required other than that of officer time to co-ordinate and manage delivery of the project.

Members requested that designs for the maps be circulated to the committee.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.    Delegate the Director of Community Services to approve the acceptance of the grant subject to legal comments on the terms of the contract agreement, and

2.    Approve the officer time to deliver the project.

Report of Director of Community Services enclosed.

The Director of Community Services submitted a report for information on the impact that the pandemic had had on the RV3G site and an update on the way the use of the site was developing.

Despite the interruptions caused by Covid, usage figures showed the facility was very busy at peak times where demand outstripped supply. The pandemic had also resulted in a direct loss of income, although the Council was currently being partly compensated for lost income through the MHCLG Sales, Fees and Charges Compensation scheme.

Report of Director of Community Services enclosed.

The Director of Community Services submitted a report providing members with an update on recycling rates. Figures published by LCC show that Ribble Valley has had a 22% improvement performance for collection of green waste, and co-mingled collections had improved by 37%. Paper recycling levels were down, however the figures included the period during lockdown when paper collections were suspended due the closure of the recycling facility and was now expected to improve.

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed.

The Chief Executive submitted a report informing members of the outside bodies that were under the remit of this committee and their membership that had been approved at the Annual meeting on 18 May 2021.

Copy enclosed.

The Director of Community Services submitted a report for information giving an update on a variety of developments in sports, arts, performance at the Platform Gallery, refuse bins, climate change working group and Ribble Valley in Bloom grants.

There were no reports from representatives on outside bodies.

None.

There were no items under this heading.