Agendas, Meetings and Minutes - Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: County Hall, Worcester

Contact: Alyson Grice/Alison Spall  Overview and Scrutiny Officers

Items
No. Item

436.

Apologies and Welcome

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

Apologies were received from Councillors Karen Hanks and Jack Satterthwaite.

437.

Declarations of Interest and of any Party Whip

Minutes:

None.

438.

Public Participation

Members of the public wishing to take part should notify the Assistant Director for Legal and Governance in writing or by e-mail indicating both the nature and content of their proposed participation no later than 9.00am on the working day before the meeting (in this case 28 February 2022).  Further details are available on the Council's website.  Enquiries can also be made through the telephone number/e-mail address listed in this agenda and on the website.

 

Minutes:

None.

439.

Confirmation of the Minutes of the previous meeting

Previously circulated.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting on 20 January 2022 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

440.

Street Lighting Update pdf icon PDF 185 KB

Minutes:

The Assistant Director for Highways and Transport Operations introduced the Update on Street Lighting Report, which included the progress made with the light emitting diode (LED) roll-out programme and the outcomes so far from the concrete column survey. The Panel last received an update in August 2020.

 

Members were reminded that during the Council’s recent Budget setting process, an extra £6m had been allocated to complete the LED conversion and that the Council’s street lighting services were delivered by the Lighting Maintenance Contractor, Prysmian.

 

From August 2020 – March 2021, there had been 4,547 LED conversions and 324 concrete replacements and by the end of March 2022, it was estimated that there would be at total of 10,323 LED conversions and 825 concrete replacements completed.

 

At the end of March 2022, it was anticipated there would be 20,573 (37%) non-LED streetlights left to convert.  Noting that the current contract for the unmetered supply was due to expire in April 2022 and the new rate had been confirmed at an increase of 88.6% (from 13.455p per kwh to 23.38p per kwh) it had been agreed that the conversion of the remaining non-LED streetlighting would be accelerated using the £6m allocation. It was anticipated that this would be delivered within 12-18 months.

 

During the opportunity for discussion, the following main points were made:

 

·       In response to a member question about whether the Contractor would be able to complete the accelerated roll-out of LED conversions within 12-18 months, the Panel was advised that discussions had taken place with the Contractor to confirm this, although realistically the roll-out conversion may slip to completion in 2023/24.

·       It was explained that the actual charge for the UMS was calculated by using industry codes and regulations.

·       The weblink to the Geographic Information System (GIS) Maps for streetlights would be circulated to all Councillors as a reminder of street light locations.

·       In 2019, £2m had been approved from the Highways Infrastructure Investment Fund allocation for the roll-out of the replacement of ageing concrete columns and to fit LEDs as they were replaced in addition to the replacement of existing (relatively) low efficiency lanterns with new LED stock on existing steel columns. The intention was to spend this allocation on the improvements within 2 years, however due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant delays (in both supplies and Contractor resources) it will have been successfully completed by end of March 2022.  It was agreed that the Panel would be provided with the details of the total number of LED conversions to date.

·       There were areas in the County where specialist lamps (red lights) had been fitted for the protection of ecology, the examples give were Warndon Villages and Fernhill Health (for bat colonies).

·       Heritage lamps were currently being sourced and would be retro fitted where appropriate.

·       In terms of solar options, it was confirmed that some solar units were currently being trialled.

·       The main supplier of LED lamps for the conversion process was a local company based in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 440.

441.

Performance and In-Year Budget Monitoring pdf icon PDF 134 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

In-Year Budget Monitoring

 

The Head of Finance advised the Panel that as at the end of Quarter 3 (October- December 2021) there was an improving financial position with a £52k underspend compared with £183k overspend at the end of Quarter 2.

 

There were a number of key variances which were due to a forecast:

 

·       Overspend in Transport Planning and Strategic Planning (part of Planning and Regulation) due to a reduction in expected levels of capitalisation and impact of contractor staff costs to cover hard to recruit vacancies

·       Underspend in Street Lighting due to reduction in energy costs following conversion to LED lighting

·       Underspend on Business Management due to holding vacant posts..

 

The Economy and Infrastructure Directorate had a savings target of £1.3m from 2020/21 and capitalisation targets of £2m to deliver this year.  It was currently forecast that the majority of this would be delivered and where there were risks to delivery, alternative compensatory efficiencies and income generation had been identified.

 

There was a total capital programme of c£150m this financial year.

 

The Chairman commented that he was very pleased with the budgetary position.

 

During the opportunity for questions, the following main points were made:

 

·       It was noted that the 2022/23 Budget Book should be available in summary format within 2 weeks.

·       The Assistant Director reassured the Panel that the staff vacancies held over during the Covid-19 pandemic would be filled as services were now starting to return to normal levels.

·       It was confirmed that Infrastructure Asset Management was now part of Major Projects.

·       The Head of Finance was content with the capitalisation of the Major Projects Staffing Budget and advised the Panel that each position was rigorously scrutinised and that there were checks and balances in place.

 

Performance Monitoring

 

The Management Information Analyst introduced the report drawing the Panel’s attention to the areas of success and challenges.

 

During the opportunity for questions, the following main points were made:

 

·       In response to a Member query, it was agreed that the Panel would be provided with a graph that detailed the % of each category of domestic waste to make-up 100%.

·       In terms of reducing the amount of waste per head, it was confirmed that the Council had good working relationships with all of its district councils and collaborated on initiatives and campaigns relating to waste reduction, but there was always more that could be done.

·       A Member expressed concern about residents being turned away from the household recycling centres if making repeated trips to dispose of waste as staff may be suspicious that they were disposing of commercial rather than domestic waste, which in turn would lead to increased fly-tipping.  The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for the Environment agreed to look into this matter.

·       A Member suggested that consideration should be given to providing incentives to residents to encourage appropriate recycling.  The Assistant Director for Economy, Major Projects and Waste suggested that through school children was often a good method for passing on messages.  The Panel comments would be fed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 441.

442.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 131 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Work Programme was discussed and the following amendments noted:

 

·       The Waste Contract and the Council’s work and role in tackling Climate Change would be discussed at the July meeting.

·       The Broadband Annual Update would be discussed at the September meeting.

·       A date for the Panel Awayday would be confirmed (possibly 9 June at 10am).

·       The visit to Lydiate Ash would be rearranged.