My Report to Council

Posted By: Irene Davidson
Date Posted: 15/01/2010

Thank you Mr Mayor for the opportunity to report to the Council the latest developments on various matters relating to the Environment & Sustainability Portfolio.

PLANNING & REGULATION SERVICE
LICENSING
In the new year the Licensing Manager will be providing reports for Cabinet on the following policies:-

The Council’s Conviction Policy
The report will outline proposals for amendments to the Council’s Convictions Policy in respect of the licensing of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers/Operators. This policy has been updated after consultation with AGMA.

Quantity Control Policy for Hackney Carriage Vehicles
The report will outline the results of an unmet demand survey in relation to hackney carriages to allow Members to decide on the Council’s policy in relation to control of numbers of hackney carriages within the Borough. This comprehensive survey has been carried out by specialised consultants.

Taxi Trade Meetings
Since June there has been a number of trade meetings taking place where concerns have been raised relating to rank locations throughout the Borough, taxi marshals, fare levels, driver safety, CCTV locations. It has become quite clear that there are common issues on both sides of the trade and as a way forward there will now be joint meetings with representatives from Private Hire operators and Hackney Carriage Associations. These meetings will be held quarterly – one meeting in each Township.

Prosecutions
There has been a prosecution involving a husband and wife involving possession of counterfeit goods to the value of £204,645. These have resulted in a 12 month imprisonment to be served half in custody and half on licence and an 8 month imprisonment suspended for 12 months because of mitigation coupled with a Supervision Order for 12 months. The offenders were ordered to pay £41,235 and £105,000 respectively from available assets.

The effect of the order is that the Council should recover £146,235 in the next 12 months together with Prosecution Costs of £24,000. A percentage of this will go to the Crown and other costs. The balance of the criminal benefit (£270,000 and £282,000 respectively) will remain payable in the event that either Defendant acquires assets in the future.

HIGHWAYS & ENGINEERING SERVICE
1. Restructure
Following approval of the Employment Committee on 8th October, implementation of the restructure of H&E continues with the intention of having the new 3-Team structure in place early in 2010.

As Members will already know Donald Forrester left his post as Head of Service Post on 4 December 2009. Donald has been a good support to Townships over the years and will be missed for his sense of humour and diligence. I wish him all the best for the future. .
There have been some new appointments as follows:
3 Team Managers appointed to new posts - effective from 1st January 2010
3 Team Managers to take VR/ER - effective from 1st Feb 2010
5 Other staff to take ER/VR - effective from mid-end Dec 2009
3 Vacant Manager posts currently advertised internally.

John Cheetham has taken over from Donald and has had informal discussions with all Township offices to advise on progress and given assurances re service continuity in short term, and efficiencies/improvements in medium/long term.


2. Collaboration with Unity Partnership in Oldham
Development continues with Impact Highways staff supporting Unity on Section 38 work and Retaining Walls Design. Unity are supporting Impact with Land Surveys.

3. Townhead Junction
Impact has arranged some further measures with GMUTC to improve the capacity of the junction by further refinement of signal timings. This should be effective from late March 2010. Options paper to be prepared regarding further measures to increase its capacity. This will require additional land and significant RMBC investment to deliver.

4. Metrolink
Planning consent has been given for Phases 3A and 3B. Impact Highways are leading RMBC engagement with the MPACThales re design proposals for the on-street elements.

5. Rochdale Town Centre Masterplan
Impact are working with RMBC Planning/Regeneration to develop a proposal to create the final link to Rochdale Inner Ring Road around Wood Street which is required to enable effective delivery of Metrolink 3B and is a key component of the Masterplan.

6. Street Lighting PFI
Work continues to bring the Street Lighting PFI project to a close, with the DFT and funders working through remaining issues caused by the difficult financial market. It is now likely that Financial Close will now not take place until February 2010 due to further negotiations with the bidders, necessitated by the difficult financial markets. As previously reported the project will deliver significant additional investment in the Borough (£35m) and will replace the majority of our street lighting stock.

Carillion are continuing to provide Street Lighting services as an interim arrangement prior to the commencement of the new Street Lighting PFI Investment Programme.

7. Parking
Despite budget pressures arising from the downturn in income from parking we have supported local business by maintaining parking charges (which we have not increased since 2005). Highways and Finance Officers have assessed the budget implications of maintaining the current pricing structure into 2010/11.

8. Winter Maintenance
Officers continue to work with the Highways Agency and their Partner A1+ to implement shared use of their winter maintenance depot at Milnrow. This will save us the investment needed to provide our own ‘salt barn’, and will give us opportunities to deliver a more efficient gritting service. Currently the salt is stored at Entwistle Road, which is unsuitable in the long term.

9. Retaining Walls Programme
The first contract for 3 schemes has been let and site works have commenced on the first scheme on Halifax Road, adjacent to the Moorcock PH. This will enable us deliver the budgeted work for 2009/10. Regular progress updates will be provided through the RMBC website.

10. Clover Hall Bridge – Albert Royds Street
A contract has been let for the reconstruction of this bridge, which takes Albert Royds Street over the Rochdale-Leeds Railway. Site works will commence early in the new year. Publicity regarding the works is being arranged locally and Boroughwide. The scheme will involve the closure of Albert Royds Street for a several weeks in the summer of 2010.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

General Update
EMS Transformation project phase 1 on target to be completed late December early January. Phase 2 scoping meeting being arranged to look at wider service transformation benefits.

Streets Update
1. Customer Service Awards – Rochdale Township Street Services Team were successful in winning an overall Team Award for exceptional Customer Service and an Individual Award was presented to Street Services Operative for his friendly and efficient service to the people of Norden. Big congratulations to all involved. A marvellous example to us all in how to treat each other.

2. Refurbishment of Town Centre Street Furniture proceeding slowly due to the weather.

3. North West In Bloom Awards announced – Rochdale 2nd in large city category.

4. Results of Chief Executive Landscape Awards announced – Congratulations to the winning Middleton Township Team.

5. Due to warm weather leaves have taken several weeks to fall but majority are now off
and teams engaged in clearing remaining accumulations

Transport Update
6. We are working with AGMA Collaborative Services Group to progress with full collaboration across AGMA on Fleet purchasing and maintenance. Details being worked up by project group now and will probably begin with the formation of a central Transport Management Unit to look at AGMA wide fleet procurement and rationalisation of maintenance SLA’s and sites etc.

Bowlee Nursery
7. Following the fire at Bowlee Nursery last year the wood burning bio -mass boiler has been commissioned and is now providing the majority of heat and dramatically cutting the use of oil. Not only is this more sustainable, but it is significantly cheaper than oil. The long term aim is to be in a position to grow and plant trees and to use the waste generated from our tree work to heat the nursery and reduce waste going to landfill.

Sustainability Update
8. The second draft of the Travel Plan has been completed. Staff travel surveys have been analysed and Members should have received results in December 2009.

9. Climate change adaptation – Council Officers are conducting risk evaluations with key services and partners to assess the likelihood and consequences of climate change related risks.

10. Whole Life Costing Toolkit is currently with Finance for amendments. Two projects have been selected for trial of the toolkit. Working with Spatial Planning to scope out a Climate Change Adaptation Supplementary Planning Document. Working with Procurement to implement AGMA Sustainable Procurement Flexible Framework.

11. Connect2 works out to tender, work expected January–March 2010 on canal towpath, Clegg Hall to Littleborough. Canal art project at Ben Healy Bridge, Littleborough for young people from Fairbridge scheme (NEETS).
12. School travel Implementation Strategy (targeting 20 schools for intensive focus) is in the midst of its first phase. Various schemes and improvements initiated within each school. Positive, enthusiastic response from the schools and pupils so far. Only 3 mainstream schools without a travel plan. Around 4 plans to be submitted by the March 2010 deadline. Meeting with Primary Capital Programme design team in order to ensure sustainable travel principles are incorporated in the design brief from the outset.

13. No change on Eco-school status – still at 63% of schools with an accreditation - this is not a surprise as traditionally a quiet period as the schools settle in and appoint new committees. Work started on engaging secondary schools on the Sustainable Schools Framework to carry out a review prior to BSF programme start Evaluation of LEAF being undertaken to influence future engagement

Waste Update
Approx 16,500 blue bins delivered so far.
Further 5,000 blue bins ordered as per cabinet decision.
Requests for blue bins reintroduced from W/C 16 November.
Approx 21,000 blue bin requests received up to 26 November since April.

Energy Saving Trust
The Energy Saving Trust initially awarded the Council 160 places on its Smarter Driving Initiative which is a programme aimed at giving drivers 1:1 tuition. Basically the instruction is about changes to driving style and behaviour which increases miles per gallon, reduction in emissions, reduced journey times and last but not least reduction in running costs. The course has been very well received by our drivers, the good news is that due to the positive uptake we have been awarded a further 240 places. We have offered 48 of these places to RBH to assist them in reducing their carbon footprint. These sessions add up to a value of £6k -£8k.

COUNCILLOR IRENE DAVIDSON

Thank you Mr Mayor, I will be pleased to answer any questions from Members of the Council about these or any other matter relating to the Environment & Sustainability Portfolio.