Agenda and minutes

The Chairman announced the details of the arrangements in case of fire or other events that might require the meeting room or building to be evacuated.

The Chairman asked that any mobile phones be either turned off or on silent.

Apologies were received from Councillor Garry Pain.

There were no pecuniary interests.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 8 July 2014 and to authorise the Chairman to sign them.

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 8 July 2014, were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

Presentation from officers.

The Committee received a presentation from the Sustainability Officer on the LED Street Lighting in the borough.  She highlighted the benefits of using LEDs in street lights and explained that other projects including street signs and bollards (1300 units), belisha beacons (200 units) and pedestrian underpasses  had all been converted to LED lights, as well as 6500 street lights in residential roads.  The replacement of street lighting with LED was a projected saving of £153,000 per year and 1,534,000 kWh energy saved. 

The Committee was informed that the LED lights used 60% less energy and had three times the life of ordinary lights, usually 10 to 15 years.  LED light bulbs were a better colour rendition and were easier to direct so there was less light pollution to the night sky and into neighbouring dwellings.

The Committee noted that a report would be going to Cabinet for an additional 10,500 LED street lights.  This would achieve almost the whole borough being changed to LED lighting.  The next steps would be to work with the social housing estates, as currently these are not delivered by Streetcare.

Members enquired as to the funding for these changes.  Officers explained that part of the funding is through a no interest loan from Salix, a company that lends to public bodies to deliver energy savings.  The savings made from the energy measures go to pay off the loan.  There was also funding from Transport for London and the capital funding for energy saving projects.

Officers explained that the controls for each lamp at present was on each individual unit, therefore timings had to be manually set for each column which was currently very time-consuming.  There was a move towards a new WiFi link to equipment in the office, where the columns could be controlled remotely.  It was hoped that this would be in place within the next few year.

To receive a presentation from public health officers on air quality and health on the south of Havering.

Following a request from a member about the health of residents in the south of the borough and the air quality, officers gave a presentation on the actual findings of data that had been monitored over a period of 5 years.

Officers explained both the short term and long term effects that both Nitrogen Oxide and Particulates could cause on the health of residents.  However the results of monitoring that had been carried out over a period of 5 years showed that the health and mortality rates for the south of the borough were attributed more to smoking than to the air pollution.  This was no more significant than the rest of the borough, officers stated that if any area was to be higher it would be the north of the borough due to the demographics.

The Committee were showed details of the Nitrogen Oxide Emissions for Havering for 2008 – 2020.  This showed that the majority of emissions came from the road transport; however this was declining due to better energy efficient fuel and vehicles.  The emissions inventory for PM2.5 was attributed to road transport too, in the form of brakes, exhausts and tyre dust.

Members had raised concerns about the emissions and air quality as a result of the landfill site in the south of the borough.  Officers explained that the main source of emissions from landfill sites was:

·         the waste materials as they were brought onto site, normally in heavy goods vehicles

·         emissions from this transport and any heavy plant used on the site

·         waste blown by the wind as it is tipped or deposited at the landfill site

·         dust generated from the surface of the landfill and when the waste is tipped or unloaded.

·         The waste materials which have previously been deposited in the landfill site,

·         Any gas generated as the waste breaks down, which is not collected and treated

·         Any plant use to burn landfill gas, including gas flares or engines

·         Any leachate produced as the waste breaks down

·         The discharge from any processes used to treat the leachate.

They further explained the distance that emissions from landfill sites travel and provided the Committee with a map of where the landfill site was in conjunction with any residential properties.  Whilst some pollutants (PM2.5) would be present in the air, the others would not travel further that 1km.  Officers stated that the Environment Agency had controls over landfill sites and measures are put in place during the planning permission to reduce the pollutants.

Some members felt that there were contributing factors in the south of the borough as there were a significant number of residents who suffered ill health.  The Committee agreed that it would be useful to receive information for the health and mortality of the whole borough.

The Committee will receive details of the budgetary breakdown for services within its remit.

The Committee received details of the budgetary breakdown of services within its remit.  Officers explained that this was a snapshot and did not include all budgets.  The figures given included staff and resource costs.

Members asked if there were any budgets that were showing a variance that the Committee should be aware of.  Officers stated that there were none of real concern at this time, but it may be useful for budgetary information to be brought to the Committee on a four-monthly basis, so any variances can be explained.

Officers explained the budgets and stated that some were more at risk during the winter months.  This was significantly true for the gritting and pre-salting budget, as if there was heavy snowfall over a period of time, this service would have to run 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  The budget for this area included staffing and equipment which could be costly.

Members asked if there were any contingency budgets available for additional costs. Officers explained that there were contingencies, and emergency works such as trees falling can cost up to £30,000 in one night, this would need to be taken account of, however the contingency budgets were only for emergencies.

It was agreed that the Committee would have a standing item on budgets every 4 months.

To consider a report on corporate performance information for Quarter 4 that was presented to Cabinet at its meeting on 30 July 2014 (attached).

The Committee agreed to deal with items 8 and 9 together.

The Committee received the Corporate Performance Data for quarter four and the annual report.  Officers explained that there may be a slight change in SC05 since there had been a change in the contract and following an incident in the south of the borough this would have a small effect of the performance data.

The Committee noted the reports.

To consider a report on the annual corporate performance information that was presented to Cabinet at its meeting on 30 July 2014 (attached).

The Committee agreed to deal with items 8 and 9 together.

See the minute under item 8.

The Committee are asked to agree the membership of the topic group and the date of its first meeting.

The Committee agreed the membership of the topic group.  The members on the group would be Councillor Ray Morgan, Councillor Alex Donald and Councillor Patricia Rumble.

The first meeting of the topic group would take place on Monday 8^th September where officers would give a presentation on the process of reporting defects and how these were dealt with.

The Committee agreed that it would like the following items on a future agenda:

·         Maintenance of Greens and Hedges in the borough

·         Contaminated Land in the borough.