Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Neighbourhoods and Environment Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday, 7th October, 2020 2.00 pm

Venue: Virtual meeting – Webcast at: https://manchester.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/485365

Contact: Lee Walker 

Media

Items
No. Item

39.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 242 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 2 September 2020.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Decisions

 

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 2 September 2020 as a correct record.

 

40.

Waste, Recycling and Street Cleansing Update pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods)

 

This report provides an update on progress in delivering waste, recycling, and street cleansing services.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) that provided the Members with an update on progress in delivering waste; recycling and street cleansing services.

 

The main points and themes within the report which included updates and information on a range of activities relating to: -

 

·         The impact of pandemic (COVID-19);

·         Service Update;

·         Cycle lane cleansing;

·         Bin collections;

·         Collections and Quarterly cleansing of passageway bins;

·         The Passageway Container Service Improvement Programme;

·         Apartments;

·         Contamination of recycling bins;

·         Fly tipping;

·         Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRC) and analysis of the impact of HWRC policy changes on incidences of flytipping;

·         Keep Manchester Tidy – COVID Response;

·         Littering in parks and green spaces;

·         Love parks week and campaigns; and

·         Engaging with residents in tackling litter and case studies.

 

The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods introduced the report by placing on record his thanks to all Neighbourhoods staff and Biffa crews for continuing to deliver a service during the challenging time of the COVID pandemic. He stated that those staff delivering these services are rightly regarded as key workers.

 

The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods stated that despite the challenges presented by COVID the city had maintained its recycling rate of 40%, commenting that this was an achievement when compared with the performance of other core cities. He stated that following conversations at previous scrutiny meetings and in response to concerns raised by Members significant work had been undertaken to improve aspects of the service, such as bin returns and passageway cleaning. He stated that Members had been kept regularly updated with these planned improvements. He further advised the Members that the 27 electric wagons were expected to be delivered before Christmas.  

 

The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods described that challenges remained regarding the incidents of flytipping, collections from passageways and the sweeping of the areas around container bins. He described that he and officers were continuing to work closely with Biffa to address issues with the ambition to return stability to the service. He stated that when the green bin collection had moved to the winter schedule the staff resources that had been released had been redeployed to other duties.

 

The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods concluded by thanking the residents of Manchester for their understanding during the COVID period and continuing to recycle appropriately. 

 

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

 

·         The Committee wished to place on record their thanks to all staff and Biffa crews for delivering the service during the COVID period;

·         Welcoming the positive case studies provided that described resident participation in Keep Manchester Tidy Campaigns;

·         Noting the increase in PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) being disposed of irresponsibly and what was being done to address this;

·         Noting that the implementation of physical measures to support social distancing had become traps for litter to accumulate and what was being done to address this;

·         Had any analysis of capacity been undertaken of container bins been undertaken to ensure they meet the demand;

·         Noting the incidents of missed bin  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

41.

Highways Maintenance Programme pdf icon PDF 2 MB

Report of the Director of Highways

 

This paper seeks to provide an update to the Scrutiny Committee on the previous Highways Maintenance Programme report of 6 November 2019.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Highways that provided an update further to the report that was considered by the Committee at their meeting on 6 November 2019. The update was provided in the context of a service that had progressed well through an improvement journey and provided an overview of both key successes over this period alongside some ongoing challenges and areas that continued to need further improvement.

 

The main points and themes within the report included: -

 

·         The Highways Service Key Achievements and Challenges

·         Inspections and Repairs

·         Highways planned Maintenance Programme update – year 4 progress and year 5 programme confirmation;

·         Major projects update;

·         Dashboard Performance Monitoring;

·         Social Value;

·         How information about how major schemes is provided to both local Ward Councillors and residents;

·         Managing disruption caused by major projects;

·         An update on the Winter gritting programme;

·         Motorcycle Parking; and

·         Covid response and Active Travel.

 

The Executive Member for Environment, Planning and Transport introduced the item by expressing her gratitude to all staff and contractors for their continued work during the pandemic. She described the Highways department as a proactive and positive service. She explained that work had continued to be delivered whilst complying with all local and national COVID guidance and that progress had continued to be made on the delivery of projects. She stated that the service had delivered social distancing measures and facilitated road closures so as to support people and business return to the city in a safe manner. In addition consultations had continued and the programme of active travel had continued and major schemes such as the CYCLOPS had been successfully completed. She further paid tribute to the contractors who had assisted the city’s response to the pandemic and supporting residents by delivering food parcels, supporting homeless charities, delivering PPE and helping with social distancing measures so that schools could reopen safely.

 

The Executive Member for Environment, Planning and Transport stated that Manchester remained committed to encouraging active travel for all residents across the city, however to successfully deliver all of the schemes adequate funding needed to be allocated by government. She informed the Members that despite statements being made by government on this issue funding to deliver this was not forthcoming.

 

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

 

·         Consideration needed to be given as to when works were to be delivered, noting that in residential areas it was not appropriate to undertake works at night that would cause a disturbance to local residents;

·         Residents needed to be appropriately informed of the intention to undertake works;

·         An update was sought on the green screening of the Princess Road roundabout;

·         Noting the delivery of Social Value through the contracts an assurance was sought that Manchester residents benefited from this and all companies undertaking works were appropriately vetted;

·         Road marking were not reinstated in a timely manner following patch repairs;

·         Utility companies needed to be held responsible for reinstating highways following works;

·         Welcoming the successful delivery  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

42.

Overview Report pdf icon PDF 289 KB

Report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit

 

This report includes details of the key decisions due to be taken that are relevant to the Committee’s remit as well as an update on actions resulting from the Committee’s recommendations. The report also includes the Committee’s work programme, which the Committee is asked to agree.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit which contained key decisions within the Committee’s remit and responses to previous recommendations was submitted for comment. Members were also invited to agree the Committee’s future work programme.

 

Decision

 

To note the report and agree the work programme.