Agenda and minutes

Members of the committee should declare any interests which fall under the following categories:

a)    disclosable pecuniary interests (DPI);

b)    other significant interests (OSI);

c)    voluntary announcements of other interests.

There were no declarations of interest at the meeting.

To consider and approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 14 February 2023.

The minutes of the meeting dated 14 February 2023 were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

To consider and approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2023.

The minutes of the meeting dated 7 March 2023 were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

This report presents background information to support the committee in consideration of matters that will be covered in a presentation on storm water overflows.

Southern Water representatives John Mealey, Stakeholder Engagement Manager and Jon Yates, Delivery Lead for Clean Rivers and Sea Task Force, will provide the committee with an update on the practical solutions being implemented to reduce the frequency of storm overflows.

Southern Water representatives John Mealey, Stakeholder Engagement Manager and Jon Yates, Delivery Lead for Clean Rivers and Sea Task Force, gave a presentation which provided the committee with an update on the practical solutions being implemented to reduce the frequency of storm overflows.

Councillor Whybrow, Cabinet Member for the Environment outlined her motion to Council of 28 September 2022 which asked for this matter to be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  She then asked for clarity on the following:

·       When would network reinforcement be delivered.

·       What measures are being put in place to create capacity for the Folkestone seafront development?

Committee Members commented on various aspects of the presentation and made points including the following:

• The presentation covered measures undertaken in Whitstable and Deal. The Committee were keen to know what was happening in the Folkestone and Hythe District.
• In terms of misconnections, where rainwater and foul water are mixing, were Southern Water investigating this issue for new builds?
• Car parking and driveways must be an issue in terms of drainage.
• The smart water butts would be a tremendous save.  Measures such as this could be added to the planning framework in future.
• Do Southern Water have any idea as to how long the interventions referred to will take to make an impact in the FHDC district area?
• In terms of communication, what data was used to decide whether data fell within the genuine releases or non-impacting category?
• In respect of the 20% reduction target, was that a stepping stone, or was this target enough to eliminate the problem for the time being?
• In terms of the greywater re-use in future developments, would water re-use make a significant impact?

John Mealey and Jon Yates from Southern Water responded to the issues raised, and made points including the following:

• In terms of network reinforcement, the information would be sought and provided to the Committee at a later date.
• The Task force role was to forge links with developers and planning authorities to create closer working relationships and a working group.
• Not just with new builds, but on a local and independent level, work was taking place with new plumbers, this included engaging with colleges. Many misconnection issues tended to be local, specific to a home and it was important to get this right from beginning.  The aim of the Task Force was to sustain change.
• Property misconnection was often a result of white goods being incorrectly plugged into surface water drainage in a home.
• There was also a St Mary’s Bay investigation group meeting which took place on a monthly basis, with the Environment Agency and FHDC. They discussed measures that can be taken to improving bay water quality.  There had been some good results in the Enbrook Valley, Dymchurch and St Marys Bay area, where misconnections had been identified in homes and the Task Force had worked with the home owners to resolve these issues. .
• Car parking/driveways needed to be permeable or other, rather than just  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

This report summarises the council’s work on climate change for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. It follows the main points set out in the climate emergency declaration that was unanimously agreed by full Council on 24 July 2019.

The Cabinet Member for the Environment introduced the report which summarised the council’s work on climate change for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. It followed the main points set out in the climate emergency declaration that was unanimously agreed by full Council on 24 July 2019.  She also drew attention to the Sustainable Future forums event which was taking place in Folkestone on Saturday 29 April.

Members commented on various aspects of the report and made points including the following:

• How was progress being measured? There was no figure for 21/22 as yet. A consistent measurement was important to ensure accuracy.
• If there was a commitment to net zero on 2030, was there an indication of how this would be achieved, such as an action plan on carbon emissions?
• It was hoped to achieve Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C for the council housing stock.  There were lots of noticeable improvements already.
• In terms of Biodiversity, how would the green and blue infrastructure strategy feed into the local nature recovery strategy?
• In respect of the Otterpool Park development, it was important to consider active travel infrastructure in order to connect the development to other villages.
• Did the Council take part in ‘No mow in May’, and could social media be used to encourage residents to take part?
• The next four years would be key in determining whether these targets would be met.  More detail in terms of longer goals would be useful in informing the plan.  Additional resource may be needed in order to deliver.
• The report mentioned reducing use of Peat, but surely the council should be eliminating this altogether?
• In respect of new national development management policies, referred to in paragraph 3.10, it was a concern that it was not clear whether local authorities will have scope to push for environmental policies that exceed national standards under the new system.

The Strategy, Policy & Performance Lead Specialist responded to some of the matters raised, and made points including the following:

·       In respect of monitoring, this was quite a process, which involved collating a lot of invoices and receipts from across the council and converting them into carbon emissions. It was hoped to get these results in the next few weeks, but there was a need to improve this process for future years. 

·       Carbon Descent had been commissioned to create a Carbon Reduction Plan. Part one of the work they had been commissioned for was complete, and it appeared the council could achieve almost net zero with existing actions from the 2021 Carbon Action Plan. They were moving on to part two of the work, which would have much more detailed actions along with costings.

·       There had been a good response to consultation on the Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy and a colleague was analysing the comments.  The results would be considered by Cabinet in June.

·       There was also a new requirement coming from the Environment Act to produce a Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Although this was a responsibility for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

This report sets out a proposed work programme for Overview and Scrutiny work for the municipal year 2023/24. 

The Democratic Services Senior Specialist introduced the report which set out a proposed work programme for Overview and Scrutiny work for the municipal year 23/24. 

A Member commented that it did not seem fair to be agreeing a work programme for the new Committee, and the programme needed to be flexible in order to allow new Committee Members some input.

The Democratic Services Senior Specialist confirmed that the programme was designed to allow some flexibility, and would not be rigid, so other members would be able to put other suggestions forward. 

RESOLVED:

1.          To receive and note report OS/22/11.

2.          To recommend to Full Council that the proposed Scrutiny work programme set out in paragraph 1.3 of the report, for the municipal year 23/24, be adopted.

(The recommendations were agreed by affirmation of the meeting).

This report sets out the work that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Finance and Performance Sub-Committee have completed during 2022/2023

The Chairman introduced the report which set out the work that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Finance and Performance Sub-Committee have completed during 2022/2023.

The Chairman thanked all Committee Members for their input over the last year, and thanked all officers for their work.  She stated that the Committee had gone through many positive changes in the last four years, and she hoped the further improvements would continue.

A Committee Member thanked the Chair and the Vice-Chair for their work over the last four years.

The Director of Place thanked members on behalf of the Corporate Leadership Team and officers for their contributions to the Committee over the four year term. 

RESOLVED:

1.          That report OS/22/10 be received and noted.

(The recommendations were agreed by affirmation of the meeting).