Agenda item

32.1     The Committee discussed the future work programme, and a summary of the key points raised is given below.

Work Programme - Economic Development

32.2     The Committee discussed scrutiny involvement in the Economic Development project development process and establishing a scrutiny board or reference group to work on this topic. The Director for Communities, Economy and Transport suggested that the best way of scrutiny having input into the process would be for the Committee to be involved with the development of the Economic Growth Strategy and would welcome the Committee’s input into this piece of work.

32.3     Councillor Hilton commented that there might be an opportunity to look at the Economic Growth Strategy through the lens of climate change and examine how it could help promote green businesses. Committee members also noted that it would be helpful to include some lessons learnt as part of the work on the Economic Growth Strategy and the ongoing role of scrutiny in scrutinising this area of work. The Committee agreed to form a reference group to provide scrutiny input into the development of the Economic Growth Strategy.

Work Programme - Southern Water

32.4     The Committee noted that since the November 2022 meeting with representatives from Southern Water there had been further serious pollution incidents, notably at Bulverhythe. It was suggested that it would be helpful to put together a set of questions for Southern Water in advance of the next update from them at the 23 November 2023 Committee meeting. Committee members also noted that it would be important to get verbal updates from representatives from Ofwat and the Environment Agency on any changes in regulation and investment.

Highways Scoping Board

32.5     Councillor Lunn commented that the scoping meeting had been very interesting and productive and the recommended scope for the scrutiny review will help provide a response to residents on the issue of potholes and help with communications in this area.

32.6     Councillor Hilton asked if it would be possible to add the condition of pavements to the terms of reference of the review and indicated that she would like to be part of the Review Board. Councillor Stephen Shing asked if the Council had a plan to enlarge drainage capacity. Councillor Hollidge, Chair of the Scoping Board, commented that it would be better to focus on one specific aspect of highways i.e. potholes, before examining other areas.

32.7     The Committee discussed the issue of highways drainage and flooding from highways into properties. It was suggested that the Committee could explore this subject in more detail after the pothole review to see if it an issue across the County and what could be done about it. The Committee noted that this might be a wider piece of work looking at drainage and flooding and the links to the Nature Recovery Network and the follow-on work from Southern Water on reducing the use of combined sewer overflows. It might be possible to produce a menu of actions the Council could take on these issues in a joined up strategic way.

32.8     The Director of Communities, Economy and Transport outlined that the department does have a drainage plan to enlarge the capacity of highway drainage pipes where possible and improve capacity gradually. However, many pipes are only 150mm wide and cannot cope with heavy rainfall events such as those that sometimes occur, especially during the summer. There is funding to deal with drainage issues such as clearing pipes from root penetration, but it is not possible to replace all the drainage infrastructure due to the amount of funding available and the disruption this would cause in digging up the roads to replace drainage pipes. It is possible to reduce the risk of flooding, but it may not be possible to eliminate the risk completely. Reducing flood risk can be a challenge, and deciding where to spend the available funding for the most impact is key.

32.9     The Committee agreed to proceed with the Scrutiny Review of Pothole Management and the terms of reference for the review. The Committee agreed that the members of the Review Board will be Councillors Matthew Beaver, Julia Hilton, Ian Hollidge, Eleanor Kirby-Green and Philip Lunn, with Councillor Hollidge as Chair of the Review Board.

Forward Plan of Decisions

32.10   The Committee commented that as the Forward Plan only covers the decisions that are being made in the next four months it sometimes does not give the Committee sufficient time to examine issues, policies or service changes. The Committee asked if there is a way of getting an earlier indication of forthcoming decisions.

32.11   The Director of Communities Economy and Transport suggested that one way of getting an earlier indication would be through the State of the County report and the RPPR process. The Committee could use these reports to look at upcoming issues, some of which a cyclical such as the review of the Waste and Minerals Plan and the Local Transport Plan (LTP). Changes is legislation usually have a consultation period which may flag up any changes in advance of implementation, and having a section in reports to highlight upcoming issues may be helpful.

32.12   The department has been quite good at flagging up forthcoming issues and service changes such as through the work that was carried on the Libraries Strategic Commissioning Strategy, the Highways contract and the LTP. It might aid the Committee to have reports on service areas they are aware of but would like to know more about such as the Registration Service and the existing scheduled reports on Rights of Way and Libraries. The Waste Disposal Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract is due to end in 2033 and this may be something to start looking at in around five years time.

32.13   The Committee noted the 12 June 2023 report to the Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Health on the retender of the Integrated Health and Wellbeing Service and asked if this would incorporate Active Travel. The Director of Communities Economy and Transport outlined that this may be more a question for the People Scrutiny Committee, but the Public Health Team will look at the wider determinants of health as part of the procurement activity and in meeting public health needs.

Local Transport Plan (LTP) Reference Group - Verbal Update

32.14 Councillor Paul Redstone, Chair of the LTP Reference Group gave a verbal update on the work of the reference group. He outlined that it was a complex and far reaching piece of work which is being guided by officers and the consultants, Steer. The Group has had some discussion about the methodology and approach to the revised LTP and has been looking at a range of transport scenarios through a series of workshops. The next stages of the Group’s work will be to examine a preferred transport scenario and vision for the LTP together with the interventions that will be needed to deliver it.

32.15   The Committee RESOLVED to:

1) Note the work programme and Forward Plan;

2) Agree to form a reference group to provide scrutiny input into the development of the Economic Growth Strategy (paragraph 32.3);

3) Develop a list of questions for Southern Water in advance of the 23 November 2023 Committee meeting (paragraph 32.4);

4) Agree to proceed with a Scrutiny Review of Pothole Management, with the Review Board comprised of Councillors Beaver, Hilton, Hollidge (Chair), Kirby-Green and Lunn (paragraph 32.9);

5) Request that future reports include a section on areas for service improvement, policy changes, or upcoming service issues (paragraph 28.6); and

6) Amend the work programme by adding an update report on the SPACES programme and updated CAT policy (paragraph 30.11), and an update report on food waste collection (paragraph 31.13).