Agenda and draft minutes

Resolved:- That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Planning, Highways and Street Scene Services, held on 22nd July, 2014 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman.

To consider the attached minutes of the meeting of the Health, Welfare and Safety Panel held on Friday 11th July, 2014

The following report was submitted:-

Health, Welfare and Safety Panel

Friday, 11th July, 2014

Present:- The Mayor (Councillor Foden); Councillors Smith and Whelbourn; Mrs. J. Adams (NUT), Mrs. S. Brook (NASUWT),  Mr. E. Batty and Mr. P. Harris (GMB), Mrs K. Hall-Garritt and Mr. A. Turner (UNISON).

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Russell and Swift.

1. Appointment of Chairman 2014/2015

Resolved:- That Councillor Smith be appointed Chairman of the Health, Welfare and Safety Panel for the 2014/2015 Municipal Year.

(Councillor Smith)

2. Appointment of Vice-Chairman 2014/2015

Resolved:- That Mrs. S. D. Brook (NASUWT) be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Health, Welfare and Safety Panel for the 2014/2015 Municipal Year.

3. Minutes of the previous meeting held on 11th April, 2014

Resolved:- That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Health, Welfare and Safety Panel, held on 11th April, 2014, be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman.

4. Matters arising

Reference was made to Minute No. 22(c) (Clifton Comprehensive School) and it was noted that a further meeting will take place, during July, 2014, between the School’s Head Teacher, Elected Members and with trades unions’ representatives to consider the various issues raised during the visit of inspection by the Health, Welfare and Safety Panel.

5. Annual Health and Safety Statistical Report 2013

Consideration was given to the contents of the Council’s Annual Health and Safety Report 2013. The report included:-

: Accidents Statistics;

: Performance against the 2012/2013 Corporate Health and Safety Action Plan;

: Overview of - Health and Safety Inspections / Audits; Fire Drill and Evacuations; Occupational Health; Health and Safety Training;

: Legislation update;

: issues from the Health and Safety Executive.

The Panel discussed a range of issues arising from the contents of the report:-

: Accident Statistics (and the future recording of statistics relating to the Council’s Public Health function);

: Costs of employee absence because of illness and injury, including stress-related illness;

: Reporting of accident and injury statistics to meetings of this Panel – analysed according to Department/area of the Council and by type of accident;

: Claims for injuries to employees and the costs of compensation;

: RIDDOR reportable incidents;

The Panel acknowledged the need for all accidents to be reported and correctly recorded and asked that all Departments and schools be notified to that effect.

Resolved:- That the Annual Health and Safety Report 2013 be received and its contents noted.

6. Health Welfare Safety Panel - future arrangements

Discussion took place on the future arrangements of the Health, Welfare and Safety Panel, including both the visits of inspection to Council premises and the formal meetings.

Reference was also made to the health, welfare and safety arrangements of each of the Council’s Directorates. The Employees’ Side referred to the need for the appropriate trades union representative to be informed of significant incidents affecting health, welfare and safety.

It was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

Further to Minute No. G29 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Town Centres, Economic Growth and Prosperity held on 20th August, 2011, consideration was given to a report, presented by the Principal Engineer concerning proposed increases to the Council’s cesspool and septic tank emptying charges, which were last adjusted in October 2011. The report stated that the proposed increase in charges will enable the Council to meet the continuing increase in the Water Companies’ waste water treatment charges, fuel and vehicle costs and to ensure that the service to customers remains viable.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the proposed increases in charges to existing cesspool and septic tank rates, as detailed in the report now submitted, be adopted from 1st October, 2014 and the appropriate letters be forwarded to the customers informing them of the increases in these charges.

(3) That the cesspool and septic tank emptying and disposal charges shall be the subject of annual review.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Leisure and Community Services Manager, describing various options for the future provision of Street Cleansing services in the Wath upon Dearne town centre. Members noted that the three options are being considered because of the expiration of the lease of the small mechanical sweeper currently being utilised for street cleansing.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That Option 3, as described in the report now submitted, be approved in respect of the future street cleansing services in the Wath upon Dearne town centre, whereby:-

(a) the small mechanical sweeper is removed upon expiration of the lease;

(b) the dedicated cleansing operative is retained as a lengthsman (an arrangement which is in line with other similar townships in the Borough area); and

(c) the Wath upon Dearne town centre shall continue to receive support from a mechanical sweeper (albeit at a lesser frequency) sufficient to maintain street cleansing to the same standards as other similar town centres in the Borough area.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Leisure and Community Services Manager, describing an alternative performance measure for the Council’s Street Cleansing service. The report described the current use of the former national performance indicator ‘NI 195’ as a corporate performance measure for street cleansing. The revised proposal is that the data collected by the Leisure and Community Services’ Area Supervisors is used as an alternative to NI 195, as a performance measure for Street Cleansing services. This method will be in line with the corporate indicator already used for Grounds Maintenance services.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the use of data collected by the Leisure and Community Services’ Area Supervisors, as an alternative to the former national indicator ‘NI 195’ as a performance measure for Street Cleansing, be approved in accordance with the details contained in the report now submitted.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Transportation and Highways Projects Manager, describing the concerns and objections received regarding the proposal to introduce additional lengths of waiting restrictions (double yellow lines) along part of Doncaster Road in East Dene. The report stated that the proposed scheme will involve:-

(i) the implementation of waiting restrictions, in the form of double yellow lines, on the southern side of Doncaster Road between properties 121 and 131, extending the existing restrictions by approximately 50 metres in a north-easterly direction, and in front of the apartment building known as The Yews, situated at the junction of Doncaster Road and Old Garden Drive; and

(ii) on the northern side of Doncaster Road, the proposed restrictions will be extended from their current location outside a property named The Hollies along to the existing zebra crossing to the north-eastern side of the junction with Cranworth Road.

Details of the concerns and objections, received from local residents, were included with the submitted report. Members noted that a fifth objection to the scheme had been received immediately prior to this meeting.

It was agreed that monitoring of Old Garden Drive shall continue, to establish whether there is excessive parking of vehicles on this road.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the objections to the proposed waiting restrictions at Doncaster Road, East Dene be not acceded to and the objectors and those people making representations be informed accordingly.

(3) That the proposed waiting restrictions at Doncaster Road, East Dene, as described in the report now submitted, be approved and the scheme be implemented as shown on drawing number 126/18/TT583.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Transportation and Highways Projects Manager, concerning a proposal to amend the existing traffic calming features on Ferham Road, Ferham. The report also detailed an objection received to the proposed scheme.

The report stated that the existing pre-formed rubber speed cushions on Ferham Road, which were installed approximately sixteen years ago, have now reached their maximum life expectancy and are in need of replacement. The proposal is to replace these existing rubber speed cushions with the more durable concrete cushions. In addition, at two of the locations where speed cushions exist, it is also proposed to introduce priority working i.e. vehicles having to give way to vehicles travelling in the opposite direction, although a single cushion will still be installed at this point in the highway.

Members noted that the re-surfacing of the Ferham Road carriageway will be undertaken as part of this scheme, in order that these improvements will be in place prior to completion of the ‘Pool Green’ highway improvement scheme.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the outline scheme proposals for the replacement of the existing pre-formed rubber speed cushions with concrete cushions and the introduction of priority working for vehicles, at Ferham Road, Ferham, be noted.

(3) That the details of the objection be noted, but not acceded to and the objector be informed accordingly.

(4) That the detailed design for the proposed scheme be undertaken and the scheme be implemented, as detailed in the report now submitted and as shown on drawing number 126/99/35.

Consideration was given to a report of the Finance Manager on the performance against budget for the Environment and Development Services Directorate Revenue Accounts as at 31st July, 2014 and providing a forecast outturn for the whole of the 2014/15 financial year. Members noted the forecast outturn position of an over-spend of £732,000 for the Environment and Development Services Directorate, based on expenditure and income as at 31st July, 2014.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the latest financial projection against budget for 2014/15, based on actual income and expenditure to 31st July, 2014, as outlined in the submitted report, be noted.

(3) That the submitted report be referred to the Self Regulation Select Commission for information.

Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Planning Development Manager, concerning the Department for Communities and Local Government’s extensive consultation document covering numerous aspects of the planning system. Members noted that the consultation document recommends further deregulation within the planning system and some of the proposals are intended to make permanent a number of temporary arrangements which were introduced in May 2013. The six elements in the consultation are:-

: Speeding up Neighbourhood Planning.

: Expansion of permitted development rights.

: Improvements to the use of planning conditions.

: Improved engagement with statutory consultees.

: Raising the screening thresholds for environmental impact assessments.

: Widening the range of consents within the Development Consent Orders which nationally significant infrastructure works are enabled.

Members considered the contents of the proposed response to the coalition Government consultation documents.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the response to the technical consultation on planning, as now submitted, be approved for submission to the Government Department for Communities and Local Government by the due date of Friday, 26th  September, 2014.

The following item is likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person, including the local authority)

Resolved:- That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended (information relating to the financial/business affairs of any person (including the Council)).

Further to Minute No. G69 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Planning Development Manager proposing an exemption from Standing Order number 47.6.2 (relating to contracts valued at more than £5,000 but less than £20,000) to allow the appointment of the Resolution company to continue to provide the document management software (Dataspace) for the Development Management and Building Control services. The report stated that this Company’s services have been used by both of these Council services for several years and the proposal is to renew the user licence for a further period of five years.

Members noted that the Dataspace product is now being released as Dataspace Live which is SaaS (Software as a service) or cloud computing, rather than an installed piece of software.  The product also publishes planning application information to the web, to satisfy the Council’s statutory requirement to make this information publicly available. 

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That, for the reasons detailed in the report now submitted, approval be granted for an exemption from Standing Order 47.6.2 (requirement to invite at least two oral or written quotations for contracts with an estimated value of £5,000 but less than £20,000) to facilitate (i) the purchase of the Dataspace Live document management system from the Resolution company and (ii) the renewal of the user licence for a period of five years commencing on 1st January, 2015.