Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor David Payne.

There were no declarations of interest.

It was confirmed that all items on the agenda would be heard in Part 1.

The minutes of the meetings held on 24 April 2013 and 09 May 2013 were agreed as accurate records.

Following discussion, the Committee agreed the following 5 areas to be further investigated by officers as possible topics for the first major review of the Municipal Year:

1.      Street cleaning and the inclusion of footpaths and bridleways within cleaning programmes;

2.      Environmental Health issues in the south of the Borough with a focus on air and noise quality near Heathrow airport;

3.      The raising of water levels in the Borough and any challenges caused by this;

4.      The heritage and history of the Borough with a focus on what is historically important and of value to residents; and

5.      Building Regulations and what the Council does to ensure that they are enforced across the Borough.

Members raised concerns that there was a problem with fly tipping in the Borough and with crews not collecting all waste when they came to clear an area.

It was agreed that officers would provide a briefing paper on fly tipping in the Borough at a future meeting.

Resolved: That:

1. Officers be asked to investigate the possible review topics identified and provide a report to the next meeting; and
2. Officers be asked to provide a briefing paper on fly tipping in the Borough to a future meeting.

Officers provided a presentation on the dropped kerbs scheme. It was noted that residents could register their dropped kerbs with the Council in order to have Civil Enforcement Officers visit the area to undertake enforcement action. Officers advised that the parking of vehicles in front of dropped kerbs was not a major problem in the Borough.

A Member asked whether the Council monitored the number of cases in which residents were unable to exit their properties due to vehicles being parked across dropped kerbs.

Officers advised that these issues would be monitored if a complaint was made and that enforcement action would be undertaken.

A Member noted that vehicles parked across dropped kerbs regularly outside of the Borough’s schools during drop-off and pick-up times.

Officers advised that this was a national problem and that Civil Enforcement Officers patrolled school areas during peak times.

A Member raised concerns that there was no mention in the report of the provision of dropped kerbs for disabled users.

Officers advised that residents who were registered disabled were provided for in the scheme and that they could receive additional funding for the installation of a dropped kerb.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

Resolved: That the Committee noted the Forward Plan and decided not to comment.

Resolved: That the Committee noted the Work Programme 2013/14.