Present at the meeting:
- Councillor D T Molyneux (Cabinet Champion) (In the Chair)
- Councillor N D Ash
- Councillor R Clayton
- Councillor G Davies
- Councillor J Haley
- Councillor E N Houlton
- Councillor Mrs J Prescott
- Councillor P Prescott
- Councillor W Rotherham
- Councillor G Wilkes
- Councillor W J Wilkes
- Mr J Healen (Co-opted Member)
- Mr D McQueen (Co-opted Member)
By invitation for agenda item 4:
- Councillor Mrs J Hurst
- Councillor Mrs S Loudon
- Councillor Mrs A Turnock
42. Apologies for absence: Councillor Mrs J S Birch.
43. Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Panel held on 21 November 2007 were
approved as a correct record.
44. Wigan local development framework evidence base: employment land review: The
Panel considered a report on the Wigan employment land review and its findings. This presented an appraisal
of how the provision of employment land could meet Wigan’s future economic requirements up to 2026.
The report also set out the way forward for the emerging strategic housing land availability assessment.
Members also received a presentation from Ms J Healey Brown of Arup, the consultants who had prepared
the review, which analysed the current supply of and future provision for both employment land and
housing land in the borough.
The Panel asked questions to which Ms Healey Brown and the Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted and thanks Arup for the presentation.
45. Wigan local development framework evidence base: Greater Manchester strategic flood risk
assessment: The Panel considered a report on the Greater Manchester strategic flood risk
assessment and its findings. The report also set out the way forward for a strategic flood risk assessment
for Wigan borough in order to comply with national planning policy requirements.
The Panel asked questions to which the Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
46. Wigan local development framework evidence base: open space, sport and recreation needs
assessment and strategy: The Panel considered a report on a comprehensive open space, sport
and recreation needs assessment and strategy which had been prepared by consultants principally as
part of the evidence base for the local development framework.
The Panel asked questions to which the Director of Environmental Services responded.
Members of the Environment Panel were invited to attend a presentation on the study at a meeting of
the Cultural Partnership to be held on 12 February 2008.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
47. Rights of way improvement plan: The Panel considered a report which would be
submitted to Cabinet on the rights of way improvement plan.
The Panel asked questions to which the Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel accepts the report now submitted.
48. Adoption of streets and highway drains: The Panel considered a report advising
Members of the Director of Environmental Services’ approval to the adoption of streets.
A Member asked a question to which the Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted and approves the action taken.
49. Dates and times of meetings 2008/09: The Panel considered a draft programme of
dates and times of meetings of the Council, Cabinet, Committees and Panels for 2008/09. Cabinet at
minute 207 had approved the draft programme and had invited comments from Committees and Panels in
the next cycle of meetings.
Agreed: The Panel endorses the draft programme of dates and times of meetings for 2008/09 now submitted.
50. Mr Peter Rowlinson: The Chairman and Members of all political parties paid tribute
to the significant contribution and excellent service given by Peter Rowlinson to Wigan Council over
the last 27 years and extended their best wishes to him in his new role at Rochdale Council.
51. Questions by Members at Panel meetings:
Councillor G Davies raised the following written question (circulated at the meeting) to which the
Director of Environmental Services responded:-
‘At last week’s Road Safety Forum a presentation was given and it was mentioned that all schools,
especially primary schools, would have the traffic plan in position for 2009.
Could I show my appreciation to all councillors and officers who are working with the schools to
bring the traffic calming measures especially 20 mph zones’.
Councillor J Haley raised the following written question to which the Director of Environmental Services
responded:-
‘Please can you confirm a brown bin would be used for the above mentioned scheme. I thought we discussed
this in a Environment Panel meeting in the past where Joe Healen mentioned that another bin would
be too much for the people with limited sight’.
Mr J Healey raised questions regarding the difficulties experienced by blind and partially sighted
people using coloured bins, to which the Director of Environmental Services responded. He asked whether
any consideration was being given to introducing white or yellow bins. Mr Healey also raised a question
regarding the height of bins which, if they were too low, could present a trip hazard.
Mr D McQueen raised a question regarding over-capacity in the volume of bins, to which the Director
of Environmental Services responded.
Councillor G Wilkes raised the following written question (circulated at the meeting) to which the
Director of Environmental Services responded:-
‘With the recent article regarding a third wheelie bin being distributed to some 13,000 Wigan Borough
residents in last week’s Wigan Reporter, can this Panel have information on:-
1. Why were elected Councillors who sit on this panel not advised on the size of container?
2. In a recent e-mail from the officer in charge of this pilot scheme, he states:-
‘I note your comments regarding space issues within properties for storing bins. When considering
the type of container to use a number of factors were considered and discussions took place with
our cleansing colleagues who are undertaking the collections. Concerns were raised regarding manual
handling issues surrounding boxes containing glass bottles, hence this being one of the reasons
why a bin was chosen. Some authorities, such as Bolton Council, are now moving away from the use
of boxes in favour of wheelie bins as this overcomes potential manual handling issues.
The wheelie bins for this trial have now been purchased as there is a considerable lead time to
obtain containers for recycling and we intend to closely monitor the trial as it progresses’.
This comes across as a ‘done-deal’ seeing that, as far as I am aware, no consultation has taken
place. A report should have been presented to the Panel Members in order for us all to have some
form of input to such a significant issue as this will have big impact on every household within
this borough.
3. More effort should be made to standardised re-cycling in the UK. We have such big differences
between each Authority regarding the type and colour of our re-cycling containers. The Government
should standardised all the above to make re-cycling simple and crystal clear for every household
in the UK.
I would like to end by placing on record my continued support for re-cycling in this Borough’.
Councillor W J Wilkes asked a question regarding the sorting of black bin waste to which the Director
of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the questions raised and the responses submitted.
