Present at the meeting
- Councillor D T Molyneux (Cabinet Champion)(In the Chair)
- Councillor N D Ash
- Councillor Mrs J Beswick
- Councillor J S Birch
- Councillor N A Bradbury
- Councillor R Clayton
- Councillor Mrs P Cullen
- Councillor J Haley
- Councillor Mrs J M Peet
- Councillor W Rotherham
- Councillors Mrs A Turnock
- Mr J Healen (Co-opted Member)
- Mr D McQueen (Co-opted Member)
1 Welcome to new Members: The Cabinet Champion, on behalf of the Panel, extended a warm welcome to Councillors Mrs J Beswick, N A Bradbury, Mrs P Cullen, Mrs J Peet and Mrs A Turnock, new Members of the Panel.
2 Apologies for absence: Councillor E N Houlton
3 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Panel held on 19 March 2008 were approved as a correct record.
4 Sites of biological importance update: The Panel considered a report updating Members on the amendments that had been made to the register of the Sites of Biological Importance between March 2007 and March 2008. The Planning Committee at minute 5 had noted the changes to the register. The Panel asked questions to which the Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
5 Cycle demonstration town bid: The Panel considered a report on the bid which had been made to Cycle England for cycle demonstration town status for Leigh and the Greenheart regional park. Since this report had been published, it had been announced that Wigan had not been successful in its bid. Seventy-three bids had been received by Cycle England and only ten had been successful in proceeding to the next stage.
The Panel asked questions to which the Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
6 Draft Environmental Services departmental plan 2008/11: The Panel considered a report which had been considered by Regeneration Panel (minute 5 refers) and Community Protection Panel (minute 8 refers) on the draft Environmental Services departmental plan which set out the department’s priorities and key tasks for 2008/11.
The Panel asked questions and made a comment to which the Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report and draft departmental plan now submitted.
7 Roadside memorials: The Panel considered a report on the recommendations from the Greater Manchester Road Accident Prevention Group providing guidance for Greater Manchester authorities in relation to roadside memorials. The aim of the guidance note was to enable the authority to respond to fatalities in a sympathetic and appropriate manner, whilst considering the interests of everyone in the wider community.
The Panel asked questions to which the Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel Notes the recommendations to adopt the guidance note ‘best practice guidance’ as endorsed by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities and Greater Manchester Association of District Engineers.
8 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.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
9 Greenheart regional park: The Panel considered a report updating Members on the progress of the Greenheart regional park project to date and advising them of the proposals to take the project forward. The current funding stream was drawing to a close with all work to be completed by the end of August 2008. A funding strategy would be developed for Greenheart as a priority as new funding would be needed to deliver the work identified in the action plans.
The Panel asked questions to which the Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
10 Recycling update: The Panel considered a report updating Members on the dry recyclable (brown bin) collection services, including results of the public consultation and details of new recycling initiatives.
The Panel asked questions to which the Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
11 Seatbelt and mobile phone misuse whilst driving campaign: The Panel considered a report on the outcomes of a road safety enforcement exercise which had been undertaken in partnership with the Council’s road safety officers, Greater Manchester Police and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service during April 2008. All agencies confirmed that the campaign had been successful and that there was the desire to repeat the event in another part of the Borough.
The Panel asked questions to which the Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
12 Yellow school buses: The Panel considered a report on the background and performance to date of the yellow school bus service in Wigan Borough. The two main objectives of the yellow school bus project were to offer safer and higher quality services to encourage modal shift from care to bus for the school run, and to significantly reduce anti-social behaviour. Customer satisfaction with yellow school buses was reported to be high.
The Panel asked questions to which the Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
13 Appointments to outside bodies – nominations: Agreed: Council is recommended to approve the following nominations
- Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority – Councillor D T Molyneux
- Waste Management working group – Councillor D T Molyneux
- Road Safety Forum – Councillor J Haley
- Wigan Flashes Conservation and Community Group - Councillor Mrs J M Peet
- Wigan Wildlife Advisory Group - Councillor R Clayton
- Access Committee – Councillor Mrs P Cullen to replace Councillor J S Birch
14 Questions by Members at panel meetings: Mr J Healen requested that the Environment and Regeneration Champion, Councillor D T Molyneux, accompany him in a walk around the streets of Wigan on Friday 6 June 2008 in support of National Pavement Day.
Agreed: Councillor D T Molyneux will accompany Mr J Healen in support of National Pavement Day.
