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 Mrs J M Peet
- Councillor W Rotherham
- Councillor Mrs A Turnock
- Mr J Healen (Co-opted Member)
- Mr D McQueen (Co-opted Member)
15 Apologies for absence: Councillor J Haley and E N Houlton.
16 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Panel held on 4 June 2008 were approved as a correct record.
17 Road safety - seatbelts: The Panel considered a report and received a presentation from the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, which briefed Members on the seatbelt safety initiative used to inform drivers and passengers of the dangers and consequences of not wearing a seatbelt. The presentation encouraged the wearing of seatbelts and attempted to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on Wigan’s roads.
The Panel asked questions, to which the Fire Officer responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted and thanks the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service for the presentation.
18 Review of Advisory Panels and Overview and Scrutiny Select Committees: The Panel considered a joint report and received a presentation from the Service Director – Borough Solicitor, which sought Members’ views on a proposed review of the roles of the Advisory Panels and the Overview and Scrutiny Select Committees, which would come into effect for the Municipal Year 2009/10.
The Cabinet had considered the report at minute 36.
Members asked questions and made comments on the report, as follows:-
- the large scope of the Economy, Environment, Culture and Housing Scrutiny Committee;
- the type of agenda items which would be considered by the Scrutiny Committees;
- the link between Members of the Executive and Members of the Council;
- an enquiry was made regarding the cost of implementing the proposals;
- Councillor Calls for Action; and
- the proposed workplans for Scrutiny Committees.
Agreed: The Panel endorses the report now submitted.
19 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.
20 End of year performance reporting 2007/08: The Panel considered a report, which had been considered by the Community Protection Panel (minute 27 refers), and the Regeneration Panel (minute 22 refers), that advised Members of the Environmental Services Department’s annual performance data as set out in the 2007/08 Interim Service Plan. The performance data showed that the department had performed well in most areas. Quarterly progress reports would be submitted on the targets set out in the Department’s 3 year plan.
The Panel asked questions, to which the Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
21 Road safety audit procedures: The Panel considered a report, which was to be submitted to Cabinet, which informed Members of new procedures that had been developed to help towards attaining the Department’s casualty reduction targets. The road safety audit evaluated highway and traffic management schemes during their design and construction in order to identify potential safety hazards, which may affect any type of road users, before the scheme was opened to traffic. The audit also suggested measures to eliminate or mitigate those problems.
The Panel asked questions, to which the Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
22 Visit by the Environment Panel to the landfill site at Rigby Houghton: The Panel at minute 55 (March 2008) had requested the Director of Environmental Services to arrange a visit to a landfill site.
The Cabinet Champion invited members of the Panel to attend a visit to the landfill site at Rigby Houghton on Wednesday, 24 September 2008, prior to the next meeting of the Environment Panel.
Agreed: The Panel requests the Director of Environmental Services to make arrangements for the Panel to visit the landfill site at Rigby Houghton on Wednesday, 24 September 2008.
23 Questions by Members at panel meetings: Councillor N D Ash raised the following written questions (circulated at the meeting), to which the Director of Environmental Services responded:
(1) ‘Given the poor state of the ex-catalogue shop in Wigan Road, Ashton, what measures can the Council bring to enforce the landlord to improve the building without the permission of the landlord?’
(2) ‘What measures is Wigan Council considering taking as a result of the recent publication of the Pitt report?’
(Sir Michael Pitt was asked by Ministers to conduct an independent review of the flooding emergency that took place in June and July 2007. The Government asked that the process should be both thorough and independent; a fair assessment of what happened and what we might do differently).
(3) ‘Would the Panel be interested in a future meeting to have a presentation regarding the work of the North West Regional Flood Forum?’
Councillor R Clayton raised a question regarding the allocation of allotments, to which the Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel:
- notes the questions raised and responses submitted; and
- requests the Director of Environmental Services to make arrangements for a presentation regarding the work of the North West Regional Flood Forum to be given at a future meeting of the Environment Panel.
