Present at the meeting:
- Councillor D T Molyneux (Cabinet Champion)(In the Chair)
- Councillor N D Ash
- Councillor Mrs J Beswick
- Councillor R Clayton
- Councillor Mrs P Cullen
- Councillor S Dawber
- Councillor J Haley
- Councillor Mrs J M Peet
- Councillor W Rotherham
- Councillor Mrs A Turnock
Co-opted Member
- Mr G Davies
- Mr J Healen
- Mr D McQueen
44 Apologies for absence: Councillor J S Birch and E N Houlton.
45 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of this Panel held on 19 November 2008 were approved as a correct record.
46 Flood alleviation scheme for Wigan: The Panel received a presentation from Mr R Clough and Mr E Goddard, of the Environment Agency, on work that had already been completed and proposed future works on Wigan’s flood alleviation scheme.
The Panel was advised that phase one of the scheme had resulted in the completion of flood defences along the river Douglas, within the Poolstock and Robin Park area. Phase two of the scheme was a proposal to erect a dam within the Douglas valley to prevent flood water entering the Town Centre in the event of a major storm. Phase two had yet to obtain planning permission for the work to be undertaken.
The Panel asked questions, to which the Environment Agency responded.
Agreed: The Panel:
- notes the presentation now submitted; and
- thanks Mr Clough and Mr Goddard for their presentation .
47 Winter gritting – What we do, why we do it: The Panel received a presentation by the Executive Director of Environmental Services, on how the Council addressed the issue of winter gritting.
The Panel was advised that the Council now had a legal responsibility to do what was reasonably practicable to grit the carriageways in the event of anticipated bad weather. The Panel was informed that in determining which carriage ways to grit, the Council had to take into account logistics, cost, routes and responsiveness.
Furthermore, the Panel was advised that the Council assessed individual requests for spot grits outside of approved routes, and had recently provided the facility for members of the public to collect grit from operational centres across the borough.
The Panel asked questions, to which the Executive Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel:
- notes the presentation now submitted; and
- thanks the Executive Director of Environmental Services for the presentation.
48 ‘The Story of Stuff’: The Panel received a presentation by Mr D McQueen, Co-opted Member from Groundwork, Lancashire West and Wigan, on ‘The story of stuff ‘.
The presentation informed Members of the consequences of over production and consumption of goods and products and the connection between the vast array of environmental and social issues.
Agreed: the Panel notes the presentation now submitted.
49 Adoption of streets and highways drains: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Environmental Services, which informed Members of the Executive Director of Environmental Services approval to the adoption of streets.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
50 Environmental Services quarter 3 performance reporting 2008: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Environmental Services, which informed Members of the Environmental Services Department’s Quarter 3 performance data for 2008.
Councillor N D Ash raised the following question to which the Executive Director of Environmental Services responded:-
Comunik8 is a forum to which two students (usually Y10, Y11 or Y12 ) from every secondary school, secondary special and colleges in Wigan are invited to come together to discuss issues chosen by the students themselves.
This year their action plan includes recycling and the group wish to make sure their schools and colleges are playing a part in the recycling agenda. They want each school to have receptacles to encourage them to recycle.
They want to run the project from September, and at the end of a designated period weigh what has been deposited in their recycle bins and have some sort of prize for the winning school.
The Panel suggested that they held a competition throughout schools in the borough, to see which school could recycle the most.. The Panel was advised that there would be obstacles in running such a competition as not every school would have the same facilities available, however, it was agreed that the Council would still encourage Comminik8 to organise a competition in a more practical way.
Agreed: The Panel notes the report now submitted.
51 Environmental Enforcement Strategy: The Panel considered a report of the Executive Director of Environmental Services, which would be submitted to the Community Protection Panel, which informed the Members about the new Environmental Enforcement Strategy and the positive outcome of recent consultation and implementation plans.
The Panel asked questions, to which the Executive Director of Environmental Services responded.
Agreed: The Panel endorses the report now submitted.
52 Questions by Members at panel meetings: Councillor R Clayton raised the following question (circulated at the meeting) to which the Executive Director of Environmental Services responded.
Do all Panel Members agree that the current state of the motorway road gateways into the Borough are in an appalling condition, in particular the litter, traffic debris, and the unsightliness of the landscaping. All the junctions from 23 to 27 are affected, however urgent attention is needed to junction 25 at Bryn and junction 26 at Orrell. Could we therefore request that action is taken to ensure that when people enter the Borough it is a pleasant experience for them, and portrays Wigan in the best possible light?
Agreed: The Panel:-
- notes the question; and
- requests the Executive Director of Environmental Services to write to the Highways Agency to express the concerns of this Panel.
