Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dave Mossman and Haydn Sutton.

To receive declarations of interest.

Councillor James expressed an interest in item 9 as he is a Governor for Archway School.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 2021.

The Chair of the Committee will answer questions from members of the public submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures.

Public questions were submitted. They were answered by the Chair, Councillor Turner. Supplementary questions were also answered. (Refer to the recording of the meeting).

To receive an annual verbal update.

The Managing Director of Ubico provided a verbal update on the Business Plan for 2022-23 outlining the new vision for the company, underpinned by four pillars (people, operational excellence, climate and business development) and thirty four objectives associated under twelve sub pillars to the main four.

The Managing Director of Ubico in conjunction with the Head of Community Services and Community Services Manager answered Members which included: converting old refuse trucks from diesel to electric, number of Councils Ubico work with and their benchmarking, containers fit for purpose, collaborative working on recycling niche items and funding across the county, retaining fleet drivers and how staff wellbeing is looked after in physically demanding jobs and proposed future developments at Gossington.

To present the 2021/22 forecast outturn position against the revenue budgets and Capital Programme that the Committee is responsible for, in order to give an expectation of possible variances against budget.

The Accountant presented the report advised members of the projected net £201k underspend with additional narrative on the significant variances.

Councillor Kay asked for more context relating to theft of fuel from Gossington. The Community Services Manager advised diesel is held in a tank onsite, and a vehicle Tanker pumped the diesel from a layby directly outside Gossington. The depot has introduced better security measures, invested in additional CCTV and extended the fence boundary.

The motion was proposed by Councillor Kay and seconded by Councillor James.

On being put to the vote, the motion was passed unanimously. 

To present to the committee the revised estimates for 2021/22 and original estimates for 2022/23.

The Accountant explained there were two additional recommendations in the decision relating to new waste and recycling rounds for provision of a new street cleaning crew and cost associated with replacing three diesel vehicles with electric. An additional table had been included to report on the Ubico budget changes. The Accountant provided further narrative to the budget pressures and savings listed under table three of the report.

The Chair expressed her thanks to the Accountant for the budget setting briefing she ran ahead of Committee.

Councillor Tipper what the cost to the Council was to collect fly tipping, if there are analytics of items being fly tipped and what revenue is received from bulky collections. The Community Services Manager advised the bulky collection service covers its own cost and are broken down to service level and he would circulate the information sheet on fly tipping.

The motion was proposed by Councillor Layfield and seconded by Councillor Brown.

On being put to the vote, the motion was passed unanimously.

For the Committee to agree Performance Indicators for activities and projects detailed in the adopted Council Plan that relate to this Committee.

The Strategic Director of Place advised the Council Plan was adopted at Council in October and Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) had been produced to measure the success of the plan and advised the KPI’s have flexibility to be changed if approved with additional training being given to performance monitors on the performance management framework. Thanks were given to Members and Officers involved with producing the KPI’s.

Councillor Haydn Jones asked if the Council measures net gain in relation to renewable energy, in particular land taken out of agricultural production for solar developments. The Strategic Director of Place will investigate and provide a response outside of Committee.

Councillor Brown asked whether details on the number of partnerships could be included in the Local Nature Recovery Strategy objective and whether measurables in carbon reduction or biodiversity gain could be added to EC1.5 rather than just money measurables. The Chair advised these comments were raised at the KPI meeting and confirmed several measures were not currently satisfactory and would be reviewed once projects have been established.

Councillor Kay advised of a problem with the Cotswold National Landscape Board’s Planning Officer objecting to the draft Local Plan advising it was not consistent with the law. The Strategic Director of Place explained the draft Local Plan is expected to be reviewed by Government next spring and the Council would be defending the plan.

Councillor Watson gave thanks to Officers however typos and missing comments need to be included and would send to the Strategic Director of Place for amending.

The motion was proposed by Councillor Bennett and seconded by Councillor Haydn Jones.

Councillor James advised he would’ve liked to see more robust objectives and have an achievable target base when referring to percentage measurables.

On being put to the vote, the motion was passed unanimously.

Stroud District Council implemented its CIL Charging Schedule in April 2017 and has been collecting payments on planning permissions implemented since this date.  CIL should be used towards providing for any additional demand placed on the local environment and services created by new growth. Project Bids have been received from organisations wishing gain funding support to deliver infrastructure that aligns with planning policy.  This report sets out the officers funding recommendations for projects requesting support in 2022/2023 financial year.

The Chair thanked the Senior Community Infrastructure Officer for the information evening held and questions and answers asked at the session would be included in the Members weekly update.

Councillor James left the Council Chamber before discussing the item because of his interest declared at the beginning of the meeting.

The Senior Community Infrastructure Officer explained CIL was a financial contribution made by developers to help deliver the infrastructure needed to support new development achieved under Local Plan growth strategies, partially replacing S106 arrangements and primarily linked to residential developments. Nine formal bids were received for the next financial year and a panel met to review the bids against the assessment matrix and recommended fully funding four of the nine bids which include: Nailsworth Flood Prevention and Drainage Scheme, Archway School 3G AstroTurf Pitch, Stratford Park Outdoor Pool heat exchange and Cainscross Cycle Scheme Feasibility Study.

The Senior Community Infrastructure Officer responded to Members questions which included concerns and comments relating to money raised in one area of the district being spent elsewhere rather than reinvested in same area, clarification on discrepancy in figure for Stratford Park Outdoor Pool (£10k or £20k), confirmation 25% of CIL raised goes to Parish/Town Councils with an adopted Neighbourhood Development Plan and 15% if they don’t, if there is a combined heat power source at Stratford Park and what the heat source is and confirmation the development of a new waste site is at Gossington not Frampton.

The motion was proposed by Councillor Watson and seconder Councillor Smith.

On being put to the vote, the motion was passed unanimously.

The meeting adjourned at 9.15pm and resumed at 9.20pm. Councillor James re-entered the Chamber.

To seek the Committee’s approval for the establishment of a Strategic Planning Advisory Board, as an officer/member advisory body considering matters of strategic planning policy and reviewing their implementation.

The Strategic Director of Place presented the report advising the board will consider matters of Strategic Planning Policy, reviewing implementation and making recommendations to Environment Committee. The board wouldn’t be decision-making, and the proposed name change will replace the formerly known Planning Review Panel (PRP).

Councillor Kay advised he asked for clarification regarding the board’s confidentiality and for confirmation through the Chair the confidentiality requirement was within Council and not just the board. The Chair confirmed that confidentiality in this context refers to the public.

Councillor Haydn Jones advised PRP discussed matters of enforcement and appeals and expressed his concern the board’s revised name only suggests strategic matters. The Strategic Director of Place referred to bullet point three in the appendix which includes reviewing planning appeal decisions, and that a separate body would be established for Development Management and Enforcement with a report in the new year to establish the group to Development Control Committee.

The motion was proposed by Councillor Smith and seconded by Councillor Bennett.

Councillor Haydn Jones advised a mechanism might need to be established to feedback to political groups Officers thoughts when changes are identified in planning for the future.

On being put to the vote, the motion was passed unanimously.

The panel will be replaced by the Strategic Planning Advisory Board.

Councillor Layfield advised Committee discussed budget investments in air quality monitoring, Christmas lights, town centre clean up and the development of Stroud Subscription Rooms forecourt, new welcome signage being added to Stroud car parks, an application to the levelling up fund to develop the Subscription Room forecourt, Stroud Social Event being held and the Rotary Clubs proposal to tidy up Stroud.

The Member report had been circulated prior to Committee. Councillor Bennett advised the Youth Council fed into the report and would be included in future reports.

The information sheet was circulated prior to Committee.

To consider the work programme.

The Chair advised the February agenda didn’t contain any reports for decision. A decision in January on cancelling the meeting unless Members added items to the agenda.

Councillor Haydn Jones advised of a potential report on the Severn Estuary Mitigation Strategy following the proposed meeting in January.

Councillor Kay asked for the Glover Review to be removed from future meetings and for a comprehensive report on air quality management be added which includes reports from the Environment Agency and firms obtaining permits for emissions. The Chair advised there wasn’t a decision for Committee to make however suggested the Environmental Protection Manager investigate financials for monitors measuring smaller particulates.

Councillor Watson asked for the Litter Pin Policy title to be amended. The Chair advised she would liaise with the Community Services Manager.

Councillor Smith highlighted Planning Review Panel needed to be amended to Strategic Planning Advisory Board. 

See Agenda Item 4 for deadlines for submission.

There were none.