Health and Environmental Services Committee 8 November 2004
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Health and Environmental Services Committee
Monday, 8th November, 2004
MEETING OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
Members present: Councillor J. Clarke (Chairman); and Councillors W. Browne, Convery, Crooks, Crowe, Dodds, Kennedy, McAuley and Moore.
Also attended: Councillors Stoker and Ní Chuilín.
In attendance: Mr. W. Francey, Director of Health and Environmental Services; Mr. A. Hassard, Head of Environmental Health; Mr. J. Walsh, Business Support Manager; and Miss L. Hillick, Committee Administrator.
Apologies
Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors Molloy and O’Reilly.
Minutes
The minutes of the meetings of 11th and 20th October, which had been printed and circulated, were taken as read and signed as correct. It was reported that those minutes had been adopted by the Council at its meeting on 1st November.
Expression of Sympathy
The Chairman (Councillor J. Clarke) advised the Committee of the recent death of the mother of Mr. T. Martin, Head of Building Control. The Committee expressed its regret and agreed that its sympathy and condolences be conveyed to Mr. Martin and his family circle.
Review of Client/Contract Split
Relocation of Cleansing Services to the Health and Environmental Services Department
(Mr. J. Burns, Principal Consultant, Business Improvement Section, attended in connection with this item.)
The Committee was reminded that the Policy and Resources Committee, at its meeting on 21st March, had agreed, as part of the Client/Contract Review and its implications for the future service delivery of Council functions, that the Cleansing Section be relocated within the Health and Environmental Services Department by April, 2005 and that the Contract Services Department be deleted from the Council’s structures from that date.
The Director of Health and Environmental Services submitted a report, which had been prepared by the Business Improvement Section, in respect of the review of the existing organisational structures within both Sections. A copy of the report, with the exception of the appendices referred to therein, is set out hereunder.
The Director of Health and Environmental Services drew the Committee’s attention to Section 7 of the report, which outlined the Business Improvement Section’s recommendations arising from the Review.
The Committee agreed to adopt the recommendations contained within Section 7 of the foregoing report as the management-side position for consultation with staff and Trades Unions.
Directorate
Review of Civic Amenity Sites
(Mr. S. Black, Head of Human Resources, and Ms. D. Murtagh, Principal Solicitor, attended in connection with this item.)
The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 11th October, it had considered a report in respect of a review of the Council's Civic Amenity Sites and had approved the action which had been taken by the Director of Health and Environmental Services in relation to the implementation of the Review. At that meeting, the Committee had noted that the request for the payment of a lump sum to compensate those staff moving to shift patterns, together with a legal opinion thereon, would be considered by the Policy and Resources (Personnel) Sub-Committee at its meeting on 25th October and that the matter would be brought before the Committee at its meeting in November.
The Director of Health and Environmental Services reported that the Policy and Resources (Personnel) Sub-Committee, at its meeting on 25th October, had considered the background to the operational changes within the Council's Civic Amenity Sites which had resulted in a compensatory payment being requested and, having considered all of the circumstances, had agreed that the request be refused. The Director further indicated that he understood that the legal opinion received from senior counsel validated the Council’s approach to the review of Civic Amenity Sites. He recommended that, should the Committee agree to concur with the view of the Personnel Sub-Committee, those staff who had not agreed to the new working patterns with effect from 1st October be permitted to continue to work their normal hours, subject to a further report being presented to the Committee for consideration in February, 2005.
Councillor Stoker, with the permission of the Chairman, reported that he had held discussions with a number of staff working currently within the Civic Amenity Sites who had expressed dissatisfaction with their treatment by Council officers. He suggested that the Director of Health and Environmental Services should meet with those members of staff so that their concerns could be considered.
After discussion, the Committee agreed:
(i) not to accede to the request which had been received from the GMB Trades Union in relation to a buy-out payment for those staff affected by the operational changes at the Council’s Civic Amenity Sites;
(ii) that the Director of Health and Environmental Services meet with those staff currently affected by the change in operational patterns to consider their concerns; and
(iii) that a position report in relation to the matter be submitted to its February meeting for consideration.
Departmental Plan 2004/2005 – Mid-Year Progress Report
The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 8th March, it had approved the Departmental Plan for the year 2004/2005. The Director pointed out that the Departmental Plan contained seventy key tasks which were set out in such a way as to link each to the appropriate Corporate Plan priority. A commitment was contained within the Plan to review performance quarterly, through the Department’s Senior Management Team, and to report to the Committee twice-yearly on the service specific indicators contained within the Plan. He stated that, although it had been intended to report at year end intervals only, the mid-year report included the current position in relation to the progress associated with each key task. He stated that virtually all tasks had commenced and most were on schedule. Where progress had been impeded the reasons had been outlined.
After discussion, the Committee noted the contents of the report.
Review of Public Administration – Update
The Committee considered a report which had been prepared by the Director of Health and Environmental Services in relation to the review of Public Administration and its implications for the Council. A copy of the report, with the exception of the appendices referred to therein, is set out hereunder.
The Committee agreed to adopt the recommendations contained within the report.
Quarterly Return of Sickness Absence
The Director of Health and Environmental Services submitted a report in relation to the quarterly return of sickness absence for the Department for the period from July till September, 2004. Details of the quarterly return, together with comparative figures for the Council in respect of the current and previous quarters and the corresponding quarter in 2003, had been provided for the information of the Members. (This should be requested under Freedom of Information)
The Director reported that the average number of days’ absence per person for the quarter had been 1.86 days, compared to 3.05 days in the previous quarter and 2.7 days for the same period in 2003. He stated that long-term sickness absence accounted for 247 days for the quarter which amounted to 49.5% of the total. He informed the Committee that the control of sickness absence would remain a priority for the Department and that it would continue to be monitored in accordance with the Council’s procedures and appropriate action taken thereon.
Noted.
Environmental Health
Belfast Energy Efficiency Advice Centre
The Committee was reminded that from 1994 till 2001 it had provided funding in the sum of £5,000 per annum to the Belfast Energy Efficiency Advice Centre. The Committee was reminded further that, at its meeting on 8th October, 2001, it had agreed to provide financial assistance in the sum of £7,000 per year until the end of 2004.
The Head of Environmental Health reported that the Centre was supported by a consortium of public and private sector organisations, including the Energy Savings Trust, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the Council. The Scheme was administered and managed by Bryson House. The Centre was one of a network of 52 such centres within the United Kingdom, three of which were based in Northern Ireland. He pointed out that the purpose of the project was to offer an extensive range of expertise in energy efficiency. The Centre provided a free, impartial and accessible service to its target market in the domestic sector. It provided also information on installation, draught proofing, heating, energy labelling, grants, cash backs and energy efficiency installers. The Belfast office provided a drop-in advice centre and carried out many outreach activities such as presentations to various groups, exhibitions, staff training, mobile visits and promotional events during energy efficiency week.
The Committee was advised that, during the 2003/2004 financial year, the Centre had advised 17,647 customers on energy efficiency matters and had carried out approximately 11,792 home energy checks. This had been estimated to equate to an average saving of approximately £82 per customer as a result of the advice provided. As well as serving the greater Belfast area, fifty primary schools had been visited and the Centre continued to develop initiatives with a Belfast focus. The Centre had been working with the Council and had scheduled various visits to its Leisure Centres over the next year, where a stand would be in operation to provide staff training in energy efficiency. The Head of Environmental Health pointed out that the benefits of energy conservation were two-fold, it had a direct benefit on saving energy and reduced carbon dioxide emissions. He recommended, given the complementary nature of the Centre to the Council’s priority of creating a healthy city and its commitment to carbon management, that the Committee consider funding the Centre at the same level as agreed previously, namely, £7,000 per year for a further three-year period.
After discussion, the Committee agreed to provide financial support to the Belfast Energy Efficiency Advice Centre in the sum of £7,000 per annum for a further three years from January, 2005 and accordingly, it was
Resolved – That the expenditure in respect of the aforementioned Project be approved under Section 115 of the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972, it being the opinion of the Committee that the expenditure would be in the interest of, and would bring direct benefit to the District, the inhabitants of the District, with the Committee being satisfied that the direct benefits so accruing would be commensurate with the payments to be made.
Night Time Noise Service
The Committee considered the undernoted report in relation to the Council’s Night Time Noise Service.
After discussion, during which the Committee commended the work of the staff involved with this Service, the Committee noted the contents of the report.
Night Time Noise Service Vehicle
The Committee considered a report in relation to the replacement of the Night Time Noise Service's Petrol Vehicle. A copy of the report, with the exception of the appendix referred to therein, is set out hereunder.
After discussion, the Committee adopted the recommendation contained within the report.
Charges for Street Trading Licences
The Committee considered a report, copies of which had previously been circulated, in relation to charges in connection with Street Trading Licences and noted that, following receipt of the Northern Ireland Local Government Association’s research in relation thereto, a further report would be submitted for the Committee’s consideration. (This should be requested under Freedom of Information)
Belfast City Mortuary
The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 7th June, it had noted that the Northern Ireland Office’s review of mortuary provision for state pathology services in Northern Ireland had recommended a centralised service provision within a two-year period and, in the interim, weekday services would be centralised at the Belfast City Mortuary. Arising out of this centralised service, there would be implications for Council staff who were employed at the site and at that meeting the Committee had agreed to adopt the management-side position for the purpose of consultation with staff.
The Head of Environmental Health reported that a satisfactory conclusion had been reached with staff at the Mortuary and that the GMB Trades Union had agreed to the implementation of the proposals as set out in the management-side position agreed by the Committee at its meeting on 7th June.
The Committee agreed to proceed with the implementation of the proposals.
Building Control
Applications for the Renewal, Provisional Grant and the Grant of Entertainments Licences where Objections had been Received
- Sliabh Dubh, 179 Whiterock Road;
- Premises at 1 – 5 Donegall Lane; and
- The Quarter Wine Bar, 42 Waring Street
The Committee agreed that special meetings be held to receive the objectors, the applicant and/or their representative in relation to applications for the renewal, provisional grant and grant respectively of Entertainments Licences in respect of the above-named premises. The dates of the meetings to be determined in conjunction with the Chairman (Councillor J. Clarke).
Application for the Provisional Grant of an Entertainments Licence
The Pot House Bar and Grill, 26-28 Waring Street
The Committee agreed that a special meeting be held to receive the applicant and/or their representative in relation to the application for the provisional grant of an Entertainments Licence in relation to the above-named premises, the date of which to be agreed in conjunction with the Chairman (Councillor J. Clarke).
The Network Club, 11a Lower North Street
(Mr. J. Walsh, Principal Solicitor, attended in connection with this item.)
The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 20th October, it had agreed that the Council, in its capacity as Licensing Authority, be recommended, on the grounds of public safety, to suspend the operation of the Seven-Day Annual Entertainments Licence in respect of The Network Club, 11a Lower North Street, until the expiry date of the current Licence, namely, 30th June, 2005. This decision had been ratified by the Council at its meeting on 1st November.
The Director of Health and Environmental Services reported that the previous Licensee, Mrs. K. McGoldrick, had forwarded an e-mail to the Committee requesting that it revoke its decision to suspend the licence and agree to receive her at a future meeting.
After a lengthy discussion, the Committee authorised the Principal Solicitor, Mr. J. Walsh, to write to Mrs. McGoldrick requesting that she explain the grounds on which she believed that the suspension in relation to the Entertainments Licence should be revoked.
Waste Management
Tender for the Collection and Subsequent Reuse of Timber from Household Recycling Centres
The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 6th September, it had granted authority to commence a tendering exercise in connection with the collection and subsequent reuse of timber from Household Recycling Centres.
The Director of Health and Environmental Services reported that, in response to a public advertisement, two tenders had been received for this service, for a period of one year, with the option to extend for a further twelve months. These had been evaluated by officers of the Waste Management Service and the Procurement Unit, using a range of agreed criteria.
He recommended that the Committee approve the acceptance of the lowest tender received, that submitted by Irish Recycling Services, 40 Springwell Road, Groomsport. The cost of the provision of the service for a twelve month period would be approximately £81,900. However, the avoided costs of disposal to landfill was estimated to be approximately £67,000, and therefore the net cost for the provision of the service would be in the region of £14,900.
The Committee adopted the recommendation, subject to completion of form of contract.
Recycling and Waste Management – Three-Year Communications Programme
(Mr. M. Doherty, Waste Manager, attended in connection with this item.)
The Committee considered the undernoted report concerning the implementation of a three-year Communications Programme in relation to the Council's waste management and recycling services.
The Committee adopted the recommendations contained within the report.
Potential Locations for Glass Recycling Points
The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting on 5th April, it had agreed that various locations be developed as mini-bring sites for the collection of glass.
The Director of Health and Environmental Services reported that sites at the Shankill Leisure Centre, the Sandy Row Community Centre and the Skegoneil Community Centre had been identified also as being appropriate for this purpose. Accordingly, he recommended that the Committee agree that the above-mentioned locations be developed as mini-bring sites for the collection of glass.
The Committee adopted the recommendation.
Yellow Woods Challenge 2005
The Committee considered the undernoted report in relation to the Yellow Woods Challenge event.
After discussion, the Committee adopted the recommendation contained within the report and agreed that the Policy and Resources Committee be requested to grant approval for the use of the City Hall grounds in this regard.
Chairman
