Health and Environmental Services Committee 9 January 2006
From Nigov
E354
Health and Environmental Services Committee
Monday, 9th January, 2006
MEETING OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
Members present: Councillor Adamson (Deputy Chairman) (in the Chair); and Councillors D. Browne, Campbell, Cunningham, Cush, Dodds, Hanna, Jones, Kelly, Kirkpatrick, McCann, McClenaghan, McKenzie, Mhic Giolla Mhín, Mullaghan, and O’Neill.
In attendance:
- Mr. W. Francey, Director of Health and Environmental Services;
- Mr. A. Hassard, Head of Environmental Health;
- Mr. T. Martin, Head of Building Control;
- Mr. S. Skimin, Head of Cleansing Services;
- Mr. T. Walker, Head of Waste Management; and
- Mr. J. Heaney, Committee Administrator.
Apology
An apology for inability to attend was reported from the Chairman (Councillor O’Reilly).
Minutes
The minutes of the meetings of 29th November and 5th December, 2005, 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 4th January.
Revenue Estimates 2006/2007
(Mr. T. Salmon, Director of Corporate Services, attended in connection with this item.)
The Committee considered a report which had been prepared by the Director of Corporate Services in respect of the Estimates of Revenue Expenditure for the Year 2006/2007. A copy of that section of the report, in so far as it applied specifically to the Health and Environmental Services Committee, is set out hereunder:
Health and Environmental Services Committee
A spending limit of £45,575,390 is recommended for the Department in respect of the financial year 2006/07. Excluding capital charges of £1,079,520 this represents an increase of 19.24% over last year. The main budgetary intentions of the Department for next year are set out below:
| Including Capital Charges £ | Excluding Capital Charges £ | |
| Environmental Health | 7,066,460 | 7,036,680 |
| Waste Management | 17,757,800 | 16,874,850 |
| Building Control | 276,640 | 276,640 |
| Cleansing | 20,103,730 | 19,936,960 |
| Corporate Democratic Costs | 370,760 | 370,740 |
| Total Net Expenditure | 45,575,390 | 44,495,870 |
External drivers, including increased superannuation costs and landfill tax, will exert significant upward pressure on the Health and Environmental Services Committee’s expenditure for 2006/07. Planning for improved service provision in line with public expectations in areas such as the provision of public conveniences, dealing with anti-social behaviour and pest control services, as well as improving our emergency planning capacity are also areas of growth in the Committee’s spending plans. However the dominant factor is implementation of the Waste Plan. The Council has been anticipating unprecedented stepped increases in its waste management costs during the 2006/08 period in its financial planning for some years. The incoming year will see the cessation of waste disposal at the Dargan Road Landfill site, with associated loss of substantial income, and the commencement of alternative disposal arrangements through an arc21 contract with the private sector. The Committee has also provided for significant net increases in waste collection costs as a consequence of the implementation of the multi-bin system for recycling.
There are a number of areas where significant change has occurred from last year.
Increased costs of £604,000 must be borne by the Department in respect of superannuation.
Implementation of the Waste Plan will cost an additional £5,175,000 in 2006/07. The main areas of increased costs and growth are:
- The cost of the Landfill Contract for the disposal of the City’s waste including the additional expenditure associated with haulage to Mullaghaglass will cost £1.4million
- Operation of Park Road Household Recycling Centre will cost £494,000
- Closure of the landfill site will result in a loss of income of £1.1million
- Landfill tax will increase again in 2006/07 at a cost of £396,000 to the Council
- The waste management grant will reduce by £531,000
- Preparatory work for the new Transfer Station for compacting and bulking waste will cost £154,000
- Implementation of the alternate weekly bin collection service will cost £1.9 million. This will be partly offset by savings in domestic refuse collection of £786,000.
The operating costs for an additional five public conveniences (two inner city and three outer city) have been included in the estimates at a cost of £203,000.
In March 2005 the Council agreed an incremental approach to dealing with anti-social behaviour. A number of posts, including the appointment of up to eight Community Safety wardens in the Holyland area of the City for three years, will have financial implications of up to £258,000 in 2006/07.
Public Health expenditure is planned to grow by £260,000 to cover the Council’s role in Emergency Planning, Pest Control, Air Quality and Food Safety.
The Council’s role in Emergency Planning continues to grow. The Local Government Act which becomes effective from 1st April 2006 provides a statutory basis for district council involvement in emergency planning.
The Service is currently undertaking a review of pest control services. This has been informed by the members view and by those of the public. To meet growing customer expectations it is likely that the service will want to move to an appointment system for pest control treatments. This could not be managed within the current staffing resources and therefore allowance has been made in the 2006/07 estimates for the establishment of two additional Pest Officer Posts. This would be subject to consideration and agreement by the members.
In September 2005 Council agreed to the creation of an additional post of Scientific Officer (Air Quality) to meet the growing volume of work required from the National Air Quality Strategy. The post is for an initial period of three years and is subject to additional funding being secured through the EHS Air Quality Grant scheme.
The Council has made obesity in children a priority within the current Corporate Plan. There is the potential to attract grant from the Big Lottery to fund a specific post and associated work programme. This would be subject to matched funding from the Council. This is subject to consideration and approval by committee and also subject to a successful grant application.
With the continued growth in the city the Building Control Service will make savings of £111,000 over their 2005/06 position.
The Department will make a contribution of £200,000 to the efficiency programme in 2006/07. Efficiency savings will be made as follows:
| £ | ||
| 1. | Rationalisation programme for Civic Amenity Sites | 70,000 |
| 2. | Implementation of producer responsibility for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment | 130,000 |
| Total Departmental Efficiency Savings | 200,000 |
Decision Required
Approval of the Estimates as submitted.
HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT REVENUE ESTIMATES 2006/07
| £ | £ | ||
| Estimate 2005/06 | 38,286,450 | ||
| Efficiencies | |||
| Rationalisation Programme for Civic Amenity Sites | (70,000) | ||
| Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) | (130,000) | (200,000) | |
| Estimate after incorporating Efficiencies | 38,086,450 | ||
| Increased Costs | |||
| Superannuation | 604,000 | ||
| Growth | |||
| Implementation of Waste Plan | 5,175,000 | ||
| Additional Public Conveniences | 203,000 | ||
| Additional resources arising from Community Safety legislation | 258,000 | ||
| Additional resources arising from Public Health legislation | 260,000 | 5,896,000 | |
| Savings | |||
| Domestic Refuse Collection | (786,000) | ||
| Building Control | (111,000) | (897,000) | |
| Normal Increase | 1,885,940 | ||
| Estimate 2006/07 | 45,575,390 |
HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT REVENUE ESTIMATES 2006/07
| Inc. Capital Charges £ | Exc. Capital Charges £ | |
| Environmental Health | 7,066,460 | 7,036,680 |
| Waste Management | 17,757,830 | 16,874,850 |
| Building Control | 276,640 | 276,640 |
| Cleansing | 20,103,720 | 19,936,960 |
The Director of Corporate Services informed the Members that the Policy and Resources Committee, at a special meeting earlier that day, had agreed that the Directors examine the estimates of Departmental expenditure for the year 2006/2007 with an aspiration to reduce the proposed increase to a figure of less than 5% with any potential savings to be achieved through reductions in both Capital and Revenue expenditure. He outlined the factors which had been taken into consideration in the preparation of the Estimates and he highlighted, in particular, the increase in costs associated with the payment of superannuation contributions and the implementation of the Waste Plan.
After discussion, the Committee approved the Estimates of Revenue Expenditure for the year 2006/2007 as submitted in respect of the Health and Environmental Services Committee, subject to any reduction which might be achieved by the Director’s re-examination of the figures.
Directorate
Proposed Awareness Session on Waste Treatment Technologies
The Director of Health and Environmental Services informed the Members that the Environment and Heritage Service had released recently its “Best Practicable Environmental Options (BPEO) for Waste Management in Northern Ireland”, a document which included a high level assessment of the number and capacity of the range of waste treatment facilities required to deal with municipal waste in Northern Ireland. The Director pointed out also that arc21 had commenced a formal review of its waste plan, which would involve a reassessment of the range and capacities of facilities required by the sub-region for the period 2009/2020. He stated that the review process would be entering into a consultation phase early in 2006 and, therefore, it was important for Members to acquire, or rebuild, an awareness and understanding of the range of technologies likely to form part of the future integrated solution for waste management in the arc21 area. Accordingly, he suggested that it might prove beneficial if a special meeting of the Committee were to be held in order to receive presentations from appropriate experts in respect of modern, proven waste treatment technologies.
After discussion, the Committee agreed that a special meeting for this purpose, to which all Members of the Council would be invited, be held on a date to be agreed in conjunction with the Chairman.
Government Proposals for Reform of Liquor Licensing Law in Northern Ireland
The Committee considered a report which had been prepared by the Director of Health and Environmental Services in respect of the Government’s proposal to reform the Liquor Licensing Law in Northern Ireland. A copy of the report, with the exception of the appendices referred to therein, is set out hereunder.
The Members suggested that that portion of the response dealing with the proposed abolition of the surrender provision for Liquor Licences should be amended to make more explicit the Council’s opposition to the proposal on the basis that such a system enhances the health and wellbeing of the City, in so much as it prevents an increase in the number of licensed premises within the City and the associated impact on the existing anti-social behavioural problems, rather than for any reason associated with anti-competitive outcomes.
Members suggested also that, while the proposed transfer of the Liquor Licensing function from the Courts to Local Authorities might provide a system that would be accessible and accountable, there were serious concerns about the resource implication for Councils. It was suggested that, in order to permit each of the Party Groupings to give due consideration to the matter, it might be beneficial if an alternative draft response was to be submitted also to the Policy and Resources Committee reflecting opposition to the proposed transfer and including appropriate consequential amendments to other sections of the response.
After discussion, the Committee agreed that the response, a copy of which was available upon request, be amended to reflect the above-mentioned comments and agreed also that the response document, together with the alternative option, be submitted to the Policy and Resources Committee for consideration.
Waste Management Service
Tender for Provision of a Mobile Patrolling Service for Public Conveniences
The Head of Waste Management reminded the Committee that a contract operated currently for the patrolling of public conveniences, a service which had been introduced initially in 2002 in response to the public’s concerns in relation to the increase in anti-social activities at a number of Council-owned public conveniences. As a result of the success of the patrols, a full contract had been awarded in June, 2003 and was due for renewal in 2006.
He pointed out that the stewarding service had proved to be a major success in reducing anti-social activities and vandalism and had increased the public’s perception of the safety of those facilities. The Head of Waste Management suggested that the stewarding service had provided an important contribution in maintaining the Council’s stock of public conveniences and in minimising the abuse, misuse and vandalism occurring thereat.
After discussion, the Committee approved a tendering exercise in respect of the provision of stewarding services for a twelve-month period, with consent to extend the contract for a further two periods of twelve months, subject to the meeting of the Council’s requirements and of satisfactory performance.
Wheeled Bins for Domestic Waste Collections – Council Policy
The Committee considered the undernoted report in respect of the provision, replacement and sale of wheeled bins for household waste collection.
Several Members expressed concern that a six-month moratorium on charging for landfill bins would result in additional costs, which would exceed the provision made in the Department’s expenditure budgets and that unscrupulous persons might take advantage of this situation. In response to the Members’ questions, the Head of Waste Management reported that it had been estimated that the moratorium on the charging of landfill bins would cost in the region of £65,000 and he agreed to provide information in respect of the final cost when the moratorium had ended.
The Committee adopted the recommendations contained within the report and noted that the Head of Waste Management would provide details of the costs associated therewith following completion of the exercise.
Tender for the Collection and Treatment of Oil Based Paints and Varnishes from Council Recycling Centres
The Head of Waste Management reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 12th September, it had approved the commencement of a tendering exercise for the collection and treatment of oil based paints and varnishes from the Council’s recycling centres. He reported that, in response to public advertisement, six tenders had been received and these had been evaluated in accordance with the Council’s procurement procedures.
He recommended that the most economically advantageous tender, that submitted by Atlas Environmental (Northern Ireland) Limited, The Old Mill, Drumaness, Co. Down, be accepted. He pointed out that the tender was for a one year period with options, at the Council’s discretion, to extend for a further two twelve month periods up to a maximum of three years. The cost in the first year of the contract would be approximately £25,500 including environmental charges and, should the tender be extended to the full three year period, the total costs were estimated to be approximately £80,000.
After discussion, the Committee adopted the recommendation of the Head of Waste Management, subject to completion of form of contract.
Recycling Point Site Location Approval
The Head of Waste Management reminded the Committee that, at its meeting on 9th February, 2004, it had agreed that details in respect of lands to be utilised as mini-bring centres be submitted for consideration by the Committee prior to licensing agreements being signed.
He reported that sites, primarily located on existing Council property, were available at the Markets, Annadale Embankment, Mount Vernon and Bray Street. Furthermore, he stated that arc21 had approved the award of a contract for the maintenance and emptying of recycling points across the region and this would ensure that the present and future recycling points were well maintained and emptied according to a set rota, thus minimising the possibility of the sites being used beyond capacity.
After discussion, the Committee authorised the Waste Management Service to proceed with the siting of the recycling points for glass at the above-mentioned locations.
Development of Household Recycling Centres
The Head of Waste Management submitted a report (This should be requested under Freedom of Information) in respect of the progress which had been achieved to date in the adaptation of various Civic Amenity Sites and which provided specific information in respect of the design proposals for the adaptation of Clara Street Civic Amenity Site to a Household Recycling Centre. He reminded the Members that the draft Capital Programme for 2006/2007 had included a total amount of £1,120,000, for the adaptation of Clara Street, Agnes Street and Springfield Avenue Civic Amenity Sites to provide small scale recycling centres and for the assimilation of Palmerston Road Civic Amenity Site and the adjoining recycling centre.
He indicated that it was proposed to invite tenders individually for the delivery of each of the elements of the three projects and that the anticipated costs amounted to £1,203,900. He reported that an overall amount of £1,020,000 had been included within the Capital Programme for the year 2005/2006 in respect of the adaptation of Clara Street, Agnes Street and Springfield Avenue Civic Amenity Sites and, therefore, a deficit of £183,999 would be incurred. However, prior to the amalgamation of Waste Management and Cleansing Services, an amount of £178,250 had been allocated in respect of the Building Upgrade Programme for the refurbishment of the Clara Street Civic Amenity Site accommodation. This amount had subsequently been removed from the Programme as the facility was no longer required for Cleansing Services operation. Consequently, the composite expenditure for all four locations was therefore £5,650 in excess of that which was originally proposed for the various Capital Expenditure and Building Upgrade work elements.
After discussion, the Committee agreed to the completion of the work required to provide a Recycling Centre at Clara Street and to the issuing of the associated tender documentation. The Committee noted that, in accordance with the financial regulation D9, approval for the additional expenditure required ratification by the Policy and Resources (Finance, Administration and Information Systems) Sub-Committee as it was in excess of 10% of the amount which had been included in the Capital Programme.
Building Control
Revision of Council’s Requirements for Placing Legal Notices in Newspapers in Respect of Applications for Licences and Permits
(Mr. J. Walsh, Principal Solicitor, attended in connection with this item.)
The Committee considered the undernoted report in respect of the requirements to give public notice of application for Amusement Permits, Entertainment Licences and Sex Establishment Licences.
During discussion, several Members sought clarification as to whether or not it was possible to obtain independently verifiable figures for the distribution of newspapers within the City. In response, the Head of Building Control indicated that when the requirement for advertising in national papers had first been instigated the Council had used only the three largest selling papers in the City, namely the Belfast Telegraph, the News Letter and the Irish News. Subsequently, the Daily Mirror had provided to the Council independently verified circulation figures for the City, thus justifying its inclusion on the list defined national papers. He reported that, independent researchers had verified that the Daily Ireland sold in excess of 10,000 copies per day throughout Ireland. However, it had not been possible, at this time, to identify the number of copies sold specifically within the City and he stated that he had been informed that such a verification progress would require the undertaking of research, the results of which would not be available for at least one year.
After discussion, it was
Moved by Councillor Dodds, Seconded by Councillor Campbell,
That the Council consider for inclusion on its list of defined ‘National Newspapers’ only those newspapers whose circulation figures could be independently verified by the Northern Ireland Target Group Index Survey.
On a vote by show of hands six Members voted for the proposal and six against. There being an equality of votes, the Deputy Chairman (Councillor Adamson) exercised his second and casting vote in favour of the proposal and it was accordingly declared carried.
In addition, the Committee agreed that the Department would notify each Member of the Committee of all permits and licence applications received by the Service on a monthly basis in order that the Members could be aware of licensing applications in their area.
Naming of Streets and Numbering of Properties
The Committee approved the undernoted applications for the naming of streets in the City, which did not conflict with existing approved street names and to which the Royal Mail had offered no objections:
| Proposed Name | Location | Applicant |
|---|---|---|
| Deerpark Mews | Continuation of existing street, BT14 | Mr. Seamus McKee |
| Burghley Mews | Off Kings Road, BT5 | Dingles Builders |
| Springmeadow | Off Springfield Road, BT12 | A3 Architecture |
The Head of Building Control advised the Committee that a new street named Altnagarron Terrace, which had been approved by the Committee at its meeting on 15th September and ratified by the Council at its meeting on 3rd October, had been withdrawn by the developer due to a change in the layout of the development and, accordingly, the name Altnagarron Terrace would no longer be required.
The Committee noted the information which had been provided.
Environmental Health
Response to the Draft Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2005
The Committee considered the undernoted report in respect of the proposed legislative changes in relation to the Private Rented Sector. A copy of the report and Appendix 2 thereof is set out hereunder.
After discussion the Sub-Committee adopted the recommendations contained within the foregoing report.
National Association of Councillors Conference on Anti-Social Behaviour
It was reported that the National Association of Councillors would be holding a Conference in the Monkbar Hotel, York from 13th to 15th January in respect of measures which might be taken to reduce anti-social behaviour and improve community safety. The approximate costs per delegate attending the Conference would be £650.
After discussion, the Committee agreed that it be represented at the National Association of Councillors Conference on Anti-Social Behaviour by the Council’s three representatives to the Association (or their nominees), together with a Member from each of the other Party Groupings on the Council not represented by the aforementioned Members.
The Committee agreed also to authorise payment of the Conference fees, together with the appropriate travelling, subsistence and attendance allowances in connection therewith.
Review of the Night Time Noise Service
The Head of Environmental Health Services submitted for the Committee’s consideration a report in respect of the Review of Night Time Noise Service together with a report which had been prepared by the Business Improvement Section in relation to the staffing and operational arrangements which would be required to provide the service. A copy of the report and a copy of the recommendations contained within Section 6 and 7 of the Business Improvement Section’s report are set out hereunder.
After discussion, the Committee adopted the recommendations contained within the foregoing report.
Chair of Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
The Head of Environmental Services informed the Committee that Ms. S. Toland, Environmental Health Manager (Environmental Protection) had been elected to the Chair of the Council of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health Officers. He advised the Members that the Institute, which had been founded in 1883, was a professional and educational body dedicated to the promotion of environmental health and to the encouragement of the highest possible standards in training and the work of environmental health professionals. In addition to the services provided to its Members, the Chartered Institute also advised Government on environmental health issues and was consulted on proposed legislation relevant to the work of environmental health professionals.
It was reported that in the position of Chair, Ms. Toland would be expected to attend a variety of meetings, conferences and other functions and the Head of Environmental Health Services recommended that the Committee grant the necessary permission to enable her to fulfil these duties during her year of Office.
The Committee adopted the recommendation.
Cleansing Services
Anti-Litter Campaign
The Committee considered a report (This should be requested under Freedom of Information) on the progress which had been achieved in respect of Phase 2 of the Council’s Anti-Litter Campaign. The Head of Cleansing Services reported that an independent survey had been commissioned to ascertain the effectiveness of the campaign and to what extent it was changing the littering behaviour of the general public.
Phase 2 of the campaign had commenced in August 2005 with the development of a new television advertisement, new campaign website and associated poster advertising. In addition, there had been a number of community based initiatives such as a community Billboard Challenge and the Youth Clean Community Challenge and the campaign had received extensive media coverage since August, 2005.
The Head of Cleansing Services highlighted the key elements of the research which had been carried out (This should be requested under Freedom of Information) and indicated that, since the commencement of Phase 1 of the campaign, there had been a 9% decrease in the number of persons admitting to dropping litter. The research had highlighted that pieces of fruit were the most common items dropped. It had indicated also that 90% of the public had agreed that it was up to each individual to take responsibility for litter and 83% of the public believed that there should be tighter penalties for those persons dropping litter.
The Head of Cleansing Services reported that there had been a significant improvement in littering behaviour which suggested that the anti-litter campaign was having the desired effect, albeit, in a relatively short period of time and the results of the latest survey should be welcomed as a good sign for future development.
After discussion, the Committee noted the contents of the research detailing the success of Phase 2 of the anti-litter campaign and authorised the commissioning of Phase 3 of the campaign by exercising a further one year renewal option as set out in the contract with the Council’s current suppliers. It was noted that an amount, in the sum of £200,000, had been included in the Brighter Belfast budget for Phase 3 of the programme.
Chairman
