Health and Environmental Services Committee 6 November 2006
From Nigov
Health and Environmental Services Committee
Monday, 6th November, 2006
MEETING OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
Members present
Councillor O'Reilly (Chairman); and Councillors Adamson, D. Browne, Campbell, Cunningham, Cush, Hanna, Kelly, Kirkpatrick, McCann, McCoubrey, McKenzie, Mhic Giolla Mhín, and Mullaghan.
In attendance
- Mr. W. Francey (Director of Health 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)
- Mr. M. McBride (Business Support Manager)
- Mr. J. Heaney (Committee Administrator)
Apologies
Apologies for inability to attend were reported from Councillors McClenaghan and O’Neill.
Minutes
The minutes of the meetings of 9th and 16th October 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.
Directorate
Brighter Belfast Initiative
The Director submitted a report (This should be requested under Freedom of Information) in respect of the Council's Brighter Belfast Initiative. He stated that between April, 2003 and March, 2006, the Initiative had channelled funding in the sum of £3.5 million into a range of projects aimed at making the City a more attractive place.
The projects undertaken by the Initiative had addressed physical changes such as structural improvements and landscaping, together with public education aimed at promoting behavioural change concerning problems such as littering. The Director reported that a key feature of the Initiative had been its inter-agency collaboration and co-operation, which had led to the Initiative being recognised by the Public Service Reform Unit as an example of best practice in partnership working. The Members were reminded that the Initiative had been overseen by an All-Party Working Group, supported by an inter-departmental officer Steering Group, with formal reporting procedures through the Committee.
The Director reported further that the All-Party Working Group, at its meeting in October, had given initial consideration to the merits of continued funding of the main strands of the work within the Initiative and the Group intended to establish a rank order of priority of a range of potential projects at its next meeting in order to assist in the allocation of budgets, should continued corporate funding be made available during 2007/2008. The All-Party Group had agreed that the Council be recommended to approve the continuation of the Brighter Belfast Initiative beyond March, 2007 in view of the success to date and having regard to:
(i) the strength of the Brighter Belfast brand as a means of linking, in the public consciousness, the wide range of work being undertaken by the Council to improve the cleanliness and attractiveness of the City;
(ii) the successful partnership working developed through the programme; and
(iii) the financial leverage exerted through projects.
Accordingly, the All-Party Working Group had recommended that the Initiative be maintained and had expressed the view that it would be appropriate if the necessary budget was to be allocated in the forthcoming year.
After discussion, the Committee agreed that the Brighter Belfast Initiative be continued beyond March, 2007 and that, subject to affordability, a corporate budget be provided in the Council's Revenue Estimates for the year 2007/2008.
Cleansing Services
Street Cleanliness Index, Enforcement and Educational Activities
The Head of Cleansing Services submitted a report in respect of the Street Cleanliness Index, Enforcement and Educational Activities for the period July till September, 2006, a copy of which was available from the Department upon request. (This should be requested under Freedom of Information)
The Head of Cleansing Services answered several questions from the Members, particularly in relation to the fall in the standard of cleanliness recorded in the West Belfast Cleansing Area. He pointed out that the cleanliness throughout the City, including the West Cleansing Area, was at a reasonable level, however, there were specific reasons why the standard had fallen in the West Belfast Cleansing Area over this period and that these were being addressed currently. He pointed out that operational changes implemented had resulted in an index level rise in the last two months of the period.
After further discussion, the Committee noted the contents of the report.
Anti-Litter Campaign
The Committee considered a report on the progress which had been achieved in respect of the Council's anti-litter campaign. The Head of Cleansing Services reported that Phase 1 of the campaign had commenced in March, 2004 and had successfully raised awareness of litter as an issue with the public and in the media. Phase 2 had commenced in April, 2005 with the development of a new television advertisement and associated poster campaign. He reported further that this phase had included also a number of community-based initiatives, such as the Community Billboard Challenge and the Youth Clean Community Challenge. The overall campaign had received extensive coverage with over 100 campaign related articles appearing in the local media since August, 2005.
Phase 3 of the campaign was ongoing currently with television advertisements due to be completed in January, 2007. In addition, a number of successful community-based initiatives had been arranged in conjunction with the media campaign. The Head of Cleansing Services pointed out that research would be undertaken in February, 2007 after the completion of Phase 3 of the campaign to ascertain its effectiveness. He suggested that a change in public behaviour was a long-term process, however, after three years of the current campaign, there had been sufficient evidence to suggest that littering was becoming an important issue for both the public and the media. Recently commissioned research had demonstrated that the Council's campaign had been successful in improving the littering behaviour of the public and 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.
He reminded the Committee that funding for the campaign had been obtained from a non-recurring expenditure budget within the Brighter Belfast Initiative and pointed out that, since this funding stream was coming to an end, a decision would be required as to whether or not to continue the anti-litter campaign.
He stated that, whilst the Council had made excellent progress in improving littering behaviour, it had not yet reached the point where littering was deemed socially unacceptable by the vast majority of the public. He suggested that there would be long-term benefits to be derived from achieving this goal, namely, the Council would not be required to allocate as many resources to the collection of litter from the streets. Therefore, he recommended that the Committee, in order to maintain the momentum already achieved, approve the continuation of the advertising programme.
After further discussion, during which the Head of Cleansing Services indicated that the cost of supporting an anti-litter campaign during the period 2007/2008 would be £150,000, with a similar amount required for the financial year 2008/2009, the Committee noted the information which had been provided and authorised the funding for a further two years of the anti-litter campaign, subject to adequate funding being made available during the Revenue Estimate process. The Committee approved also the commencement of a procurement exercise for the delivery of the campaign over the two-year period, should the funding be made available.
Environmental Health
Funding for the Supply of Smoke Alarms
The Head of Environmental Health reminded the Committee that, in 1989, as a result of Members' concerns over the number of deaths which had resulted from house fires, it had approved payment of a grant to Voluntary Services Belfast to fit new, or replace batteries in existing, smoke alarms. This work had been carried out free of charge by volunteers and referrals had been made through the Council's Home Safety Check campaign.
He outlined for the information of the Committee the number of fatalities which had occurred in the City as a result of fire in the home and pointed out that the majority of those fatalities had occurred in premises where no smoke alarm had been fitted and that most of the victims were either elderly or very young. In addition, he pointed out that the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency had carried out research which demonstrated that substantially more dwelling-linked fires occurred in the most deprived wards in the City.
The Members were advised that there were 800 home safety checks carried out per year which were targeted at the homes of the elderly or very young. Based on the previous six months of this year, an average of 34 smoke alarms had been fitted each month, which equated to 408 smoke alarms over the coming year and which would result in an overall cost of £3,910. The Head of Environmental Health pointed out that, although Voluntary Services Belfast were unable to continue to provide the service of fitting the alarms, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service had agreed to fit the alarms in all properties referred by the Home Safety Check team.
After discussion, the Committee agreed to the provision of £3,910 for the purchase of smoke alarms during the next twelve month period.
Revised Charging Structure for Environmental Enquiries
The Committee was advised that the Council disclosed currently environmental information as a requirement of the Environmental Information Regulations, 2004. The majority of requests were received from environmental consultants or property developers, who were preparing information for clients. The Council was permitted to charge a fee to reflect the costs incurred in collating the information which had been requested. Currently the fee was at a flat rate of £75, which was charged for commercial requests only, there was no charge for other requests for information from students, researchers or other statutory bodies, such as the Housing Executive.
The Head of Environmental Health reported that there had been an increase in the number of enquiries submitted and in the complexity of the information sought. Accordingly, he recommended that a new pricing structure, designed to reflect the level of input required to produce the information, be implemented. The Head of Environmental Health suggested that the revised pricing structure would represent an open and transparent form of charging which was equitable and reasonable, with costs reflecting the degree of officer time and assessment required in providing the necessary information.
Accordingly, he outlined the proposed pricing structure which was based on a sliding scale as set out hereunder:
|(a) |All information held about one specific property (noise complaints, |Cost £50 | | |pollution complaints and potential sites of land contamination) | | |(b) |0 to 250 m (Building footprint and the area within 250 m of site) |Cost £100 | |(c) |0.5 km (Building footprint and the area within 0.5 km of site |Cost £200 | |(d) |1 km (Building footprint and the area within 1 km of site) |Cost £300 |
After discussion, the Committee adopted the revised pricing structure in relation to environmental enquiries.
Election of the Deputy Chairman to the Executive Board of the Association of Port Health Authorities
The Committee was advised that, at the Annual General Meeting of the Association of Port Health Authorities held in London during September, the Deputy Chairman (Councillor Adamson) had been re-elected to the Executive Board of the Association and had been elected Chairman of the Association's Imported Food Committee.
It was pointed out that the term of the appointments would run until September, 2007 which would be after the date of the Annual Meeting of the Council.
The Committee granted authority for the Deputy Chairman to attend all necessary meetings of the Association of Port Health Authorities and approved the payment of appropriate travelling, subsistence and attendance allowances in connection therewith and agreed also that Councillor Adamson be authorised to attend meetings which take place during the period from June till September, 2007.
Alleygating - Adherence to Contract Schedules
The Head of Environmental Health submitted the undernoted report in respect of the contract schedule for the alleygating scheme in the City.
After discussion, the Committee adopted the recommendation contained within the foregoing report.
Tender for the Removal and Disposal of Offensive Material and the Subsequent Cleansing of Filthy and Verminous Properties
The Committee was advised that the Public Health and Housing Unit received requests from the public and external agencies in relation to dealing with filthy and verminous properties and if, upon inspection by an Environmental Health Officer, the premises were found to be in such a state as to be prejudicial to health, an abatement notice would be served under the Pollution Control and Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 1978. After the expiration of nine days from the serving of the notice the Council might be required to execute such works as would be necessary to remedy the situation which usually entailed the removal and subsequent disposal of offensive material followed by the cleansing of the property.
The Committee was advised that approximately ten house clearouts and twenty vacant premises clearouts would be carried out each year and that this required the use of a reputable contractor to ensure that any hazardous materials were disposed of through proper channels and that health and safety issues which might arise in the carrying out of these activities were addressed properly. Accordingly, a tendering exercise had been conducted and in response to public advertisement, three tenders had been received which had been evaluated in accordance with pre-agreed criteria and in conjunction with the Development Department's Procurement Unit.
The Head of Environmental Health recommended that the most economically advantageous tender, that submitted by Grove Services Group, 3 Blackstaff Way, Kennedy Way Industrial Estate, be accepted for one year, with an option of renewal on an annual basis for a further two years. He pointed out that the contract would be based on a pricing schedule for a range of cleansing operations and, given the historical needs for the service, the contract would be valued at approximately £30,000 over a three-year period.
After discussion, the Committee adopted the recommendation of the Head of Environmental Health, subject to form of contract being drawn up by the Director of Legal Services.
Waste Management
Consultation Paper on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) the Draft Implementation of Directives 2002/96/EC and 2003/108/EC on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
The Committee considered the undernoted report in respect of the Council's response to the draft consultation paper on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment.
After discussion, the Committee adopted the recommendation and noted that a copy of the response would be available from the Department upon request.
Building Control
Naming of Streets and Numbering of Properties
The Committee approved the undernoted application for the naming of a street in the City, which did not conflict with existing approved street names and to which the Royal Mail had offered no objection:
|Proposed Street Name |Location |Applicant | |Jamaica Street |Realignment of existing street BT14 |Northern Ireland Housing Executive |
Application for the Renewal of a Seven-Day Annual Entertainments Licence Where Objections had been Received
Holiday Inn Express, 106 University Street
The Committee was informed that, at its meeting on 17th November, 2003, it had agreed to defer consideration of an application for the renewal of a Seven-Day Entertainments Licence in respect of Holiday Inn Express, 106 University Street, until such time as the refurbished entertainment area was ready to reopen. The Committee had agreed also that the Head of Building Control inform the applicant that, when considering the application for the renewal of the Entertainments Licence, it would take into account the degree to which he had adhered to the commitments which he had given to the Committee in regard to the operation of the premises.
The Head of Building Control advised the Committee that the previous Licence to provide entertainment had related to the Underworld Disco area which catered for 600 people and the Ground Floor Bar which catered for 300 people. He explained that the Council's Pollution Control Section had confirmed that, whilst it had no objections to the disco area in these premises receiving a Licence, it was concerned about break-out noise from the Ground Floor Bar. The applicant had, therefore, requested that the Ground Floor Bar be removed from the application and that it be amended to encompass only that area of the premises known as the Underworld Disco. In addition, interior alterations to the Underworld Disco had resulted in a reduction in the maximum capacity of the venue from 600 to 350 people.
The Committee was informed that, as a result of the new arrangements proposed by the applicant, the objectors to the renewal of the Licence at the previous meeting had been contacted and had now withdrawn their objections to this Licence. In addition, the Police Service of Northern Ireland had indicated that they had no objections to the renewal of the Licence for the Underworld Disco only (now rebranded under the name Fusion).
After discussion, the Committee agreed that the Council, in its capacity as Licensing Authority, be recommended to grant the renewal of a Seven-Day Entertainments Licence in respect of the Underworld Disco at the Holiday Inn Express, 106 University Street, subject to:
1. the re-branding of the premises in order to attract a more mature clientele;
2. the cessation of all promotions which would encourage binge drinking and other unacceptable behaviour;
3. all door staff being registered in accordance with the Council's Door Supervisors Registration Scheme;
4. the holding of meetings between residents, the applicant and officers of the Council on a regular basis in order to discuss issues of concern; and
5. the days and hours during which the premises were licensed to provide entertainment being:
Monday to Saturday - 11.00 a.m. till 1.00 a.m. the following morning; and
Sunday - 12.30 p.m. till 12.00 midnight.
Application for the Variation of a Seven-Day Annual Entertainments Licence Where no Objections had been Received
Basement Bar and Grill, 18 Donegall Square East
The Committee considered a report relating to an application for the variation of a Seven-Day Annual Entertainments Licence in respect of the Basement Bar and Grill, 18 Donegall Square East.
The Head of Building Control reported that no written representations had been received and that the Police Service of Northern Ireland had offered no objections to the application. However, he pointed out that, given the lateness of the hour applied for, he had considered that it was appropriate for the matter to be brought the Committee's attention.
After discussion, it was
Resolved - That the Council, in its capacity as Licensing Authority, be recommended to grant the variation of a Seven-Day Annual Entertainments Licence in respect of the premises known as the Basement Bar and Grill, 18 Donegall Square East, in that entertainment in the form of the provision of music, singing and dancing or entertainment of a like kind be permitted in the premises as set out hereunder:
Monday to Thursday - 11.30 a.m. to 1.30 a.m. the following morning
Friday and Saturday - 11.30 a.m. to 3.00 a.m. the following morning
Sunday - 12.30 p.m. to 12.00 midnight.
Chairman
