Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held o 23 September 2020 be approved as a correct record.

The Committee received a presentation from Simon Bamford, Daniel Greenhalgh and Sarah Bowes from the Canals and Rivers Trust around options for Toddbrook Reservior following the critical incident in August 2019.

A number of statutory recommendations and interim safety works were recommended to ensure that the dam is safe, which included improvements to the existing spillway system.  An initial optioneering exercise had identified 13 options, which had been reduced to 2 preferred options using key assessment criteria which was weighted equally which included reservoir safety, community and stakeholder impacts and environmental impacts.  Ground investigation works had been undertaken on the two preferred options as well as a public consultation exercise.  An options report and feedback report was published on the website on 6 November 2020.. 

One of the challenges it to get the connection between the dam and the overflow water to the river and associated infrastructure and environmental features.  Taking into account the feedback throughout the consultation, 2 solutions were developed both of which had significant issues to address, including difficult ground conditions and environmental impacts.  The outcome of the consultation exercise indicated that there was a preference for Option A, and good support for green energy options and community options including a woodland and circular walk.

The next steps were to further develop the preferred options, landscaping, environment community and amenity opportunities, and it had been agreed that  a strategic group be set up with HPBC.  There would be further community engagement on the announcement of the preferred option.

In response to a query, members were advised that the original spillway was not considered as an option as due to design flaws identified it would need to be completely re-construction.  By today’s design standards, the worst place to put a spillway is at the highest point, so the 2 preferred options were at either end of the dam which would be built on solid ground. 3D images and landscape views would be developed of the two preferred options.

In response to a request for further information around how the 13 options were reduced to 2, members were advised that the engineers had provided a range of potential options 2 of which included de commissioning of the reservoir and re-building the dam further up stream which were discounted.  The 11 remaining options were all variables of reconstruction and repair, tunnels and options A and B with different alignments,  Tunnels are very risky in terms of ground conditions and would still need a significant structure in the park which left the two options (A and B) at the shallowest points. It was noted that the full options report is available on the website which sets out the process and detail around all the options considered. 

RESOLVED:

That the presentation be noted with thanks.

The Committee received a presentation from Kevin Melling and Melanie Henniker around the performance of Alliance Environmental Services during 2019/20.   A report setting out the performance in detail was also considered.

Details were provided around the financial performance during the year, particularly in the light of the COVID pandemic. There were other pressures on waste contracts due to  external factors affecting recycling income and revisions to haulage costs. It was noted that the volatility in the recycling market and its impact on income generated from recycling material remains the greater risk to the councils and AES in 2020/21.  The fleet replacement plan also took longer than anticipated resulting in additional one off  costs in the first half of the year.  A revised savings plan update was set out and it is likely that temporary savings may come forward during 2021/22 due to the re-profling of asset replacements.

The KPIs were considered, with it being noted that in 2019/20, HPBC had a 99.97% success rate in its waste collections.  Missed bins, complaints, delivery of domestic containers and recycling were all above target and service delivery had continued despite COVID 19 resourcing pressures and tonnage increases.  Progress had been made around the green fleet and an electric refuse vehicle would be trilled in the new year, and the use of electric, hydrogen or hydrogen and diesel were being trialled. In the hydrogen trial, using solar panels, there was the expectation that emissions would be reduced by 30%.  It was noted that currently, vehicle engines need to be modified to be able to run off diesel and two vehicles were currently being modified with an expected life expectancy of 7 -10 years.

The possibility of a super depot was being investigated as part of the One Public Estate project and in response to a query, members were advised that early discussions were on-going with Derbyshire County Council around the construction of a new depot in the Buxton area which would bring all the facilities under one roof.

The Committee thanked AES and it’s employees for the way in which they responded to the pressures arising from COVID and kept services running.

RESOLVED:

That the presentation and report be noted.

The Committee considered the revised procedures for the statutory ASB Review (Community Trigger) process which had been updated to reflect the findings of national  reviews into the community trigger process and amendments to statutory guidance.

In response to a query regarding promotion of the Community Trigger process, members were advised that the scheme was advertised on the council’s website, but that the council already had other systems in place to deal with similar issues.  The lack of monitoring information was queried, which would be investigated and included in the updated Community Safety Strategy. 

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Executive be recommended to adopt the Derbyshire Community Trigger Practitioner Guidance; and

2.    That the Executive be recommended to commit to the ASB Help Pledge,

The Committee considered a draft Public Spaces Protection Order which would introduce measures to reduce the risk of wildfires in high risk areas of the borough.  The draft Order would be subject to public consultation before final approval.

Queries were raised regarding the scope of the Order in terms of what areas of land it would cover including allotments and parks, particularly whether this would lead to a prohibition of smoking in public parks which would be clarified.  Clarification was also sought around how this would affect public events such as bonfires, some of which are within the PDNP, to which members were advised that the council could give consent of particular activities.  It was suggested that work be undertaken with parish council around the proposals.  Clarification was also sought around public access onto private land and whether this was covered.

RESOLVED:

1.    That subject to the clarifications outlined above, the Executive be recommended to carry out the necessary consultation, publication and notification in relation to the draft Order appended to the report;

2.    That the Executive be recommended to approve the draft Order by Individual Executive Decision unless the responses from the consultation necessitate material changes to the draft Order.

It was suggested that the work programme for the February meeting was overloaded and that the work programme for the meeting be revised and circulated to the committee.  A possible alternative was an additional meeting.

It was requested that a representative of Derbyshire Police be requested to attend the meeting in February.

More regular updates around Climate Change were requested to which the Leader advised that there was a separate working group around climate change with its own work programme and future meetings of which would be advertised on the website and live streamed.

RESOLVED:

That subject to the above amendments, the Work Programme, be noted.