Agenda and minutes

Venue: Floral Pavillion

Contact: Mike Jones, Principal Democratic Services Officer 

Media

Items
No. Item

29.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed attendees and viewers to the meeting and reminded everyone that the meeting was webcast and retained on the Council’s website for two years.

 

The Chair led the Committee Members in standing for a minute’s silence in memory of Councillor Andy Corkhill, Alderman Gerry Ellis and MP David Amess who had all passed away recently.

 

The Chair spoke about Councillor Andy Corkhill and his genuine commitment to environmental and active travel matters.

30.

APOLOGIES

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Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence.

31.

MEMBERS' CODE OF CONDUCT - DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members are asked to consider whether they have any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or any other relevant interest in connection with any item(s) on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state the nature of the interest.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members were asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests and any other relevant interest and to state the nature of the interest. There were no declarations of interests.

32.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 823 KB

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 7 September 2021.

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Minutes:

The Chair noted that there had been a commitment in an answer at the last meeting to publish the names of Members who had undertaken carbon literacy training. This will be added and the minutes republished.

 

Resolved (by assent) –

That, subject to the addition of the names of Members who had undertaken Carbon Literacy training, the minutes of the meeting of the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee held on 7 September 2021 be approved and adopted as a correct record.

33.

Public Questions

Notice of question to be given in writing or by email by 12 noon, Friday 15 October 2021 to the Council’s Monitoring Officer (committeeservices@wirral.gov.uk) and to be dealt with in accordance with Standing Order 10.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Question 1 – Julien Priest

The Save Hoylake Beach Group, recently rebranded as Hoylake Beach Community, are campaigning on the basis that simple raking without the use of weedkiller will give them the ‘golden sands’ they expect.

 In a previous one of these meetings a Hoylake and Meols Ward Councillor expressed their view that neglecting the beach for a number of years until such time as the new Beach Management Plan has been approved by Natural England will result in the beach vegetation situation being irreversible.

At that same meeting a Council Officer responded to said Councillor with the view that removal of the vegetation from the beach would require bulldozing.

The public facebook group ‘Hoylake Beach - The Evidence’ references studies on the control of Spartina that show mechanical removal leads to a 42.8% increase in plant density in subsequent growing seasons because this grass propagates via underground rhizomes [roots] and any activity which fragments and redistributes those rhizomes, such as raking, will increase the rate at which the grass can spread when compared to doing nothing.

The public facebook group ‘Hoylake Beach - The Evidence’ also references scientific papers that explain how one effective treatment for controlling the vegetation is complete removal of the substrate [sand] containing these rhizomes [roots] which extend 30-40 cm underground.

To eradicate vegetation from the beach scientific evidence points to a requirement for bulldozing the foreshore and wholesale removal of huge amounts of sand to a significant depth, not simply raking the surface of the beach.

My question:

·  Are the current studies fully assessing what would be required to remove and eradicate vegetation from Hoylake beach?

And an assurance:

·  Will the full impact of what is required, both environmental and financial, be explained in the public consultation so that those who expect to see "golden sands" with no vegetation fully understand exactly what they are asking for?

Answer: [Cllr Elizabeth Grey] The ecological and Geomorphological study is looking at the evolution of the foreshore based on historic changes and an improved understanding of the ecological communities. Predictions of future change based on climate change and management options will also be considered, however the study is not considering eradication of vegetation from Hoylake beach. We can and should include financial implications of each option in the public consultation, as well as explaining environmental implications. Thank you for your question.

 

Supplementary Question 1 – Julien Priest

The recently tabled motion calling for the Director of Neighbourhoods to engage with Natural England regards the continued spread of spartina grasses appears to be merely aiming to score political points and spread misinformation, fear and divisiveness in the community.

Item 47 resolution (iii) of the 16 March 2021 meeting of this committee agreed to consult with a Coastal Advisory Group of experts who were to offer impartial APOLITICAL advice on current and future windblown sand and beach management.

Can the committee give an assurance that this dialogue with an expert apolitical advisory group is under way and if  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

34.

Statements and petitions

Notice of representations to be given in writing or by email by 12 noon, Friday 15 October 2021 to the Council’s Monitoring Officer (committeeservices@wirral.gov.uk) and to be dealt with in accordance with Standing Order 11.1.

 

Petitions may be presented to the Committee. The person presenting the petition will be allowed to address the meeting briefly (not exceeding one minute) to outline the aims of the petition. The Chair will refer the matter to another appropriate body of the Council within whose terms of reference it falls without discussion, unless a relevant item appears elsewhere on the Agenda. Please give notice of petitions to committeeservices@wirral.gov.uk in advance of the meeting.

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Minutes:

No statements or petitions had been received.

35.

Questions by Members

Questions by Members to be dealt with in accordance with Standing Orders 12.3 to 12.8.

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Minutes:

There were no questions by Members.

36.

STREET LIGHTING IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME, PROGRESS REPORT pdf icon PDF 86 KB

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Minutes:

The Assistant Director: Highways and Infrastructure presented the report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services which provided an update for Members on progress of the Council’s current programme to improve and upgrade its street lighting stock, as well as on potential future proposals for street lighting. The contract for upgrading street lighting was to end in December 2021.

 

Members asked questions about the progress of the work and established that:

·  By the end of the contract all streetlights, other than where they would be covered by alternative projects such as redevelopment, would have been replaced.

·  Replacement of concrete columns would be enabled with a report to the Capital Assets Group.

·  Reports of LED lighting affecting insects would be monitored.

·  Electric vehicle charging via lampposts would be trialled for 12 months then evaluated. Grant funding had been obtained to cover much of the costs of installation of charging units.

·  LED lights provided a 60% energy saving compared to sodium lighting.

 

Resolved:

That the contents of this report be noted and the team be congratulated for the successful delivery and output of the project.

37.

Love Wirral Strategy pdf icon PDF 288 KB

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Minutes:

The Assistant Director for Parks and Environment presented the report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services which provided recommendations for the Council’s Love Wirral Strategy (attached as Appendix 1 to the report), which set out the Council’s approach to further develop on the successes of the Loving our Environment strategy, engaging with Wirral’s communities and visitors to protect, respect and enjoy Wirral’s parks, beaches, towns and local areas. The Love Wirral Strategy focussed on set stages to tackle areas where littering, dog fouling, trade waste and graffiti and fly posting were prevalent to bring about positive behaviour change. Stages included identifying locations, auditing infrastructure, communication campaign, engagement with the community and enforcement, as a last resort.

 

Members noted how blessed Wirral was with volunteer groups who collected litter and looked after locations across the borough. They also noted how there was only a minority of people who caused the problems that required actions to alleviate.

 

Councillor Allan Brame suggested an amendment to record the Committee’s thanks to the volunteer groups for the work they undertook.

 

This was seconded by Councillor Liz Grey.

 

Resolved – That

(1)  the Love Wirral Strategy be approved.

(2)  regular progress updates on the delivery of the strategy be received.

(3)  the Committee expresses its appreciate and thanks to the voluntary groups including the Wirral Wombles and New Brighteners who work hard to remove litter and maintain the cleanliness attractiveness of the Wirral.

 

This minute was subsequently amended at the meeting on 15 November 2021 and the resolution now reads:

 

Resolved – That

(1)  the Love Wirral Strategy be approved.

(2)  regular progress updates on the delivery of the strategy be received.

(3)  the Committee expresses its appreciation and thanks to the voluntary groups including the Wirral Wombles and New Brighteners who work hard to remove litter and maintain the cleanliness and attractiveness of the Wirral.

38.

THE WIRRAL PLAN 2021-2026 DRAFT DELIVERY PLANS pdf icon PDF 75 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director of Neighbourhood Services presented the report of the Chief Executive which presented The Wirral Plan 2021-26 Draft Delivery Plans. The Plans were approved at Council on 6 September 2021, together with the recommendation that engagement and discussion with relevant Committees would take place to further shape the underpinning delivery plans and work programmes required to implement the Wirral Plan.

 

Members asked questions about details of the report and were reassured that the numbers of trees planted was net of disease and failure.

 

Resolved –

That the draft Delivery Plan be noted.

39.

Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee Performance Report pdf icon PDF 73 KB

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Minutes:

The Assistant Director for Highways and Infrastructure introduced the report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services which provided a performance update on areas which the Committee was responsible for. The aim was to bring quarterly reports subsequently.

 

Members questioned some of the terms used for clarification and praised progress shown.

 

Resolved –

That the content of the performance report be noted.

40.

Work Programme Update pdf icon PDF 86 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered the proposed work programme for the remainder of the municipal year.

 

Resolved:

That the proposed Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee work programme for the remainder of the 2021/22 municipal year be noted.