The Committee received a report presenting the 2017/18 Quarter 3 (October - December 2017) performance report for the Wirral Plan Pledges under the remit of the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  The performance report, which was included as an Appendix to the submitted report, provided a description of progress in Quarter 3 as well as providing available data in relation to a range of outcome indicators and supporting measures. 

The performance report contained details of the progress made, and overviews of that progress from the respective Lead Cabinet Members,  in respect of individual measures being pursued with regard to the following Wirral Plan Pledges pertinent to the Committee - 

·  Leisure and culture opportunities for all;

·  Wirral residents live healthier lives;

·  Community services are joined up and accessible;

·  Good quality housing that meets the needs of residents;

·  Wirral’s neighbourhoods are safe; and

·  Attractive Local Environment for Wirral residents.

Mark Smith, Strategic Commissioner – Environment presented the performance report and invited comment from Members on the content contained therein –

Councillor Adam Sykes noted the reported reduction in recycling rates and queried what measures the Council had in place to increase rates.  The Strategic Commissioner commented that declining recycling rates was a national, rather than just a local, trend and that a number of actions and interventions were planned for the year ahead.  Further to a query from Councillor Lesley Rennie as to whether the decline was consistent across the Borough, it was advised that, with the assistance of the contractor, intelligence was being built up about recycling activity in various parts of the Borough that would allow for targeted intervention in specific areas. 

Following comments from Councillor Steve Foulkes that recycling targets were set by government and that if the Council spent money to achieve these targets other projects could not be pursued, Councillors Chris Carubia and Ian Lewis sought clarification of Council policy in respect of food waste collection and related funding.  The Strategic Commissioner indicated that there would be a cost implication to implement a food waste collection service, and should the Council be able to secure grant or other funding it would look to move in that direction.  Further to a query from Councillor Ian Lewis related to a possible bid to the capital programme and the Committee being advised of £3M capital costs and £1.8M running costs for implementation, Councillor Adam Sykes queried whether a cost benefit analysis had been undertaken since non-recycled waste was sent to landfill which attracted a tonnage charge.  The Committee was asked to note that the City Region had cost effective ways of dealing with waste, including a Waste Disposal Authority waste recovery contract and a SITA energy from waste scheme, which impacted on the case for the rollout of recycling schemes. 

Councillor Christina Muspratt noted the measure of the number of residents who say they regularly volunteer / support community groups which showed a lower proportion at December 2017 compared to October 2015, querying what was gained from this measure as different people were asked and the ability therefore to conclude that there really were fewer people volunteering.  The Strategic Commissioner reported that the figure was based on the Residents’ Survey which was seen as a representative sample, and the measure was trying to understand how many people volunteered.  By the nature of the survey, different people were sampled and the data needed to be considered as to whether it was statistically representative.

Councillor Muspratt further queried the statistics for the issue of fixed penalty notices, and whether it would be better to not to be issuing so many due to improving situations, or worse because of the loss of income.  The Strategic Commissioner indicated that success would be a reduction in necessary enforcement activity.

Further to the reported 11% reduction of anti-social incidents compared to the third quarter 20-16/17, Councillor Tony Smith noted that there appeared to be pockets of anti-social behaviour appearing for no obvious reason.  In this regard he thanked those Council Officers who had provided assistance recently in the Upton area, but considered there was a lack of visible policing in the area.  Councillor Chris Carubia spoke similarly of a spate of car thefts in the Eastham and South Wirral area where the police had managed to apprehend a team of thieves, suggesting that concerns could be raised with the Police and Crime Commissioner and Merseyside Police to consider funding and the effect on Wirral.

RESOLVED –

That the report be noted.