Agenda item

The Chair presented the Work Programme 2024/25 to the Committee and listed the Terms of Reference of the Committee’s remit.

To a Member’s question on the Terms of Reference, the Scrutiny Officer explained small overlaps existed, such as the Customer Services Scrutiny Committee seeking to review the Council’s security; this could be covered with a joint session with the Committee through its Community Safety Partnership/Police remit.

The Monitoring Officer stated the Council was always looking to make improvements of Scrutiny, and the Scrutiny Officer added most local authorities had only two Scrutiny Committees – finance and thematic.  A Member noted they did not want to see the topic of Climate Change diluted; it was a key responsibility.  The Monitoring Officer added other local authorities had numerous thematic sub-committees to help address specific issues like Climate Change, and this could be a possibility if Scrutiny arrangements changed 2025/26.

The Scrutiny Officer agreed to share with Members the current Terms of Reference of the Committee, and the Council’s other Scrutiny Committees, after the meeting.

The Chair referred the Committee to Page 57 of the report, explaining there was substantial work to review for the coming year as well as 6 topics suggested by Members and Officers listed from Page 59 onwards.  There either could be one large item reviewed by the Committee over 2024/25, or invitations extended to officers outside the Committee to present multiple reports.

Topic 2.1 was a wide-ranging topic of District construction, but this was a substantial topic with overlap of previous work undertaken by the Committee.  The Local Growth Scrutiny Committee would also likely have greater responsibility on such a topic.

A Member noted the topic’s title, “Mitigating Environmental Impacts of District Construction”, needed clarifying; would it cover Dragonfly Development Ltd. construction or all constitution taking place in the District.  The Monitoring Officer suggested any topics chosen needed a clear scope; the last review had been a little ambiguous.  The Member added the topic would likely benefit from a clarified title.

RESOLVED that the suggested topic’s title is clarified before it is considered further.

The Chair explained topic 2.2 was for a presentation of Council governance and disclosure of interest arrangements in relation to Dragonfly Development Ltd.; members of the public had previously expressed concerns, and a short, public presentation could be made to explain/address the interest of Members.  The Monitoring Officer added a presentation could be brought to a future Committee meeting, limited to governance arrangements and set disclosure of interest in all Council business as set out in the Council’s Constitution.

A discussion was held on the merits of a public presentation focussed wholly on Dragonfly Development Ltd., given concerns raised were not broadcast throughout the District.  It was further discussed that the Director of Development of Dragonfly Development Ltd. be invited to comment in this matter and that Members discuss informally before a presentation took place.

A vote was held with four Members in favour and one, Councillor Emma Stevenson, abstaining.

Moved by Councillor Rob Hiney-Saunders and seconded by Councillor Carol Wood

RESOLVED that: 1) the Monitoring Officer lead and the Director of Development of Dragonfly Development Ltd. be involved in the creation of a public presentation explaining the governance arrangements of Dragonfly Development Ltd.; and,

2)     the Committee review this presentation informally before a public presentation takes place.

Topic 2.3 was to create a short presentation on the Council’s approach to carbon reduction.  The Chair noted the Council had recently recruited a Climate Officer and in 2023 the Council had declared a Climate Emergency.

The Committee discussed topic 2.3, which was similar to topic 2.5 (a review of the Climate Reduction Plan 2019 – 2030) and agreed a short presentation could take place with an introduction from the Climate Officer.  This presentation could provide a helpful direction for the Climate Officer moving forwards.

A Member noted topic 2.5 could be worked on after this and other topics, due to the size and required detail expected.  The Monitoring Officer added a review of the Council’s approach to carbon reduction (an Interim Report) was due at the Committee meeting 26th November 2024; the Climate Officer would be expected at this meeting and a discussion could be held then.

Moved by Councillor Carol Wood and seconded by Councillor Emma Stevenson

RESOLVED that a short presentation on the Council’s approach to carbon reduction takes place with the involvement of the Climate Officer.

Topic 2.4 was to review environmental despoilment education and enforcement covering littering, dog fouling and fly-tipping. This had been submitted by the Strategic Director of Services and was similar to topic 2.6 (which sought an investigation on fly tipping and the Bulky Waste Strategy).

The Strategic Director of Services explained these issues were important to the public.  The Council was excellent in responding to acts of fly-tipping, but the District average of instances taking place was 1,200 per annum – nearly double the average in neighbouring districts.

Bulky Collections had remained priced at £10.00 since their introduction in 2009; this was unlikely the reason why.  What was likely the cause was the multiple main routes and throughfares crossing the District; it was those outside the District who were likely the responsible parties for larger fly-tipping incidents.

A list of the 20 hotspots of fly-tipping was listed in the report, with Outgang Lane, Pleasley recording 37, Wood Lane, Shirebrook recording 24, and Batley Lane, Pleasley recording 15.

A Member was surprised a hotspot in their ward was not on the list and asked if the matter of enforcement of policy on private land was required; would a one-month, free spring clean help reduce acts of fly-tipping?  The Strategic Director of Services explained British Spring Clean campaign related to promoting local groups undertaking local litter picks with the Council supported with load of equipment and collection of picked waste.

This was therefore not a theme of the Spring Clean initiative; albeit, the Council did support households recently hit by flooding with free bulky collections. The Committee was further informed that the Council had provided a bulky collection service to a Parish Council who had met collection costs; however, this had resulted in substantial waste being collected and it was considered that migration of waste from other areas had resulted.

The Strategic Director gave an overview of the impact increasing the residual waste (black bin) stream by 200 tonnes had a negative impact of reducing the Council’s combined recycling performance by 1%.  The emphasis was therefore to reduce the residual waste stream (black bins) and increase the amount of recycling (burgundy bin) and composting (green bin) waste streams.

To a question on why the District faced almost double the acts of fly-tipping compared with others areas, including North East Derbyshire District Council, the Strategic Director of Services stated he could not answer why.  Since 2010, the District had always had higher numbers than other neighbouring areas, despite being a small, rural area.  The issue could be influenced by the main roads crossing the District being attractive to drive-by fly-tipping, which was not uncommon.

The Community Action Network Rangers were an option and could enhance proactive enforcement by providing CCTV monitoring of hotspots and main roads; this, of which, was undertaken by the Joint Environmental Health Service.  The Chair asked if a representative from the joint service be invited to a future meeting, and the Strategic Director of Services confirmed the Joint Assistant Director of Environmental Health could be invited to a future meeting.

A Member asked if the education of children on correct waste disposal could be developed.  The Strategic Director of Services noted when waste education at schools took place this was successful, and while contact with schools had dropped since the COVID-19 Global Pandemic, fly-tipping was more the result of actions by adults.

The Strategic Director of Services argued, with regards fly-tipping hotspots, those dumping illegally could be caught, fined, and shamed for their actions.  Members agreed, citing the use of Bolsover TV.  His view was that the Council should be an authority that is excellent at keeping the District clean, rather than an authority which is excellent at cleaning the District.  Education and enforcement being essential features of a proactive approach in the prevention of environmental despoilment.

The Scrutiny Officer explained a scope could be written before the next meeting, with the Strategic Director of Services and the Member who had submitted topic 2.6 involved.  The scope could be discussed informally before being accepted.  The Monitoring Officer noted this would likely be a considerable piece of work and that specific, individual reviews on fly-tipping, dog fouling, and littering may be more appropriate.

A Member felt fly-tipping should be a priority, with the Chair agreeing that a scope should be produced on this for the next meeting.

The Scrutiny Officer noted that a similar and substantial piece of work on this topic had taken place in 2018, with 15 recommendations produced; it would be best to not replicate work already achieved.  The Strategic Director of Services stated a comparison of the data in the intervening years could be made, with the 2018 data setting a useful benchmark.

Moved by Councillor Carol Wood and seconded by Councillor Emma Stevenson

RESOLVED that: 1) topics 2.4 and 2.6 be merged; and,

2)     for the Scrutiny Officer to complete a scope for the next meeting.