Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

Other than the Council recording in accordance with usual practice, there were no

declarations of intention to record the meeting.

Minute No. 39 – Waste Strategy Review, a Member commented that the resolution was incorrect and all existing households should have a large residual bin.  The Chairman asked for clarification from the Clerk regarding the accuracy of the minute and subject to listening to the audio recording and confirmation to the next meeting of the Leisure & Environment Committee, the minutes be approved.

AGREED that subject to Minute No. 39 being checked, the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 February 2018, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Committee considered the report presented by the Business Manager – Environmental Health and Licensing which sought Members consideration of the findings regarding the impact of helium balloons and sky lanterns on the natural environment, public safety and animals in Newark and Sherwood and to further consider whether the release of Helium balloons and sky lanterns should be prohibited on Council land.

Members considered the report and a Member commented on the enforcement of the by-law and felt that a full consultation with the Town and Parish Councils and other Local Authorities would be the way forward.

The Business Manager – Environmental Health and Licensing confirmed that neighbouring authorities had been consulted regarding this and were also addressing the issues.  Nottinghamshire County Council had imposed a similar by-law in 2017.  It was also confirmed that the by-law would not include Newark and Sherwood Homes tenants.  The enforcement would also take place through written conditions in the licence for permitted activity, should the applicant of the planned event breach those conditions a licence would not be granted for future events.

Members also suggested that Local Authorities should work with the Government to ban the sale of balloons and sky lanterns.  Large venues should also be contacted to promote this, enclosing the RSPCA report.  It was also felt that in controlling the release of balloons and sky lanterns, the sale of them should also be prohibited on Council owned land.  A Member commented that education was the key to preventing the release of balloons and sky lanterns and that could be undertaken by educating children in schools.  An article could also be included in the Council publication ‘Voice’.  A member also commented on the importance of being consistent with Nottinghamshire County Council and the by-law would provide the Council with legal liability protection.

AGREED (unanimously) that:

(a)        the information in the report be noted;

(b)        based on the evidence outlined in the report, the Committee considered that the Council should take steps to prevent the release of helium balloons and sky lanterns on land it owns and/or controls and also stop the selling of balloons and sky lanterns on Council owned land;

(c)        Officers contact all Town and Parish Councils in Newark and Sherwood to make them aware of the risks to the environment, public and animals from helium balloons and sky lanterns and ask them to consider if they wish to take steps to prohibit balloons or sky lanterns being released on land they own and/or control; and

(d)        Officers contact large venues in the district to make them aware of the risks to the environment, public and animals from helium balloons and sky lanterns and ask them to consider if they would prohibit balloons and sky lanterns being released on their land, a copy of the RSPCA report to be appended to the letter.

The Committee considered the report presented by the Business Manager – Environmental Health and Licensing, which provided the results of the public consultation carried out as part of the review of the effectiveness of the existing restrictions imposed under the existing Dog Control Orders, previously adopted in 2007 and sought approval from Council to introduce a revised scheme of Public Space Protection Orders for Dog Control under the provisions of the Antisocial Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014.

The report proposed at 5.3, that an exemption scheme be introduced.  ‘The introduction of a voluntary exemption scheme where a person with a disability or vulnerability could apply for a specific exemption.  This would also apply to the owner of a dog that needed special care and attention.  For example the owner of a blind dog might request that it stays with them on a lead in a play area, so that they can supervise it closely.  Application for an exemption will be by completing a form to evidence that without an exemption a person would suffer an inequality of access to a place covered by a PSPO.  Decisions will be made jointly by the equalities officer and the Environmental Health and Licensing Business Manager.’

Clarification was sought regarding whether all children’s play areas were covered by the Dog Control Order.  It was confirmed that unless the order was made by the Town and Parish Councils it was only a voluntary ban.  All Town and Parish Councils needed to respond to the Council regarding this.  A consultation had taken place with all Town and Parish Councils and they had been contacted in writing three times under the consultation process.  The Councils Dog Warden had also made contact and spoken with the Town and Parish Councils that had not made contact.

A Member commented on an error on page 23 of the report and suggested that the comma be removed after Standish House as the order appeared to include Grange Road, Newark on Trent, rather than the named houses on Grange Road, Newark.

AGREED (with 8 votes for and 1 abstention) that:

(a)        the appropriate Public Space Protection Orders to the areas listed in Appendix 1 to the report, subject to the amendment to Grange Road, Newark;

(b)        an exemption scheme be introduced as set out in paragraph 5.3 of the report and as detailed above; and

(c)        the fixed Penalty Notice amount remain the same at a charge of £75.00 with a reduction to £40 if paid within 14 days.

The Committee considered the report presented by the Business Manager Housing and Safeguarding (and Project Manager) which informed Members of the progress being made in considering the options available for improving leisure centre provision in the west of the district and its connection with other strategic developments taking place in Ollerton and Boughton.

The Leader of the Council informed the Committee that these strategic projects should not be considered in isolation by the relevant committees, including the proposals for a new extra care facility in Ollerton, which will be presented to the Homes & Communities Committee  The two local Members were asked to encourage Ollerton & Boughton Town Council to have a single view regarding the One Public Estate proposals in order for the Council to work in partnership with the Town Council and progress the scheme.

The Chairman requested that an update report regarding the leisure project be submitted to the June meeting of the Committee in line with the timetable presented.

AGREED (unanimously) that:

(a)        the report be noted; and

(b)        an update report regarding the Review of Leisure Centre    Provision in the West of the District be submitted to the June             meeting of the Committee.

The Leisure & Environment Committee Vice-Chairman informed the Committee that he had recently attended a Health & Wellbeing Board meeting.  The Board had undertaken a governance structure review and the Board will have less formal meetings and more workshops.

Pharmaceutical Needs had been raised at the Board meeting, indicating that there were no gaps in the district and that the district had plenty of pharmacies to meet local needs.  A Member challenged that information and indicated that there were a couple of pharmacies that were performing badly in the district.

Better Care Fund Performance had been discussed at the Board meeting which indicated that the Social Care system which had previously been trigged as the problem with the delay in release of hospital beds had changed.  Data had indicated that it was the process within the hospitals which were causing delays which included medication delays and waiting times for scans.

The Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) had also recently established another group, a Patient and Public Engagement Committee.  It was commented that the people being selected to undertake participation on such groups, like the Patient Participation Group appeared to be one sector of society, having medical needs and elderly.  This had resulted in some non-attendance and also a view of one sector rather than the broader spectrum.  It was commented that the aim of such groups was to achieve a view from the whole community and not just one area.  It was suggested that the Council should have representatives attending these working groups and Committee’s.  The Business Manager Housing and Safeguarding (who has taken on lead responsibility for Health and Wellbeing as part of the Council’s transitional management arrangements) confirmed that this was an area that she would take on board.  The Business Manager also confirmed that this was something she would discuss with the CCG. The Business Manager also confirmed that a Corporate Health and Wellbeing Group had been established to develop a local delivery framework to implement the Health and Wellbeing Strategy on the agreed ‘place based’ approach, align local activity and performance reporting with delivery of our healthiness ambitions in our strategic priorities.  The Business Manager also confirmed the Council’s Better Care Fund allocation had increased and the Council had influenced the project initiatives this would fund. The Business Manager confirmed that an update report regarding this would be submitted to the June meeting of the Committee.