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100817 ET Cab Member Environment priorities report

MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORTATION OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

 

17 AUGUST 2010

 

REPORT OF HEAD OF CHANGE AND SCRUTINY

 

Report prepared by Les Smith 

 

 

1.           CABINET MEMBER FOR ENVIRONMENT: PLANS AND PRIORITIES FOR 2010-11

 

1.1        Issue for Consideration

 

1.1.1   To consider the written statement of the Cabinet Member for Environment, and to question him, regarding his priorities for 2010-11 for his portfolio.

 

1.2        Recommendation of the Head of Change and Scrutiny

        

1.2.1   Members are recommended to consider the Cabinet Member for Environment’s statement of his priorities for his portfolio, attached at Appendix A. Members are also recommended to ask the Cabinet Member for Environment questions with regard to his priorities for his portfolio for 2010-11 that relate to the areas relevant to the Committee, and to make recommendations if required.

 

1.3        Reasons for Recommendation

 

1.3.1   The Environment and Transportation Overview and Scrutiny Committee is responsible for holding to account those Cabinet Members whose portfolios fall within the remit of the Committee.

 

1.3.2   The Cabinet Members whose portfolios relate to the Committee are the Cabinet Member for Environment and the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture.

 

1.3.3   At its meeting on 15 June 2010, the Committee considered its future work programme and agreed to invite the Cabinet Member for Environment and the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture to provide written statements of their priorities for 2010-11 to the Committee. The Committee also agreed to invite those Cabinet Members to the August meeting to ask them questions about their priorities.

 

1.3.4   The areas of the Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Environment’s portfolio that are relevant to the Committee are:

 

·       Cleansing

 

    •  To be responsible for the provision, operation and review of cleansing services for the Borough and Council buildings

 

·       Climate Change

 

    • To guide, advise and provide a strategic overview on sustainability issues as they affect the Council’s internal and external activities;
    • To make recommendations to Council on sustainability issues arising from Council policies, promote proposals to be adopted as Council Policy, and ensure that the Council, the non-executive Committees, Cabinet and Cabinet Members are aware of sustainability issues when formulating policy; and
    • To maintain the environmental quality of the Borough.

 

·       Environmental Health

 

    • To be responsible for the development and operation of all functions relating to public health.

 

·       Highways

 

    • To oversee the delivery of local (District) Highways functions and be responsible for seeking strategic highways improvements; and
    • To be responsible for the Council’s Environmental Improvement Schemes.

 

·       Parking

 

    • To be responsible for the development, operation and enforcement of the ‘pay and display’ car parks, and on-street waiting and parking restrictions in the Borough.

 

·       Public Conveniences

 

    • To oversee the provision of public conveniences within the Borough.

 

·       Public Transport

 

    • To be responsible for transportation policy including the operation of the Park and Ride service and the development of public transport initiatives; and
    • To be responsible for the Council’s Concessionary Fares Scheme.

 

·       Waste Collection

 

    • To be responsible for the provision, operation and review of the waste collection service within the Borough. To develop and implement the policy on waste minimisation and recycling.

 

1.3.5   Considering the Cabinet Member for Environment’s priorities for his portfolio for the year enables the Committee to verify that his priorities are aligned with the Council’s objectives. 

 

1.4        Alternative Action and Why Not Recommended

 

1.4.1   The Committee could choose not to consider the Cabinet Member for Environment’s priorities, however in doing so they would not be fulfilling the crucial role of holding the executive to account.

 

1.5        Impact on Corporate Objectives

 

1.5.1   The Committee should seek to review whether the Cabinet Member for Environment’s priorities for his portfolio are aligned to the Council’s corporate objectives as set out in the forward plan.

 

1.6        Risk Management

 

1.6.1   There are no risks involved in considering the statement of the Cabinet Member for Environment about his priorities for his portfolio for 2010-11.

 

1.7        Other Implications

 

 

1.7.1    

1.      Financial

 

 

2.           Staffing

 

 

 

3.           Legal

 

 

4.           Equality Impact Needs Assessment

 

 

 

5.           Environmental/Sustainable Development

 

 

6.           Community Safety

 

 

7.           Human Rights Act

 

 

8.           Procurement

 

 

9.           Asset Management

 

 

 

1.8        Relevant Documents

 

1.8.1 The statement of the Cabinet Member for Environment is at Appendix A.