Agenda item

(a)

Question from Councillor Lane to Councillor Pearson “With the need to recycle more. Can you confirm when we will meet the 50% target set for 2020?” Councillor Pearson’s response “Councillor Lane, thank you for your question. I cannot confirm that we will meet the 50% target set for 2020. As you will be aware the Works and Recycling service commenced a full systems review of the service at the start of October. The purpose of the review is to create service and financial stability, reducing missed collections and the reliance on overtime to complete the work. Once this review has been completed and changes have been implemented and monitored to ensure stability, Officers will report to Members on the options for future service delivery which will deliver increased recycling performance that will both meet and exceed the 50% target.”

(b)

Question from Councillor Lane to Councillor Roome “With waste and recycling employees increasing in overspend in the first 2 quarters £89,000 increasing to £229,000.  Can you confirm that waste and recycling will be back on budget going forward?”  Councillor Roome’s response “Councillor Lane, thank you for your question.  As outlined in the Quarter 2 Performance and Financial Management report under item 15 on tonight’s agenda the increased forecast in employee spend has materialised from increased levels of missed collections and higher levels of sickness absence.  These levels are unacceptable and the Head of Operational Services has been targeted with reducing these levels as soon as possible.  The main reason for the increased spend has come from additional use of agency staff and overtime and the Head of Operational Services has outlined his plans to reduce these inefficiencies as set out in the report above; these being (1) Introducing new working patterns within the vehicle workshop to reduce the amount of time vehicles are off the road in core working parts of the day (2) Challenging resources within the wider Operational Services team to re-allocate to priority areas to reduce the reliance on agency staff and (3) Work closely with Human Resources and have a pro-active approach to reducing sickness absence levels.   I have been assured these actions will be closely monitored and reported through as part of budget monitoring to the Senior Management Team on a monthly basis.  I agree with you that there is a need to ensure the appropriate control measures are in place so that costs can be reduced for the remainder of the financial year and we need a stable position moving forwards for next year’s budget.” 

(c)

Question from Councillor Tucker to Councillor Worden “There is no area of search for on-shore wind turbines in the North Devon and Torridge adopted local plan, and no progress has been made in identifying any such development opportunities through the neighbourhood planning process.  Given the Council’s commitment to address climate change and its encouragement of renewable energy development, would the leader ensure that this omission is reviewed without delay either as part of an early review of the local plan or in a single issue development plan document so as to enable individual proposals to be determined on their own merits in areas suitable for their use.”  Councillor Worden’s response “Thank you Councillor Tucker for your question. In October 2015 and as part of the process for adopting a joint Local Plan, a wind energy policy options paper was prepared followed by a draft policy which was published in February 2016.  Whilst there was support from statutory consultees, the draft policy attracted a large number of public objections and members decided not to proceed.  As a result the Local Plan has no recognised area of search at present.  As you rightly point out the Council has a commitment to encourage measures to address climate change and all avenues to do so need to be explored including the use of on-shore wind turbines. For example, in addition to the environmental issues, small turbines to help provide power for local businesses may become increasing more important in a very competitive economic market. However, this is a sensitive issue in areas of outstanding nature beauty and so some areas may be more suited than others to on-shore wind turbines.  National policy has also not changed and does not currently provide strong support for on shore wind energy development.  That should not be an excuse to do nothing and as you rightly say the current situation should be reviewed.   The evidence from 2015 still exists and could be used to provide support for a new planning policy but the correct approach would be to do this through a Development Plan Document developed jointly with Torridge.  I would suggest that officers, and members, explore the possibilities to do this initially through the Local Plan Working Group.”  In response to a supplementary question from Councillor Tucker, Councillor Worden confirmed that item would be considered by the Working Group as soon as possible and that Councillor Tucker would be invited to the meeting.