Agenda and minutes

To be informed of the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

There were no Substitute Members reported.

To consider the minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2022

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2022 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

You are invited to declare any registerable and/or non-registerable interests in matters appearing on the agenda, and the nature of that interest.

You are also invited to disclose any dispensations that you have been granted in relation to any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations reported.

Councillor Sandra Graham, Cabinet Member responsible for Environment has been invited to attend the meeting to provide an update on the various plans and projects which fall within her portfolio area and to set out the key issues which will need to be addressed in the next few years.

Councillor Sandra Graham, Cabinet Member for the Environment provided an update on the various elements of her portfolio including Environmental Services, Waste, Climate Change, Highways and Cycling.

It was explained that Environmental Services was responsible for the delivery and maintenance of parks, open spaces, amenity grass and spring and summer bedding displays.  The service was also responsible for the maintenance and cleanliness of streets and estates in the borough.

The community protection team dealt with anti-social behaviour, littering, flytipping and dog fouling and had recently been brought back into the Environment Directorate as it was considered that this was a better fit due to the nature of the work in ensuring that the local environment was a nicer place for local residents.

The fleet and winter maintenance service managed and maintained over 400 authority vehicles and provided winter maintenance services on over 240 miles of priority routes across the borough. 

The horticulture and parks service managed the parks and open spaces of the borough and carried out regular maintenance including grass cutting, floral planting and maintenance of trees within the borough.  It was explained that the department had dealt with over 750 reports of fallen and damaged trees following Storm Arwen.  Reference was also made to the work undertaken with other authorities in relation to the roll out of the Great North Forest. 

The Authority had a 10-year plan for waste which was central to it’s plans to be carbon neutral.  Plans were being made for the collection of food waste and to improve the levels of recycling.  Reference was made to the impact that Covid had had on recycling generally including an increase in the amount of waste generated due to more people being at home.  It had been noted that the markets for recycled materials had been extremely volatile recently.  It was also suggested that the booking system at the household waste recycling centre had been well received by residents. Plans were also in place for a “shop” to be set up at the recycling centre to allow residents to be able to re-use goods which would overwise end up in landfill.

In relation to climate change the Authority’s Our North Tyneside Council Plan 2021-25 set out the ambition for North Tyneside to be carbon net-zero by 2030.  A climate emergency board had been set up, with 10 workstreams.  Details of which were outlined along with some of the existing actions already taken, including for example the provision of £450K for electric bin wagons.

The presentation also included the various strategies in relation to highways and encouragement to increase cycling for recreation and commuting.  Details of the various cycling initiatives were outlined, including the active travel scheme in relation to the seafront.

Members sought clarification on how residents and small businesses could become involved in the work of the Climate Board.  It was suggested that the involvement of the community and businesses would evolve over time but the initial plan had been to gain momentum and quick  ...  view the full minutes text for item E20/19