Agenda and minutes

To receive notification of the appointment of any Substitute Members at the meeting.

Pursuant to the council’s constitution the appointment of the following substitute members was made:

Councillor Holdsworth for Councillor Shaw

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 have been granted to you in relation to any matters appearing on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations reported.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 7 November 2023.

The minutes of the meeting of the sub-committee held on 7 November 2023 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

A report on the Communications and Marketing of the Waste Strategy review.

The Environmental Sustainability Manager gave a presentation based on the Waste Strategy Review: Communications and Marketing; Energy from Waste report. The committee was asked to note the information provided and invited to give its input into future communications and engagement that would complement and steer the revision of the Authority’s Waste Strategy.

Members asked if the team also focused on local businesses as well as residents, and a discussion took place around the council’s business forum events and Net Zero Action Plan and how this drew businesses into further discussions around recycling and energy efficiency. Officers stated that they could speak to supermarkets in that forum about the availability of recycling points on their premises.

A question was asked about the stagnation of recycling levels in North Tyneside and officers responded that this was a wider national trend, and they were currently working to raise involvement by residents to keep in line with government targets but admitted that it was hard to measure the effect of specific campaigns.

Members agreed that they were aware of most of the information presented, and a suggestion was made as to whether a task group to focus on recycling comms would be beneficial in getting the message out to residents. 

Officers confirmed that part of the expanded message for the area, was an emphasis, where possible, on reuse, as well as recycle. Members agreed that the electricals recycling message, and the locations of collection points, needed to be spread wider. A proactive focus on hotspot areas for dumping, could be combined with more recycle points, leaflet drops and recycle point / .

Officers responded to a question about no longer collecting batteries as part of standard recycling bins had been due to safety issues and the potential of fires and contamination. Battery collection points were now placed at the same locations as electrical recycling, to promote their collection.

The purpose of this report is to outline aspects of parking enforcement, including matters for which the Authority can carry out, and those for which the Police have enforcement responsibilities for.

The Head of Highways and Transportation gave a presentation on Parking enforcement matters, covering areas of jurisdiction for the authority and the Police.

Officers highlighted their use of school engagement and road safety / parking initiatives to inform residents of parking related matters.

Members requested that a copy of the “Parking Control – Guide for Elected Members” be forwarded to the Sub-committee membership.

In a discussion around schools and speed limits, officers stated that the authority had a tool kit that they used to limit the speed around schools including rotational signage, Go Smarter, bollards, bikeability, Park & Stride, PTAs and school education. Officers confirmed that they would be happy to meet with members outside of the committee to discuss any specific locations or schools.

Officers stated they would look into the date when the evidence for ANPR cameras not being a successful way of dealing with traffic issues was last collated and by who, and feed this back to the members.

Members discussed the process for referring damaged pavements to Highways, and how this can lead to further issue and injuries for pedestrians. It was mentioned that this issue was going to be discussed at the next Overview & Scrutiny Co-ordination & Finance Committee, and this would be fed back to the Chair and members.  

To consider the priorities for inclusion in the Sub-committee’s work programme 2023-24.

The Chair invited committee members to contact him with any suggestions for forthcoming items they would like to see brought to the Committee or to be added to the Work programme.

The next Committee meeting will be held on 26 March at 6:00pm

The next meeting will be held on 26 March 2024 at 6.00 pm.