Agenda item

The Committee considered a report detailing progress against the actions and measures in the 2017/18 Well-being Objectives delivery plan relevant to the Committee’s remit, as at 30^th June, 2017.

The following questions/observations were raised on the report:-

·         Reference was made to the action, ‘We will help older people contribute to recycling through the ‘assisted lift’ scheme for people unable to take waste to the kerbside.’ It was asked how this action was being marketed in order to raise awareness of this service.  The Head of Waste and Environmental Services informed the Committee in addition to the service being advertised on the Council Website, information of this service was available in supporting documents from Health Care Professionals. In response to an additional query, the Head of Waste and Environmental Services stated that currently there were approximately 1,300 assisted lifts in operation across the County.

·         Reference was made to the action regarding ‘inspection of highways, footways and lighting infrastructure on a regular basis to identify any defects posing a danger to the public’.  It was asked if more details on this matter could be provided.  It was felt that more details would benefit Councillors when receiving queries of this nature.  The Head of Transportation and Highways stated that he would not be possible to inform Members of every repair due to the scale of works across the County every day. However, he would update the Local Member with further detail outside the meeting.

·         Clarification was sought in relation to whose responsibility it was to clear up a highway following contamination. The Head of Transportation and Highways stated that it would be the responsibility of the person/organisation that contaminated the highway to clear it up.  In response to a query regarding the number of road sweepers currently in operation within the fleet, the Head of Transportation and Highways emphasised that the road sweeper fleet had not reduced in the last two years and added, that there had not been any recent changes in policy.

·         In relation to the action which stated ‘we will increase the amount of energy generated from renewable technologies (kWh) it was asked if a target had been set? The Executive Board Member for Environment stated that the Council were looking to increase the number of solar panels particularly on Council premises.  Reference was made to the report within Agenda Item 10 - Draft Carmarthenshire County Council’s Annual Report for 2016/17, which stated that use of renewable energy consumption for 2016/17 was at 670,400 kWh.  It was commented that this amount represented just over 0.9% of total energy consumption and was considered to be a very low level of renewable energy, therefore clarity was sought on what the Council’s target was for renewable energy.  The Head of Transportation and Highways stated that the Council currently procure energy from green energy suppliers and that further information would be shared with the Committee in due course.

·         In response to a query regarding green waste, the Head of Waste and Environmental Services stated that in accordance with the Committee’s Forward Work Plan an update report would be provided to the Committee in January 2018.  The Committee noted that the roll out had been successful with 2,500 customers to date.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to receive and note the report.