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 31^st December, 2017.

The following queries were raised on the report:-

·         Reference was made to missed target relating to the percentage of waste sent to landfill.  It was asked, if there was any capacity to store waste, should a similar scenario occur? The Head of Waste and Environmental Services explained the difficulties of storing ‘black waste’ and that Carmarthenshire had a limited storage capacity.  However, longer term solutions were currently being considered with partners Cwm Environmental.

·         A query was raised in relation to the future of bus services.  The Head of Transportation and Highways stated that whilst funding had been reducing the Department had sought external opportunities for funding. For example the Traws Cymru and Bwcabus services were developed through external funding. The Department would continue to pursue external funding opportunities.

·         Generally, across Wales, patronage on public transport falling but interventions such as Bwcabus were bucking that trend. However if patronage falls on the public transport network services would be at risk.

·         In response to an additional query regarding plans to extend the Bwcabus service into other areas.  The Head of Transportation and Highways explained that Bwcabus had been originally funded for 3 years by a European Grant but the project had now run to nine years due to its success, the project had recently been extended into Pembrokeshire.  The Authority will continue to explore options to sustain the service.  Expanding the service would be considered further should the funding opportunity arise.

·         Clarification was sought in relation to the definition of ‘street’ within the performance measure set out on page 32 of the report ‘the percentage of streets that are cleaned’.  The Head of Waste and Environmental Services stated the different levels cleanliness for different types of streets are set out within a guide created by Keep Wales Tidy. 

·         In response to a comment raised regarding the high amount of litter emanating from fast food outlets, the Head of Waste and Environmental Services stated that the strategy team were currently working with fast food outlets throughout Carmarthenshire in order to attempt to better manage the litter issue.  The Director of Environment added that the UK had the highest rate of people who eat and drink on the move. In addition to current enforcement measures in place, it was identified that educating the public on the impact of litter in the countryside could prove beneficial.

·         It was raised that Town/Community Councils were forming litter picking groups.  In order to lead by example, it was suggested that the Committee arrange a litter picking day.  The Committee agreed that this would be beneficial and would consider and agree on a location before the end of June 2018.

·         In response to a query regarding the reduction of the operation vehicle fleet by 1% of the year, the Head of Transportation and Highways explained that the authority had been reducing the number of vehicles to help deliver efficiencies.  This reduction however, had not been made at the detriment to the quality of services provided.  For example, gritting vehicles had reduced from 35 to 21, by replacing dedicated gritting vehicles to dual function vehicles that provided a more efficient operation.  The Head of Waste and Environmental Services added that similarly this had been the case with the waste/cleansing fleet.

·         With regard to ‘supporting safer communities’, an update was requested on the current situation on CCTV’s in Carmarthenshire.  The Community Safety Manager stated that the installation of the Police system in Carmarthen, Llanelli and Ammanford town centres was running on target for completion in the summer.  It was reported that the new police funded CCTV system would be monitored at Police Headquarters and that the location of the cameras have been identified by the Police.  The Community Safety Manager added that, the Authority would be considering the locations of the old CCTV cameras owned by the Council that have not been included within the new Police Funded system.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be received.