Agenda and minutes

Councillor John Wilmott – personal reasons

Matthew Neal

Kevin Sharman

None.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting held on 11 June 2021. 

The Committee confirmed the minutes of the meeting held on 11 June 2021 as a correct record and they were signed by the Chair.

Report of the Joint Officer Steering Group

Matt Gregory, Head of Planning Strategy and Building Control, introduced the report presenting the existing terms of reference for the Joint Committee to review.

Resolved to approve the existing Terms of Reference with no amendments.

Report of the Joint Officer Steering Group

Sally Gill, Group Manager, Planning, introduced the report informing the Committee of progress with preparing the Nottinghamshire and Nottingham Waste Local Plan. The Waste Needs Assessment, which was discussed at the previous meeting, has now been completed and will inform the Waste Plan. The Draft Plan policies are expected to be ready by the end of September to present to a meeting of the Joint Councillor Working Group and then to be taken through each Council’s approval process.

The following points were made during the discussion which followed:

(a)  both Councils should be more innovative with waste solutions, with investigation of technologies that are used elsewhere. A cross-authority meeting was proposed to discuss these possible solutions;

(b)  the increase in working from home has resulted in more domestic waste, particularly cardboard waste from home deliveries. The amount of packaging that companies such as Amazon use is often excessive;

(c)  any new development of the Ratcliffe power station site should include district heating;

(d)  the difference in recycling availability and the colours of bins across the County causes much confusion and can lead to cross-contamination;

(e)  anaerobic digestion plants do exist across the county but their usage could be improved.

Resolved to

(1)  note the progress on the production of the Waste local Plan;

(2)  write to Amazon about their excessive packaging, and to request a site visit to their Mansfield site;

(3)  investigate the possibility of a cross-authority meeting to discuss the future of waste and share ideas;

(4)  investigate ways to reduce the amount of packaging generated by delivery companies, including contacting appropriate ministers.

Report of the Joint Officer Steering Group

James Ashton, Transport Strategy Manager, introduced the report providing an update on the transport related issues across the Greater Nottingham conurbation, and highlighting the following:

(a)  car journeys are now back to their usual levels, but bus and tram patronage are still at 65% and 45% respectively compared to pre-pandemic levels. Cycling is continuously recorded as being at higher levels;

(b)  Nottingham City has been allocated £400,432 and Nottinghamshire County £276,845 of revenue grant for active travel behaviour change projects by the Department for Transport under their new Capability Fund;

(c)  the city council has bid for £2.2m of funding from the Active Travel Fund which will enable improvements for walking and cycling along St Anns Well Road. The count council has also bid for funding from this fund to improve links between Stapleford and Toton Lane, and to upgrade a section of the path along the River Trent;

(d)  the Department for Transport published its transport decarbonisation plan on the 14th July 2021, setting out a plan for reducing carbon emissions from transport. The plan commits to investing £2bn in funding over five years with the aim that all trips in towns and cities will be by bicycle or on foot by 2030. The plan also sets out commitments to support the delivery of 4000 new zeros emission buses and the infrastructure to support them;

(e)  publication of the integrated rail plan has now been delayed until autumn. The plan is likely to include details of the electrification of the Midland Mainline and HS2 link;

(f)  all lanes on Clifton Bridge are expected to reopen by the end of November and the original traffic layout restored.

(g)  the school streets initiative has largely positive comments from both parents and local residents due to improvements in air quality and mental health;

(h)  the e-scooter trial will end in March and a decision will need to be made as to whether it is extended for a further 4 months. The trial has been relatively successful so far but there is a problem with unregulated private e-scooters which are illegal.

Resolved to note the contents of the report.

Report of the Joint Officer Steering Group

Matt Gregory, Head of Planning Strategy and Building Control, presented the report, which includes the minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2020.

Resolved to note the contents of the report.

Matt Gregory, Head of Planning Strategy and Building Control, introduced the report outlining the Committee’s work programme from June 2021 to September 2021.

Resolved to note the Joint Committee’s work programme and give consideration to any future items.

10 December 2021

The Committee noted the next meeting date of 10^th September 2021.