Environment Policy and Review Panel - Tuesday, 5th April, 2016 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 26th January, 2016  (copy attached).

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 26th January, 2016 were approved and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the Head of Community and Environmental Services’ Report No. COMM1606 (copy attached), on a response to the consultation by Hampshire County Council on proposed changes to Household Waste Recycling Centres.

The Panel considered the Head of Community and Environment Services’ Report No. COMM1606 on a response to a consultation by Hampshire County Council on proposed changes to the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) service.  The County Council was looking to save £1.55 million from the HWRC service and was seeking views of service users, members of the public and other interested parties on options ranging from changing operating hours and days to possible site closures.

There were two HWRCs in the Rushmoor area, Eelmoor Road in Farnborough and Ivy Road in Aldershot.  The Farnborough site was the fifth highest used site in the county and the Aldershot site was a lower used site.  There were plans to provide a replacement for the Ivy Road site as part of the Wellesley development in the proposed commercial area on Ordnance Road.

The consultation requested responses to questions relating to reducing operating hours and days, partially close one or more HWRC site and to fully close one or more HWRC sites.  A proposed response to the questionnaire was circulated to the Panel for discussion.  The possible impact on service users, the local environment and the Council were highlighted in the report which included a possible increase in flytipping, a greater demand at remaining sites, added pressure on sites following housing growth and a potential increase in the amount of kerbside waste collected.

The Panel discussed the Report and there was concern expressed about the potential loss of the HWRC in Aldershot as it had lower usage than the Farnborough site.  It was highlighted that the demand at Aldershot would increase significantly as the number of households increased on the Wellesley development.  Therefore it was considered important that the Ivy Road site was not closed until the new Aldershot site was opened.  It was agreed that the preferred option would be to propose a change in opening hours to contribute to the savings rather than the closure of either Rushmoor site.  It was preferred that the sites opened later and closed later if the opening hours were reduced.  It was also suggested that the County Council should explore cross-county working with Surrey County Council to identify potential joint initiatives.

The Panel AGREED that its comments would be incorporated within the Rushmoor response to the Hampshire County Council HWRC consultation and the final version recommended to Cabinet for approval.

To receive an update on the work being carried out by the Aldershot Task and Finish Group and the latest position.

The Panel received a presentation on the current position with Aldershot and plans for the future.  Andrew Lloyd, Chief Executive, provided a strategic overview on the way forward for Aldershot.  The Panel was advised that work was being undertaken at an officer level on the regeneration project to ensure there was cohesion to take all projects forward.  A group had undertaken some work to provide a model to encourage properties into a fund to drive investment in the town.  Members were briefed on a report on The Fragmented Ownership Group which focussed on working with towns with various owners.  It offered a potentially good solution for Aldershot. 

David Phillips, Town Centre and Cultural Manager, updated the Panel on the current issues:

·                Aldershot Town Centre Prospectus - had been published in January which included development of the Galleries, Union Street East, the Railway and Bus Station and the Magistrates Court and Police Station.

·                Homeless - a press release had been issued to show what action was being taken to address the homelessness issue in the town.  Planters were being placed in some empty shop doorways and hoardings and shutters were being put up on others to try to prevent homeless individuals locating there.

·                Marks and Spencer Unit – a general discount store would be leasing the unit from Marks and Spencer and likely to move into the unit in the summer.

·                The Galleries – the owner, Threadneedle, was close to finalising a deal with a development company to provide a mixed-use development with leisure/retail on the ground floor with residential above.

·                The Empire and The Palace – both premises had been leased for fifteen years, The Empire was operating as a banqueting suite and The Palace had been opened as a nightclub.

·                Wellesley Development – the development was progressing well and residents had started to move into properties in December 2015.  Building on Phase II was due to start in May 2016.

·                Public Realm Improvements – improvements had been made to Barrack Road, Court Road and Union Street.

·                Shop Front Improvements – a fund of £200,000 had been made available for businesses to apply for up to £10,000 for shop front improvements.  To date nine businesses had received funding and two composite schemes were being developed.

·                Business Improvement District – Aldershot was being taken forward to create an Aldershot Business Improvement District.

The Panel expressed concern about the continuing issues with street homeless in Aldershot.  The Panel was advised that The Vine was working daily with the homeless residents to try to engage with them and identify what help they needed to take them off the street.  The Council’s Homelessness Officers had also been working with The Vine.  It was proposed that discussions should also be held with the Probation Service to see if there were any links with those currently homeless in Aldershot.  It was confirmed that addressing the issues was considered to be a high priority for the Council and the approach sought was to balance the need  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

To receive an update on the work being carried out by the Farnborough Task and Finish Group and the latest position.

The Panel received a presentation on the current position with developments in Farnborough and work going forward.  Andrew Lloyd, Chief Executive, advised the Panel that the Civic Quarter Masterplan, which had been adopted in June 2015, was being progressed.  The Masterplan set out the framework for the site which currently housed the Leisure Centre, old Police Station, Library, Westmead House, Community Centre and also included the Sulzers roundabout.  Negotiations were taking place with the Homes and Communities Agency and the Police and Crime Commissioner to enable the site to be developed as a whole.

An update was provided on other developments in Farnborough. 

·                Kingsmead – the Multiplex Cinema had opened and Prezzo was occupying one of the restaurant units, KPI were in negotiations for two other units to be occupied by restaurants. 

·                Queensmead - St Modwen was selling to a new owner but a requirement for recladding the properties in Queensmead would be included in the sale. 

·                Princesmead – the extension was underway to provide new retail units to be occupied by Decathlon and Smyths Toys.

·                Firgrove Parade – the Premier Inn and Beefeater restaurant were opening soon and development plans were in place for replacement shops and flats fronting Victoria Road.

·                Ham and Blackbird site – an application for 62 dwellings with community, arts and food/drink facilities had been refused and an appeal hearing held, the decision from the Planning Inspector had not yet been received.

·                Pyramid House/PC World site redevelopment – the original developer had gone bankrupt but a new developer was due to take over; the redevelopment plan was to demolish the existing buildings and build five bulky goods retail units and improve access to and from the town centre.

·                Thomson House – permission had been granted for conversion and extension to provide 145 apartments with amenity deck and parking.

·                Farnborough Business Park – permission had been granted for four office buildings totalling nearly 30,000 sqm with parking, the first phases was completed and part would be occupied by Time Inc.

The Panel NOTED the presentation.

To note the Panel’s Current work programme (copy attached).

The Panel NOTED the current work programme.