Policy and Project Advisory Board - Wednesday, 26th January, 2022 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 24th November, 2021 (copy attached).

The minutes of the meeting held on 24th November, 2021 were agreed as a correct record.

To receive a presentation on the current work and development of the Strategic Economic Framework, from Lee McQuade, Economy and Growth Manager. An update will be provided following the business facing consultation process that took place in November/December, 2021 and feedback will be provided on the high level objectives and action plan (copy attached).

The Board welcomed Mr Lee McQuade, Economy and Growth Manager, and Mr Tim Mills, Head of Economy, Planning and Strategic Housing, who were in attendance to give a briefing on the Council’s Strategic Economic Framework (SEF). The purpose of the briefing was to provide an update following the business facing consultation process and on the high level objectives and action plan.

It was advised that the consultation process with businesses had taken place during November/December 2021. 125 responses had been received with the majority agreeing with all sections of the document. A few common themes had been identified from the comments made, in particular:

·         The need to incorporate more on climate change and clean growth

·         Use of easier to understand language/jargon

·         Inclusion of working from home/remote working impacts

·         The need for help now

·         Need for ongoing and timely data

·         Resourcing

The Board was advised on revisions made to the Framework following the comments from the previous meeting of the Board. The vision and key performance outcomes had also been streamlined following comments received. The vision would be supported by four strategic pillars;

·         SP1: Business Environment – Business support, retention, innovation and inward investment

·         SP2: Skills, Inclusion and Prosperity

·         SP3: Transport Accessibility and Communications Infrastructure

·         SP4: Place – Our Centres, Sites and Workspaces

The purpose of the strategic pillars had been to provide a framework for organising and managing the individual projects and actions described in the action plan and would also guide efforts in bringing together businesses and partners to deliver the key outcomes.

The next step would be to ensure that the SEF aligned with the Council Plan 2022-25 and, if published in time, the Levelling Up White Paper. It was then proposed that the finalised document would be presented to Cabinet in March 2022 for approval.

The Board discussed the draft document and ENDORSED the changes made. However, the “less is more” ethos was stressed to ensure aspirations/actions were achieved. Other areas discussed included:

·         Apprenticeships/skills

·         Inequality

·         Digital connectivity/remote working spaces

·         Carbon neutrality

Mr Mills advised that a balance would be required between delivery and partnership working to achieve the aims of the SEF. It was also noted that duplication of priorities needed to be avoided, for example, where a priority was included in its own strategy, such as climate change, this would be referred to but not detailed extensively. In response to a query regarding funding, it was noted that funding would be from external sources through bidding processes.

The Chair thanked Mr McQuade and Mr Mills for their presentation and it was advised that Mr McQuade would pick up, in more detail, on comments and queries with individual Members outside the meeting where required.

To receive a presentation from Rachel Barker, Assistant Chief Executive and John McNab, Policy and Performance Manager, on the current work and development of the draft Council Plan 2022-25 (copy attached). Supporting Report No. ACE2202 is attached.

The Board welcomed John McNab, Policy and Performance Manager, and Rachel Barker, Assistant Chief Executive, who were in attendance at the meeting to provide a presentation on the development and progress of the Council Plan 2022-25. The Portfolio Holder for Democracy, Strategy and Partnerships, Cllr Adrian Newell, was also in attendance.

The Board reviewed the process undertaken to date, and what remained to be completed before the Council Plan was presented to the Cabinet and full Council in February, 2022. The guiding principles, discussed at previous meetings and incorporated into the Plan, were reviewed and the structure of the document was outlined. The structure had been amended to incorporate a new “welcome and introduction” section, a brief explanation on the purpose of the Plan, infographics on the local area, key challenges, priorities and activities, the workforce and the way the Council worked and how performance and delivery would be monitored. A section had also been included on past achievements, which highlighted what the Council had said it would do and what had been achieved.

The Board was advised on the People and Place related priorities and key activities, which had been underpinned by supporting strategies and plans, these included:

·         People

o   Roll out of phase two of the food waste collection service

o   Help people (especially young people) into employment

o   Develop a walking and cycling plan

o   Develop a new leisure centre in Farnborough

o   Encourage active and healthy lifestyles

o   Support apprenticeships through the Aerospace Research and Innovation Centre (ARIC)

·         Place

o   Complete the Aldershot Town Centre redevelopments

o   Progress the Farnborough Civic Quarter developments

o   Develop the Southwood Country Park

o   Support the creation of quality new homes

o   Update facilities at Aldershot Crematorium

o   Progress an aerospace heritage project

The Board was asked to comment on the draft Plan, and to consider suitable measures for performance monitoring and reporting purposes for its delivery. Comments would be fed back to the Cabinet at its meeting on 8th February, 2022.

The Board discussed the continued development of the Plan and raised a number of issues, including;

·         Engagement with young people and hard to reach groups, learning from best practice - it was noted that a Communications Plan would sit alongside the Council Plan to support this area of work

·         Affordable homes/social housing/family sized homes – it was advised that this area was covered in the Local Plan

·         Capture existing priorities/activities in the refreshed Plan

·         The need to include the priority to become carbon neutral by 2030

·         Use of partners around helping people to become more active

·         Increased income generation across services

·         Links between the Council Plan and Rushmoor Housing Limited

The Board discussed a proposed LGA Peer Review on the Council’s operations, it was advised that it was hoped that this would take place later in the year following the launch of the new Council website.

The Chair thanked Ms Barker and Mr McNab for their presentation.

To receive a presentation from James Duggin, Head of Operational Services, on the Project Integra Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy. The Operational Services Portfolio Holder, Cllr Maurice Sheehan, will also be in attendance.

Members will be asked to feedback on the document (copy attached), in particular taking account of the Rushmoor context. Members should note that the document can not be amended with any significance having already been agreed, in principle, with Hampshire County Council and 13 representatives from surrounding local authorities.

The Board welcomed James Duggin, Head of Operational Services who was in attendance to give a presentation on the Project Integra Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy (JMWMS). Members were being asked comment on the document in the local context.

It was advised that the JMWMS aimed to deliver waste collection, treatment and disposal solutions that provided best value financially, whilst minimising environmental impact. The Strategy set out the strategic direction for the Project Integra Partnership, and would be supported by an operational partnership agreement and detailed action plan.

The key objectives of the Strategy were:

·         Partnership working – through approval of the Strategy and adopting a whole systems approach to waste services across Hampshire

·         Recyclable materials management – through a commitment to move to a twin stream system to dry recyclables and reduce contamination in all waste streams

·         Waste reduction – through supporting the aim to reduce waste and increase the reuse of bulky waste

·         Best practice – through a commitment to share best practice to improve performance and delivery

·         Service delivery – through a commitment of consistent communications to support service delivery across the partnership

The implications for Rushmoor were detailed, these included the establishment of performance targets, possible changes to bins, vehicles and collection rounds. However, it was noted that these potential changes may not happen for several years.

The Board discussed the presentation and commented/raised queries as follows:

·         Need to look at what others do – i.e. circular economy

·         Train/teach young people to cook – the Board were made aware of the “Love Food – Hate Waste” campaign that the Council had used in the past, this initiative educated people with meal planning, recipe ideas etc. it was hoped that the Council could do more in this area moving forward

·         Engage with large supermarkets on how they present food – it was noted that Project Integra lobbied supermarkets on packaging and food waste

·         Flytipping and the impacts of the reduction in hours and lanes at the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) and resulting costs – it was noted that no significant impact had been recorded since the changes had been implemented and it was also advised that Rushmoor incurred the cost to collect fly tipped items and Hampshire County Council covered the cost of disposal

·         Twin streams system, how many others are doing this? – It was advised that there had been a push from Central Government to collect more waste separated at source across the country. The twin stream system protected the quality of recyclables increasing the percentage of items suitable for recycling 

·         What was the plan to help reduce contaminated waste streams? -  it was noted that communications, crew training and a robust approach to rejecting bins that were contaminated were all options of tackling contaminated waste.

The Board ENDORSED the approach and requested that the item remain on the work plan for review. The Chair thanked Mr Duggin for his presentation.

To discuss the Policy and Project Advisory Board Work Plan (copy attached).

The Board NOTED the current Work Plan.