Agenda item

The Executive Member for Environment, Councillor D McCabe, will be in attendance to update the Board on his aims and aspirations, progress made to date and to highlight any emerging issues relating to his portfolio.

The Executive Member for Environment, Councillor D McCabe, was in attendance at the meeting to update the Board on his aims and aspirations, progress made to date, and to highlight any emerging issues relating to his portfolio.  The Director of Environment and Commercial Services was also in attendance at the meeting.

Prior to the delivery of the Executive Member’s update, the Chair informed the Board that two call-ins had been accepted in respect of fortnightly bin collections, which would be considered at a separate meeting of the Board on 18 December 2020.  Discussion of fortnightly bin collections was therefore restricted at this meeting.

The Executive Member made the following points as part of his update to the Board:

·  Green Strategy – it was explained that the Council had set out to reduce its carbon emissions to net zero by 2029, and by 2039 for the town as a whole, which was well ahead of the Government’s target of 2050.  The Green Strategy was based on the ten One Planet Living principles, which were highlighted to Members.  The updates, aims and objectives of the Green Strategy were outlined to the Board; it was explained that all Heads of Service had been involved in establishing working groups, each allocated one of the ten principles, to deliver an overarching strategy with partners, businesses and citizens.  Accredited training in respect of the Green Strategy and green issues would be provided to all Heads of Service by Northumbria University.  This was an ongoing piece of work; the strategy was expected to be completed in early 2021.

·  Trees – in order to increase tree cover to the national average of 16%, the Council was committed to planting 15,000 trees by 2021 (tree cover was currently 11.8%).  Certain parts of Middlesbrough, such as in suburbs, had good leaf cover, but this needed to be increased in order to achieve the environmental benefits that it offered, such as clean air and biodiversity.  In 2019/2020, 620 mature trees and 1,550 whips were planted.  In the current year, 960 standard mature trees and 12,750 whips were being planted.  Varieties included English Oak, Silver Birth and Lime.  Community planting would commence from this month onwards in partnership with Middlesbrough Environment City.

·  Wild Flower Areas – new areas, such as roundabouts and roadsides, were installed in October 2020 (as the spring window had been missed due to COVID-19).  This equated to approximately 30,000 square metres.  Significant work with Thirteen Group had been undertaken to achieve this.  It was explained that wild flowers not only enhanced the visual appearance of the town, but would also develop into wildlife havens across Middlesbrough (which provided further environmental benefits, such as cleaner air).

·  Teesaurus Park / Dino Park – due to wildlife habits and rare orchids being discovered on the site, previous plans to develop this area for use as an amphitheatre had been discarded.  Following further consideration, a volunteer group of Community Champions had been given permission to paint the dinosaurs: the Council and two local companies had supplied paint for this purpose.  During this process, footfall at the site had increased exponentially, with visitors coming from as far as Newcastle and York, who had learnt of the site and work being undertaken via social media.  The Community Champions had cleared the area and continued to litter pick on a regular basis; paintwork had also been completed.  An action team had been established, with further proposals being made for the area.  This included the installation of new pathways and lighting, information boards regarding the different species of dinosaurs on the site, potential provision of catering facilities, and new play equipment.  In terms of the lighting, local companies had been approached for sponsorship.  There were nature walks available in the area and it was hoped that these would be further explored by visitors through this development work.  Work was ongoing; Members would be updated accordingly.

·  Urban Farm – work was moving forward with the Camphill Trust to introduce an Urban Farm in Middlesbrough.  Planning Permission had been applied for and it was expected that the farm would begin to take shape in spring / summer 2021.  Reference was made to COVID-19 and the impact that this had had on timescales affecting such projects, but it was hoped that progress would be made soon.

·  Lower Ormesby Nature Reserve – this was a proposal for a new nature reserve to the junction of North Ormesby / Shepherdson Way and the A66.  There was a rich biodiversity with a habit of grassland, reed bed and stream margins (Ormesby Beck) with 170 plant species recorded, including three species of orchid.  45 bird species had been seen / heard on the site, and 13 species of butterfly were to be found (including the increasingly rare Dingy Skipper Butterfly, which was a UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Species).  Planning Permission had been applied for, which would be subject to assets.  This could be developed into a commercial area, but in light of the biodiversity on site, it was felt that it should be removed from the Council’s Asset Register and developed into a nature reserve (which would be within walking distance of the Town Centre).  A report would be considered in respect of this by the Executive in the near future.

·  Pothole Purge and Enhanced Highways Maintenance – the pothole purge was now almost complete, with excellent work being undertaken.  The final Ward to be tended to (i.e. Trimdon Ward) was currently being addressed.  Members were asked to report any areas that had been missed to the Executive Member, who would endeavour to have these addressed as soon as possible.  In addition, as part of the pothole programme, an intervention programme of works was also in operation throughout the town.  It was explained that road surfaces tended to break down during the winter months, with potholes then appearing.  It was reiterated to Members that if any remedial works were required during this time, to please contact the Executive Member, or alternatively raise the matter via the Onestop system.

Following the update, Members were afforded the opportunity to ask questions and the following issues were raised:

·    A Member referred to bins and Thirteen Group properties and explained that when properties where voided, bins were left in place and occasionally stolen / set alight.  It was felt that the bins needed to be removed from empty premises until the next residents moved in.  In response, the Executive Member advised that he would liaise with Thirteen Group in respect of the comments made.

·    Following enquiries from two Members in relation to potholes / road resurfacing works, it was agreed that further information around projected completion dates regarding the A172 Stokesley Road (Parkway to Southern Cross), and Acklam Road and Hall Drive, would be obtained and forwarded to the respective Members.

·    A Member referred to wildflower seeds and requested that all Councillors be made aware of the availability of these, either for collection from Middlesbrough Environment City or for distribution directly to them.

·    Regarding the preservation of trees in relation to new housing developments, it was requested that Environment Services liaise with the Planning department to ensure that as many mature trees and hedgerows as possible could be preserved (e.g. through the issuing of Tree Preservation Orders) when new developments were approved.

·    In respect of environmental enforcement, Members requested that statistics be provided to the Board in relation to: a) the number of people prosecuted, warned or fined for fly tipping activity, and b) the current wait times for both paid for and free collections.  In relation to current and previous policy, comparator statistics to illustrate whether the wait times for the collection of bulky waste had increased or decreased since the change in policy were also requested.

·    A Member made reference to grass verge damage and enforcement and commented that hotspot areas should be looked at, with grass verges being removed or tarmacked over.  A Member made reference to discussion undertaken in respect of this matter at a recent meeting of the Economic Development, Environment and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel, and commented that a bid for funding could potentially be made to the Capital Fund to allow for works to be completed in hotspot areas as soon as possible (as in some cases, works would not be undertaken until 2024 at the earliest).

·    Regarding cycling and walking infrastructure, a Member made reference to the Government’s announcement of a £2bn investment in cycling and walking, highlighting that:

Ø  £250m had been released to make temporary bus lanes, widen cycle paths, provide pedestrian access and lengthen cycle lanes; and

Ø  £175m had been made available for areas around schools, e.g. creating pedestrianised streets to enhance safety for parents and families taking children to school. 

The Member queried whether further information could be provided to the Board to detail what plans were in place to make large scale and exciting changes to how travel was undertaken around Middlesbrough, and how the above national funding streams were being accessed.  Further, to explain what expansive plans were being put in place to encourage cycling and an increased use of public transport.

The Chair thanked the Executive Member for Environment and the Director of Environment and Commercial Services for their attendance and contributions to the meeting.

AGREED that the information provided be noted, and the agreed action be undertaken.