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Lewes and Eastbourne
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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Ditchling Room - Southover House, Lewes. View directions

Contact: Committee Services on 01273 471600 

Items
No. Item

53.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 99 KB

To confirm and sign the minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 February 2019 (attached herewith).

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 February 2019 were submitted and approved, and the Chair was authorised to sign them as a correct record.

 

54.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

An apology for absence had been received from Councillor Robbie Robertson.

55.

Declarations of interest

Disclosure by councillors of personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the councillor regards the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.

Minutes:

There were none.

56.

Urgent items

Items not on the agenda which the Chair of the meeting is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency by reason of special circumstances as defined in Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Minutes:

There were none.

57.

Written questions from councillors

To deal with written questions from councillors pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 12.3 (page D8 of the Constitution).

Minutes:

There were none.

58.

Petition regarding night time noise on the East Quay at Newhaven Harbour pdf icon PDF 41 KB

The Council has received the attached petition with 933 signatures relating to monitoring the dust and noise from the operation of scrap boats on the east quay at Newhaven Harbour at night.

 

As the number of people signing the petition exceeded 750, the petitioners have the right for the petition to be presented to and debated at the Scrutiny Committee. The lead petition, Councillor Carr, will be given the opportunity to present the petition, and Ed Hele (Functional Lead - Quality Environment) will be present to give a verbal response to the petition. In accordance with the petitions scheme (which can be found at https://www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/_resources/assets/inline/full/0/259351.pdf), the Committee is invited to determine any further steps required to respond.

 

Minutes:

The Committee received a petition with 933 signatures which related to monitoring the dust and noise from the operation of scrap boats on the east quay at Newhaven Harbour at night.

 

The Functional Lead (Quality Environment) (FLQE) explained that the site named in the petition had been a working port with no restriction regarding hours of operation prior to the current planning regulations which were in place.

 

The FLQE discussed the Environment Agency’s (EA) study of ambient air quality at Newhaven Marina along with its findings, and a letter to the Committee written by the operation managers of the scrap metal business based at Newhaven Harbour, H. Ripley & Co. Hard copies of each document were distributed to all those who were present at the meeting.

 

Discussion included:

 

·         Noise monitors. The FLQE explained that Ripley’s had its own noise monitors as part of a noise management plan with the EA. He further explained that Ripley’s agreed that it could do more sorting of scrap metal during the daytime and on the weekend in an effort to reduce noise in the evenings;

·         Noise complaints. The FLQE informed the Committee that when the Council received noise complaints, it undertook noise monitoring but that it could also do further noise monitoring in cooperation with Ripley’s and the EA if the Committee requested. He clarified that although the Council had noise monitoring machines for small owned/rented properties, it would have to hire noise and dust experts to undertake further noise studies of Newhaven port; and

·         The cost of noise monitoring. The FLQE explained that the Council would incur additional costs for several months of noise monitoring with a minimum cost of £5k per location.

 

Resolved:

 

Dust:

 

1.    That it be noted that the working port of Newhaven, which permits for recycling of metals, has been in existence for longer than much of the housing on the west bank of Newhaven;

2.    That the petition be noted and thanks be given to those who organised it;

3.    That the Environment Agency’s report and letter from H. Ripley & Co. be noted;

4.    That the siting of the sampling devices on the west bank and the prevailing wind from a westerly direction as detailed in the Environment Agency’s report, be noted;

5.    That it be agreed that the Environment Agency’s report , taken on the west bank, showed that dust and particle problems did not exceed the air quality standards on the west bank and that it is reported back to the petitioners by Councillors Julie Carr and Graham Amy;

6.    That it be noted that the worst air quality measurements on the Environment Agency’s equipment  on the west bank were:

a)    When the wind was blowing from an easterly direction;

b)    During working hours; and

c)    Were fugitive emissions such as re-suspension and wind-blown dust;

7.    That the Environment Agency, as a result of resolution 6, be requested to place an air quality measuring device on the east bank, either near the housing on the east  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

59.

Scrutiny Transport Panel pdf icon PDF 69 KB

Report of Committee Services

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report which sought to clarify the expectations of the Scrutiny Transport Panel and to ascertain whether the Panel was still necessary, or whether its objective could be achieved by means of another process.

 

The Committee suggested that congestion on the a259 and sustainable transport be considered as part of the 2019/2020 Scrutiny Work Programme by future membership of the Committee.

 

The Chair expressed his gratitude to Officers, in particular Jazmin Victory (former Scrutiny & Committee Officer) and Jennifer Norman (Committee Officer), for all of their hard work and assistance in Scrutiny matters. He further expressed his gratitude for all of the knowledge that all Council Officers brought to the Committee during his tenure as Chair of the Scrutiny Committee.

 

Members wished, and Officers agreed, to thank the Chair for all of his hard work and knowledge that he brought to the Committee as Chair and during his years of service as a councillor. All those who were present at the meeting wished the Chair the best of luck in the future.

 

Resolved:

 

That the current Scrutiny Transport Panel be dissolved.

 

Reason:

 

To make use of the requirement of the Council’s Constitution that a Panel be referred back to the Committee, should the Panel’s agreed timescale for completing a review become unrealistic.

 

60.

Scrutiny Work Programme pdf icon PDF 85 KB

To receive the Scrutiny Work Programme

Minutes:

The Committee considered the Scrutiny Work Programme, which set out in-year variations to the Annual Scrutiny Work Programme for the forthcoming year.

 

Resolved:

 

That the Scrutiny Work Programme be noted.

 

Reason:

 

To demonstrate the Scrutiny Committee’s entitlement of in-year variations to the work programme, as indicated by Part 4 Rule 7 (c) of the constitution of the Council.

61.

Forward Plan of Decisions pdf icon PDF 126 KB

To receive the Forward Plan of the Council

Minutes:

The Committee received the Forward Plan of the Council for the period of 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2019.

 

Resolved:

 

That the Forward Plan of the Council for the period of 1 March 2019 to 30 June 2019, be noted.

 

Reason:

 

To demonstrate the discharge of the Scrutiny Procedure Rule 9 (d) to have regard to the Forward Plan of Decisions.

62.

Date of next meeting

Minutes:

Resolved:

 

That the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee scheduled to be held on Thursday, 27 June 2019 in the Ditchling Room, Southover House, Southover Road, Lewes, BN7 1AB, commencing at 2:00pm, be noted.