Council committee and cabinet meetings

The update provided by Calderdale Council on the 20 June 2024 on the Council¿s website for recent Environmental Permit application and consultations in respect of the operation of a SWIP by CVSH reference: S13/006 states ¿More questions need to be asked about the SWIP and the amount of fuel burned and the energy recovered. Another `Request for Information¿ has been served on them.¿

A copy of the `Request for Information¿ dated 27 June 2024 has been published and includes questions about the amount of fuel burned and about the ash generated however no question is included concerning the energy recovered.

If as you state in your update questions need to be asked about the amount of energy recovered but these are not included in the `Request for Information¿ how will you obtain the information?

The Cabinet Member with responsibility for Public Services and Communities Councillor Durrans replied to Andrew Dobson [PDF file 79KB]|

In respect of the Environmental Permit Application submitted by CVSH to operate an incinerator in Sowerby Bridge, I understand that the Community Safety team have stated they will publish all objections on their website in due course however pending these submitted comments being published please can you tell me how many objections have been received for each of the consultations so far: consultation period 1 (which ended on 1 April 2024) and consultation period 2 (which ended 6 June 2024)?

The Cabinet Member with responsibility for Public Services and Communities Councillor Durrans replied to Jeanette Hunton [PDF file 28KB]|

The update provided by Calderdale Council on the 20 June 2024 on the Council¿s website for recent Environmental Permit application and consultations in respect of the operation of a SWIP by CVSH reference: S13/006 states ¿we want a `Health Impact Assessment¿ (HIA) from CVSH. This will consider any potential linkages between pollutants that may be emitted to land and water and any health effects.¿

However an email received from Kate Ryley on the 3 July 2024 states ¿Officers will be seeking review of the `Human Health Risk Assessment, 2022¿, which will identify any potential linkages between pollutants that may be emitted to land and water, and likely or unlikely health effects that may arise.¿

If as you state in your update on the Council¿s website the Council wants a `Health Impact Assessment¿ (HIA) from CVSH why does your email say Officers will be seeking a review of the exiting report Human Health Risk Assessment, 2022?

The Cabinet Member with responsibility for Public Services and Communities Councillor Durrans replied to George Pickles [PDF file 75KB]|

I was particularly interested in the internal Auditors 2023 report and following discussion especially the response to a Councillor¿s question in which he pointed to the lack of knowledge by senior Officers in the use of GANTT charts in project management. The report also indicated a less than positive focus on Risk Management and Assessment within Project Management.

Subsequent conversation with a CMBC Officer indicated a shortfall in professional skill levels in this area.

So my question is: How many Officers involved in management of CMBC projects are PRINCE2 trained and accredited?

The Cabinet Member with responsibility for Resources Councillor Dacre replied to Mr Ed Greenwood [PDF file 53KB]|

We recently had an issue in Clay House Park and Brow Bridge Car Park where the refuse bins were not emptied. This happened during the recent spell of hot weather when both the park and car park were very busy with visitors. The bin in the park was less than 6 metres from the children¿s play area and was a real health hazard. There were fast food containers, bottles and dog waste bags left piled on top and around the sides of the bin. I reported this to the appropriate department on Tuesday morning 18th June and was dismayed to note that these had still not been attended to by Thursday 20th June and by this time, the situation with the waste had deteriorated considerably and the smell was appalling.

I am extremely proud of the area in which I live and I could not stand by and allow for a situation which reflects badly on Calderdale MBC to get any worse. I again reported this to the appropriate department saying that if the bins were not emptied by that afternoon, I would empty them myself. The bins were emptied in the afternoon and I received an email of apology to explain that the operative responsible for this area was on leave and they were short-staffed.

If it is not possible for larger waste bins to be installed in the more heavily used public areas, similar to those at Skircoat Green, what can the portfolio holder do to ensure that there is staff cover during holiday or sick leave to enable continuity of our public bins being emptied?

The Cabinet Member with responsibility for Public Services and Communities Councillor Durrans replied to Councillor Prashad [PDF file 80KB]|

The report regarding the New Refuse Collection Fleet is a matter of considerable concern as it confirms, ¿In view of the Council¿s overall financial position, any revenue funding approved for the scheme may require compensatory savings to be identified elsewhere within the Council¿s revenue budget in future years.¿ How does the Cabinet plan to accommodate the repayments from this capital spending in the revenue budget? At the last Budget Council meeting, we saw further cuts across services, and now, if you go ahead with this borrowing, further cuts could be necessary.

The Cabinet Member with responsibility for Resources Councillor Dacre replied to Councillor Leigh [PDF file 73KB]|

It's worrying to see youth unemployment on the rise despite the Council's positive efforts. The Annual Corporate Performance Report highlights 426 positive outcomes in 2023/24. It would be helpful to gain further details to understand if these outcomes represent individuals who have secured employment as a result of the Council and its partners' initiatives. Additionally, confirming the current employment status of these individuals would provide valuable insight into the long-term impact of these efforts. Ensuring that our initiatives lead to sustainable and lasting positive changes in our community is crucial, and obtaining this information will help us gauge the effectiveness of our strategies. Please can you provide all this information.

The Cabinet Member with responsibility for Regeneration and Transport Councillor Courtney replied to Councillor Blagbrough [PDF file 98KB]|

The people of Elland remain restless and concerned about the potential loss of the Elland Waste and Recycling Centre, previously recommended for the axe, but the fate of which remains pending till later in the year. I must warn with the utmost sincerity that any curtailment of this public service would lead to grim consequences on two accounts: the first, a negative impact on the environment and our Council¿s key climate agenda, on account of vast numbers of vehicle trips made by residents (in traffic) to alternative waste and recycling centres around the Borough. The second is the negative expected value inherent in cutting this service in terms of a spike in costly and damaging fly tipping.

Will the Council please ensure that they give careful attention to these two likely consequences of a potential closure and that they undertake meaningful research to establish the likely, empirical cost in closing the tip in terms of environment and monetary costs associated with pollution and fly tipping?

In short, my position and that of the residents of Elland is that keeping the tip open will SAVE the council money and assist with its core policy platform of achieving net zero in the long run.

The Cabinet Member with responsibility for Public Services and Communities Councillor Durrans replied to Councillor Hunt [PDF file 75KB]|

I understand detailed work to understand the trends of employment is currently being undertaken by the Council. Will these positives efforts include data on the number of jobs created and local job vacancies? Understanding these figures could provide insight into whether youth unemployment issues are related to job availability and uptake by residents in Calderdale or neighbouring areas. Additionally, is there ongoing research to analyse the various factors influencing unemployment in Calderdale through Regression Analysis and other Statistical Analysis techniques to identify the most significant variables impacting youth employment in Calderdale. This could enable the Council to take a more targeted approach.

The Cabinet Member with responsibility for Regeneration and Transport Councillor Courtney replied to Councillor Monteith [PDF file 80KB]|