Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bensly, Hacon and Wright.

There were no Declarations of Interest declared at the meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 12 September were confirmed.

The Group Manager, Environmental Services reported that there was one place remaining on the visit to the recycling facility in Norwich on Tuesday 29 November and he advised that transport would be provided from the Town Hall.

The Group Manager, Environmental Services reported that the review of dog control measures consultation process was well underway and that to date 730 responses had been received. The Chairman advised that this matter would be not be discussed until completion of the consultation period where a report would be brought back to the Committee, and he asked that Councillors Hacon and Pratt be invited to attend the next pre-agenda meeting of the Environment Committee.

The Chairman suggested that the next Committee meeting be at the revised time of 6pm, although due to a number of Members unable to make the earlier proposed time it was agreed that the meeting would be held at the usual time of 6:30pm, and he also advised that the next meeting of the Environment Committee would be held in the Council Chamber.

The Committee received and considered the Director of Customer Services report which outlined the proposed delivery of a Coastal Management review of the Coastline from Winterton to South Denes Great Yarmouth.

Bill Parker, Head of Coastal Management Coastal Partnership East reported that the Coastal Partnership Management Review was intended to be an inclusive project engaging with coastal communities, all relevant authorities and bodies to develop a pathway for managing coastal change going forward. He advised that the existing Shoreline Management Plan which was adopted in 2012 identified the policies and management methods for Winterton to Great Yarmouth. a significant amount of change has occurred along the length of coastline and therefore a review of the 2012 plan is recommended.

Councillor Weymouth asked in relation to the interim measure time period at Scratby/California, and she was advised that the Borough Council would be committed to maintain the defences for 20 years.

RESOLVED :

That the Committee endorse the requirement to undertake a review of the Winterton to Great Yarmouth Shoreline Management Plan subject to suitable external funding being identified.

The Committee received and considered the Head of Coastal Management Coastal Partnership East's report which introduced the Committee to the work of Coastal Partnership East, which specifically informed Members of the progress of the Gorleston to Lowestoft Coastal Strategy and the Great Yarmouth tidal defence.

Bill Parker, Head of Coastal Management reported that Coastal Partnership East (CPE) was formed on the 1st April 2016 and is a joint coastal management between four local authorities; Great Yarmouth Borough, North Norfolk, Suffolk Coastal and Waveney District Councils. This team had been formed to provide greater resilience for each authority, to share fragmented expertise and improve recruitment potential, utilise scale to leverage benefits, build on opportunities created by New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership and to take advantage of opportunities beyond Norfolk and Suffolk. He advised that the CPE provides resilience to GYBC for flood and coast defence. Enabling capacity that previously has been unavailable to GYBC to be utilised to address long term issues.

Members were advised of the three key projects as follows :-

• Gorleston to Lowestoft Strategy
• Great Yarmouth Harbour 
• Winterton to Great Yarmouth Strategy

Councillor Weymouth asked in relation to the privately funded scheme at Hopton, and she was advised that further work was to be undertaken with Potters Leisure and Bourne Leisure to elevate significant issues.

Councillor Grant asked whether defences where the value of land equates to more than the value of the defence needed to be defended, and he was advised that a benefit cost analysis would have to be undertaken.

RESOLVED :

(1) That the Committee agree to support the progress so far and the future work of the Coastal Partnership East.

(2) That the Committee agree to continue to support the Gorleston to Lowestoft Strategy to its conclusion.

(3) That the Committee note the progress of tidal flood defence works.

(4) That the Committee agree to support the development of the Winterton to Yarmouth Coastal Management review.

The Committee received and considered the Group Manager, Environmental Services report which set out to advise to Members of the Councils duty under the Public Health (Control of Diseases) Act 1984 to carry out the funeral of persons for whom no funeral arrangements have been made.

The Group Manager, Environmental Services reported that under Section 46 of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, the Council is under a legal duty to cause to be buried or cremated the body of any person who has died or been found dead in their area where it appears to the local authority that no suitable arrangements for the disposal of the body have been or are being made. He advised that there had been a marked increase in the number of funerals undertaken by the Council in recent years, the sharp rise has been linked to economic factors and that a typical funeral costs in the region of £1,000.

Members were advised that in respect of funerals arranged by the Council, the Council can recover from the estate of the deceased person the expenses incurred by the local authority in carrying out on this duty. Where there is no or insufficient money or saleable goods, the Council will cover the costs. It was pointed out to Members that the Council does not administer the estate of the deceased. Where there are next of kin the officer will give advice on applying to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) for a Funeral payment.

Councillor Walch asked where a non resident of the borough would be buried should they pass away whilst in the James Paget Hospital, and he was advised that the Council were obliged to undertake the public health funeral actions for those persons that die in hospital , irrespective of where they live and that the person deceased would be buried within their residing borough.

Councillor Weymouth asked where the deceased would be buried or cremated should there be no known family members, and it was advised that burials would be undertaken at one of the Borough Councils cemeteries and cremations would be undertaken at Gorleston crematorium.

Councillor Grant asked whether the Council could claim a pension grant for the deceased towards the costs, and he was advised that this was not possible. Councillor Grant asked whether there was a significant cost difference between a burial and cremation, and it was reported that there was a small difference of up to £20. 

Councillor Robinson-Payne asked whether the Council could offer a loan service to help with funeral costs, and the Group Manager Environmental Services stated that there were grants available elsewhere to be able to help with the cost of a funeral and that he did not believe the Council were in a position to offer a loan service. Councillor Pratt stated that funeral directors based within the Borough were able to offer payment schemes.

RESOLVED :

That the Committee noted the contents of the Group Manager Environmental Services report.

The Committee received and considered the Interim Chief Executives Officer's report which informed Members of the discussions held at the GYBS Liaison Board meeting on the 5th September 2016.

Councillor Robinson-Payne asked in relation to the total number of garden waste bins that had been missed on collection rounds, and she was advised that 45 were missed out of a total of 8000 bins collected.

Councillor Annison asked how many road sweepers were available within the Borough, and Nicola Holden advised that there was one large and 2 small sweepers available, she stated that one sweeper was currently under repair and it was hoped that this would be back on the road within the next week. Councillor Annison raised concern in relation to lack of roads being cleaned on a regular basis, and he was advised that due to shortages in resource it had been difficult to keep up with demand.

Following the success of Operation Sparkle Councillor Grey asked whether there was still outstanding work to be completed, and she was advised that there were certain areas that required work to be carried out although the back log had now decreased significantly.

RESOLVED :

That the Committee noted the contents of the Group Manager Growth's report.

RESOLVED :

That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12(A) of the said Act.

The Interim Chief Executive Officer reported that a number of meetings had taken place with Highways England in relation to the maintenance of Roundabouts on the A12 currently maintained by Highways England. She advised that the Borough Council had informed Highways England that the roundabouts could not be adopted whilst at their current state and that costings were provided to undertake the necessary works. 

The Interim Chief Executive Officer reminded the Committee that Highways England currently maintained the roundabouts at Hopton, Gorleston Beacon Park, Middleton Road, Victoria Road and Harfreys industrial Estate, and that The roundabouts at Gapton Hall Industrial Estate and Vauxhall roundabout are maintained through the joint venture contract with GYB Services.

It was reported that a proposal was to be prepared by AMEY on behalf of Highways England. Members were advised that if the Borough Council were to take over the management and maintenance of the five roundabouts the cost to the Council would be approximately £7000. 

Councillor K Grey asked whether sponsorship money could be secured and used to offset money spent by the Council on the roundabouts, and she was advised that this could be an option to be considered.