The
Chairman welcomed the Lead Councillor for Environment and reminded
the meeting of Councillor Steel’s areas of responsibility:
Waste, Licensing (including Health and Safety regulation), Parking,
Parks and Leisure, Arts and Tourism, Bereavement, and Environmental
Health and Protection. The Chairman
advised that the Lead Councillor for Environment had been informed
of several potential question areas in advance of the meeting and
that other question areas and specific queries would
arise.
The following information and
responses were provided during the ensuing discussion:
- In reply to questions
about the Visit Surrey website, the Lead Councillor for Environment
advised that Visit Surrey continued to be the top performing
website for the visitor economy for Surrey. The Lead Councillor for Environment informed the
meeting that many tourism or visitor economy businesses were
working already with Visit Surrey and that the Council working with
Visit Surrey avoided duplication of information and resources for
businesses. In addition, the meeting
was informed that by using Visit Surrey the Council benefited from
the use of campaigns managed centrally by Visit Britain and Visit
England.
- The Lead Councillor
for Environment indicated that the Council did not have feedback
from residents concerning the Council’s collaboration with
Visit Surrey. He advised that ninety
percent of people using the Visit Surrey website came from
near-neighbour counties. The Committee
was advised of the top Guildford-related webpages viewed on Visit
Surrey since February 2022: the landing page; Shere; Newlands
Corner; the paddling pool; the Lido; and the Jubilee
page.
- In reply to
questions, the Lead Councillor for Environment advised that it was
not possible to measure the number of businesses taking up the free
advertising events listing offered on the Visit Surrey
website. The meeting was informed that
the Council’s web team were producing a video on Guildford
for use on the Visit Surrey website. A
member of the Committee suggested the value of measuring the
effectiveness and value of the Visit Surrey website to Guildford
businesses as the website continued to develop.
- In response to a
query from a member of the Committee and with reference to the
large number of questions to be put forward during the item, the
Chairman noted the advantages of succinct answers during the Lead
Councillor question session and the value of circulating fuller
details to Committee members after the meeting.
- In reply to a
question, the Lead Councillor for Environment indicated that
Guildford had a dedicated section of the Visit Surrey
website. A member of the Committee
asked if the Council would be promoting the Guildford dedicated
section of the Visit Surrey website. In
reply, the Lead Councillor for Environment indicated queries would
be directed to the appropriate part of the Visit Surrey
website.
- In response to
questions about the Council’s waste and recycling fleet, the
Lead Councillor for Environment advised the meeting that the
Council was monitoring the development of electric vehicle and
hydrogen trucks. He advised that power
infrastructure limitations at the Council’s current depot
limited its ability to purchase larger electric vehicles, although
planned electric vehicle infrastructure at the new depot would help
a more rapid replacement of diesel with electric vehicle
trucks. The meeting was informed that
four dustcarts were needed this year and there was sufficient power
and some funding to support these as electric vehicles.
- In reply to a
question, the Lead Councillor for Environment advised that it was
not possible at the current stage to state with accuracy the cost
implications of making the whole waste and recycling fleet either
electric vehicle or hydrogen.
- A member of the
Committee asked about the conversion of the waste and recycling
fleet to use hydrogenated vegetable oil. The Executive Head of Environmental Services
advised that the benefits and costs of such a change were being
examined at Waverley Borough Council and a similar exercise could
be undertaken at Guildford Borough Council.
- A member of the
Committee asked how the national waste strategy would affect the
Council and the Borough. In response,
the Lead Councillor for Environment indicated that the government
had not finalised their plans and that the implications for
residents and Council operations would be dependent on these plans
and associated legislation. In response
to further questions about the practicalities and requirement for
residents to store wheelie bins and containers, the Executive Head
of Environmental Services indicated that recycling was planned on a
property level across the Borough.
- In reply to a
question on the running of G-Live, the Lead Councillor for
Environment advised the Committee of a change in the venue
director, recovering audience numbers, and the effect of the
pandemic on the venue’s programme.
- The Lead Councillor
for Environment advised the Committee of actions taken relating to
chemical reduction measures and a pesticide-free Guildford,
including implementation of a programme of chemical-free playground
maintenance, the trialling of chemical-free maintenance of hard
surface areas, and work with Guildford Environmental Forum and
other volunteers.
- In reply to a
question about identified areas of concern within his portfolio,
the Lead Councillor for Environment referred to the increased cost
of utility bills at leisure venues, the limited staff resources for
the Council’s parks, and the potential implications of the
national waste strategy. In response to
a follow-up question from a Committee member, the Head of Culture,
Heritage and Leisure Services indicated that the challenge of
resources was across all Council departments and not all service
levels were likely to be maintained.
- The Lead Councillor
for Environment advised the meeting that all aspects of on-street
parking would be managed directly by Surrey County Council from
April 2023 and that decision-making for on-street parking had been
removed from the Joint Committees earlier in the year. The Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead
Councillor for Governance indicated the need for a governance
process between the Council and Surrey County Council to ensure the
change in on-street parking arrangements did not lead to divergence
in on and off-street parking and enforcement policies. In addition, he highlighted the issue of park and
ride arrangements. A member of the
Committee referred to the difficulty of progressing on-street
parking reviews in the period before management reverted to Surrey
County Council in April 2023.
- In reply to a
question on feedback from visitors, residents, or shopkeepers about
car park charges, the Executive Head of Environmental Services
referred to the high and steady usage by visitors of the
Borough’s car parks. The Deputy
Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Governance noted the
policy tensions of income generation from Council car parks
alongside support for high street businesses through the provision
of affordable car parking, together with disincentivising short
journeys and encouraging use of park and ride, and the cost of
living crisis.
- A member of the
Committee expressed concern at the probable effect on air quality
from the park and ride service no longer operating at the Onslow
and Spectrum sites. In response, the
Lead Councillor for Environment indicated that the sites were
dependent on Surrey County Council securing an
operator.
- In reply to a query
about anti-idling, the Lead Councillor for Environment advised that
there was nothing in the current licence conditions with regard to
taxis or private hire vehicles leaving engines idling when
stationary. He suggested that officers
would remind taxi and private hire drivers of the Highway Code
requirement not to leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily
while the vehicle was stationary on a public road.
The Chairman thanked the Lead
Councillor for Environment and officers for attending and answering
questions and noted that the briefing notes provided to the Lead
Councillor for Environment would be circulated to Committee
members.