DATA LABEL: Public Environment Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel West Lothian Civic Centre Howden South Road LIVINGSTON EH54 6FF 19 April 2016 A meeting of the Environment Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel of West Lothian Council will be held within the Council Chambers, West Lothian Civic Centre on Thursday 28 April 2016 at 2:00pm. For Chief Executive BUSINESS 1. Apologies for Absence 2. Order of Business, including notice of urgent business 3. Declarations of Interest - Members should declare any financial and non- financial interests they have in the items of business for consideration at the meeting, identifying the relevant agenda item and the nature of their interest. 4. Confirm Draft Minutes of Meeting of Environment Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel held on Thursday 18 February 2016 (herewith). 5. Scottish Government Consultation - Impact of Modern Technology on Taxi and Private Hire Car Licensing - Report by Head of Corporate Servcies (herewith). 6. Planning, Economic Development & Regeneration Management Plan - Report by Head of Planning, Economic Development and Regeneration (herewith). 7. Newton Air Quality Management Area - Report by Head of Planning, Economic Development and Regeneration (herewith). - 1 - DATA LABEL: Public 8. Compulsory Microchipping of Dogs – Report by Head of Planning, Economic Development and Regeneration (herewith). 9. Results of Scottish Natural Heritage Users Survey of John Muir Way - Report by Head of Planning, Economic Development and Regeneration (herewtith). 10. West Lothian Travel - Quiet Roads Project - Report by Head of Operational Services (herewith). 11. Local Flood Risk Management Plan - Report by Head of Operational Services (herewith). 12. Accident Investigation and Prevention (AIP) - Casualty Reduction Programme 2016/17 - Report by Head of Operational Services (herewith). 13. Beecraigs Sawmill - Review of Service Provision - Report by Head of Operational Services (herewith). 14. Tree Management and Safety Policy - Report by Head of Operational Services (herewith). 15. Operational Services Management Plan 2016/17 - Report by Head of Operational Services (herewith). Public Items for Information 16. Environment Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel Timetable of Meeting 2016/17 ------------------------------------------------ NOTE For further information please contact Eileen Rollo on 01506 281621 or email [email protected] - 2 - DATA LABEL: Public 233 MINUTE of MEETING of the ENVIRONMENT POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND SCRUTINY PANEL of WEST LOTHIAN COUNCIL held within COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WEST LOTHIAN CIVIC CENTRE, on 18 FEBRUARY 2016. Present – Councillors Tom Conn (Chair), Diane Calder, Dave King, Greg McCarra, Diane Calder, Jim Dixon substituting for Barry Robertson and Cathy Muldoon substituting for Tony Boyle Apologies – Councillor Barry Robertson, Tony Boyle 1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest made. 2. MINUTES a) The panel confirmed the Minute of its meeting held on 17 December 2015 as a correct record. The Minutes was thereafter signed by the Chair. b) The panel confirmed the Minute of its meeting held on 12 January 2016 as a correct record. The Minute was thereafter signed by the Chair. 3. PERFORMANCE REPORT The Panel considered a report (copies of which had been circulated) by the Head of Operational Services advising of current levels of performance for all indicators which were the responsibility of the Environment Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel. The Head of Operational Services advised that the council’s performance management system, Covalent, measured the performance of service activities through the use of key performance indicators (KPI’s). Covalent used a simple traffic light system to show if progress was on target (green), in danger of falling behind target (amber) or below target (red). The report advised that there were currently 29 High Level Key Performance Indicators under the remit of the panel and were categorised as follows:- 26 green 1 amber 2 red Appendix 1 to the report contained full details of each indicator. - 3 - DATA LABEL: Public 234 In conclusion it was advised that the report informed the panel of the performance of the wide range of activities within Operational Services. The information contained in the report and appendices would allow the panel to focus on the issues that services currently faced and included indicators where services performance was currently below target. It was recommended that the Panel note the performance information and determine if further action or enquiry was necessary for any of the indicators mentioned in the report. Decision To note the contents of the report 4. CEMETERY MANAGEMENT RULES The panel considered a report (copies of which had been circulated) by the Head of Operational Services providing information on the outcome of the consultation on the draft Cemetery Management Rules and seeking support for the final Cemetery Management Rules to be submitted to Council Executive for approval. The report recalled that at its meeting on 30 June 2015 Council Executive agreed that all stakeholders were to be consulted on the draft cemetery management rules. The aim of the consultation was to afford all stakeholders the opportunity to comment on the draft cemetery management rules prior to them being approved and subsequently advertised as part of the final implementation process. All stakeholder groups including local clergy, monumental masons, funeral directors, community councils and lair holders were sent a direct link to the consultation survey on the draft rules. In addition to these specific groups the Citizens Panel, Equality Forums and health improvement in later life group were also invited to participate. The survey ran for four months and closed on 31 December 2015. All key stakeholders were asked whether they agreed with the draft cemetery management rules across three separate approaches and were given the opportunity to provide comments. The full response to the consultation including stakeholders’ comments and a summary of the questions and answers were provided in a series of appendices attached to the report. A total of 653 responses were received across the three separate approaches with an average of 90.53% of the responses supporting the introduction of Cemetery Management Rules. With regards to the management of pre-existing lairs thirteen of the one hundred and seventy comments received related to the proposals for railings, kerbing, corner stones and gravel. Of the thirteen comments, eight participants were not in favour of the proposals, whilst two responses were in favour and three considered neutral. - 4 - DATA LABEL: Public 235 Following analysis of all the responses it had been determined by officers to make two minor changes to the draft cemetery management rules and these were as follows :- a) Item 5.2 and 5.3 – the word “artificial” had been added to clarify that the rules were referring to storing artificial wreaths as opposed to natural wreaths and flowers; and b) Terms and Conditions – Booking an Internment Item 2.1 – the timings available for booking internments had been updated to include Friday bookings that had been omitted from the draft cemetery management rules. Once members’ views had been sought on the final Cemetery Management Rules and pending Council Executive approval the council was required to publish them for a period of 28 days to allow any member of the public an opportunity to view them. During this period of time any person could object to any of the rules and council would be required to consider that objection before implementing the rules. It was also to be noted that the proposed measures for the management of existing lairs would be implemented along with the final Cemetery Management Rules to ensure that an appropriate approach was taken to manage existing lairs in a sensitive and professional manner. It was recommended that the Panel note the outcome of the consultation on draft Cemetery Management Rules and support the submission of the final Cemetery Management Rules to the Council Executive for approval. Decision To note the contents of the report and agreed that the report be forwarded to the next appropriate meeting of the Council Executive with the recommendation that it be approved. 5. LINLITHGOW LOCH CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN – LOCH SUMMIT UPDATE The panel considered a report (copies of which had been circulated) by the Head of Operational Services & Head of Planning & Economic Development providing an update on progress on the Linlithgow Loch Catchment Management Plan arising from a recent Loch Summit. The report advised that Linlithgow Loch was one of only two remaining natural lowland lochs in the Lothians. It provided the setting for Linlithgow Palace and Peel. The loch was integral to the town’s tourist appeal and provided a number of land and water-based recreational opportunities as well as being the focal point for naturalists and outdoor education activities. The site was a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest for its botanical and ornithological interests. Site monitoring in 2004 concluded - 5 - DATA LABEL: Public 236 that the loch was in an unfavourable condition due to nutrient enrichment largely associated with land use in the catchment. Evidence suggested that the loch was currently eutrophic trending towards hyper-eutrophic. One of the negative effects of the increase in nutrient levels within the water body was the appearance of an extended seasonal bloom