ENVIRONMENT AND HIGHWAYS CABINET BOARD 25TH FEBRUARY 2010 ENVIRONMENT SERVICES REPORT OF THE HEAD OF STREETCARE – M. ROBERTS INDEX OF REPORT ITEMS PART 1 – Doc. Code: EHB-250210-REP-EN-MR SECTION A – MATTERS FOR DECISION Report Item Page Nos Wards Affected 1. Vehicle and Registered Plant Fleet Procurement Programme 2010/2011 2-7 All 2. Gnoll Estate Country Park Grant Offer 8-11 Neath North, Neath South, Cimla 3. Streetcare Fees and Charges 12-18 All 4. Process of Street Inspections 19-57 All EHB-250210-REP-EN-MR 1 PART 1 SECTION A, ITEM NO 1 VEHICLE AND REGISTERED PLANT FLEET PROCUREMENT PROGRAMME 2010/2011 Purpose of Report To seek approval to procure new and replacement vehicles and registered plant in 2010/11 as per the attached programme. Background The preparation of the Vehicle and Registered Plant Fleet Replacement Programme for 2010/11 has been undertaken by the Council’s Fleet Section in consultation with User Directorates/Sections, including a review of current vehicle condition and service. Vehicles acquired by Contract Hire such as fleet cars are dealt with separately and are not included in this report. The proposed programme is shown on the attached Appendix. It is noted however that the Fleet Manager, in conjunction with User Directorates, may opt to extend the working life of individual vehicles once tenders are received where there are economic advantages to be gained. The means of financing the acquisition of each of the items listed will be either by Operating Lease, Outright Purchase or Prudential Loan. Operating Lease - can be used for the acquisition of vehicles and plant but cannot be considered for pre-owned items. Outright Purchase - can be used to acquire new or pre-owned vehicles or items of plant. Items acquired by this means will involve monthly contributions to the Renewals Fund for a pre- determined period of time. Prudential Loan - can be used to acquire new or pre-owned vehicles or items of plant. Items required by this means will involve loan repayments for a pre-determined period of time. Most of the fleet is on a 7- year replacement cycle. EHB-250210-REP-EN-MR 2 Financial Implications The financing costs of the vehicle acquisitions will be a charge on the relevant Directorates’ Operating Account and the means of acquisition will be agreed between the Fleet Manager and user Directorate in each case. Sustainability Appraisal Will have a positive impact on the Community Plan themes of Environment and Transport and Economic Prosperity in view of increased service reliability and reduced emissions. Recommendation It is recommended that the proposed Vehicle and Registered Plant Procurement Programme attached as Appendix 1 be approved for 2010/11. Reason for Proposed Decision The vehicles and items of plant listed in this report have reached the end of their economic life and their replacement will have a beneficial effect on both the environment and the productivity of the Council. List of Background Papers None Wards Affected All Officer Contact Mike Donovan Fleet Manager Tel: 01639 765071 E-mail: [email protected] EHB-250210-REP-EN-MR 3 PART 1 SECTION A, ITEM NO 1 VEHICLE AND REGISTERED PLANT FLEET PROCUREMENT PROGRAMME 2010/2011 - COMPLIANCE STATEMENT (a) Implementation of Decision The decision is proposed for implementation after the three-day call-in period. (b) Sustainability Appraisal Community Plan Impacts Economic Prosperity - no impact Education & Lifelong Learning - no impact Better Health and Wellbeing - no impact Environment & Transport - positive Crime and Disorder - no impact Other Impacts Welsh Language - no impact Sustainable Development - no impact Equalities - no impact Social Inclusion - no impact (c) Consultation Consultation has included all relevant user Directorates. EHB-250210-REP-EN-MR 4 APPENDIX ‘1’ NEATH PORT TALBOT COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Castell-Nedd Port Talbot ENVIRONMENT FLEET SERVICES SECTION VEHICLE AND REGISTERED PLANT FLEET PROCUREMENT PROGRAMME 2010/2011 EHB-250210-REP-EN-MR 5 USER – ENVIRONMENT DIRECTORATE - STREETCARE DIVISION – PARKS AND NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES Reg. No. Existing Item Replacement Type Est. Life CV03 BLX Medium Van Medium Van 7 Years 5730 Pedestrian Area Sweeper Pedestrian Area Sweeper 5 Years 5731 Pedestrian Area Sweeper Pedestrian Area Sweeper 5 Years 5732 Pedestrian Area Sweeper Pedestrian Area Sweeper 5 Years CV02 JUC Ride on Mower Ride on Mower 7 Years CV02 JUF Ride On Mower Ride on Mower 7 Years CU03 ATV Ride on Mower Ride on Mower 7 Years CN53 BGO Beach Tractor Beach Tractor 7 Years CU53 GHN Heavy Van Heavy Van 7 Years CU53 GKP Medium Van Medium Van 7 Years CK02 XXJ Agricultural Tractor Agricultural Tractor 7 Years CE02 TVU Agricultural Tractor Agricultural Tractor 7 Years Y399 JDE Agricultural Tractor Agricultural Tractor 7 Years USER – ENVIRONMENT DIRECTORATE - STREETCARE DIVISION – WINTER MAINTENANCE SECTION Reg. No. Existing Item Replacement Type Est. Life Demount Tipper/Gritter Demount Tipper/Gritter 7 Years W243 UWO CN04 BTU Demount Tipper/Gritter Demount Tipper/Gritter 7 Years CN53 UBO Demount Tipper/Gritter Demount Tipper/Gritter 7 Years CN53 UBP Demount Tipper/Gritter Demount Tipper/Gritter 7 Years CN04 BTV Demount Tipper/Gritter Demount Tipper/Gritter 7 Years USER – ENVIRONMENT DIRECTORATE - STREETCARE DIVISION – REFUSE COLLECTION AND WASTE SERVICES SECTION Reg. No. Existing Item Replacement Type Est. Life Refuse Freighter Refuse Freighter 7 Years VX53 CXE CU03 ZXE Light Van Light Van 7 Years EHB-250210-REP-EN-MR 6 USER – ENVIRONMENT DIRECTORATE – ENGINEERING & TRANSPORT DIVISION – COMMUNITY SERVICE TRANSPORT Reg. No. Existing Item Replacement Type Est. Life YN53 SUV 16 Seat Mobility Coach 16 Seat Mobility Coach 7 Years YN53 SUX 16 Seat Mobility Coach 16 Seat Mobility Coach 7 Years USER – DIRECTORATE OF EDUCATION, LEISURE AND LIFELONG LEARNING – MARGAM COUNTRY PARK – COUNTRYSIDE SECTION Reg. No. Existing Item Replacement Type Est. Life CP53 AWZ Light Van Light Van 7 Years CV53 ZXO Medium Van Medium Van 7 Years CP53 AFJ Medium Van Medium Van 7 Years CV53 ZCF Medium Van Medium Van 7 Years EHB-250210-REP-EN-MR 7 PART 1 SECTION A, ITEM NO. 2 GNOLL ESTATE COUNTRY PARK GRANT OFFER Purpose of Report To seek Members’ approval to accept grant aid from the Forestry Commission for the eradication of Rhododendron ponticum from the Gnoll Estate Country Park Background Over the past several years there have been localised outbreaks of Phytopthora (Sudden Oak Death Syndrome) in the Gnoll Estate Country Park. This has resulted in enforcement notices being served on the authority by DEFRA requiring the removal of infected areas to take place within 30 days. A host species for this highly infectious disease is Rhododendron ponticum. These outbreaks have been treated locally using existing resources, by on site cutting back, burning the diseased trees, and applying a selective herbicide to the cut stumps. The Welsh Assembly Government through the Better Woodlands for Wales Scheme administered by Forestry Commission have now made funding available for land owners to eradicate Rhododendron ponticum on sites where Phytothora has been found, and invited Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council to submit an application. For ease of management the Gnoll Estate Country Park has been divided into compartments 1A to 1N and the levels of Rhododendron ponticum in each compartment assessed. A price based on established criteria was subsequently calculated to work out the estimated cost of treatment and it is on this basis that the amount of grant aid required was calculated and submitted to WAG. In response to the Council’s application a grant has been offered and if accepted it is anticipated that part if not all of the work could be undertaken by the existing Parks and Neighbourhood employees partly during this spring, and partly between September 2010 and February 2011. To confirm if this is feasible, it is consequently being arranged to undertake a trial clearance in one of the identified compartments. EHB-250210-REP-EN-MR 8 Should it not prove possible for the in-house workforce to undertake all the work then tenders would be sought from a suitable contractor. Financial Implications Given the potential for tenders being sought the level of available grant funding is not being made publically available at this time. A verbal update will be given at Cabinet Board. There is no matched funding requirement associated with the grant but the Council would effectively be committed to topping up the resources funded by the grant with labour from within the Parks & Neighbourhood Service, if necessary, to complete the removal of Rhododendron ponticum. Should the Council not accept the grant offer and not undertake the removal of the Rhododendron ponticum there is a likelihood of further outbreaks of Phytopthora and this would result in further enforcement notices being served on the Council. If this happened the Council would have to comply with any erradication at its own expense. There is a requirement from the Forestry Commission that the grant offer is accepted within 30 days. Sustainability Appraisal This work would have a positive environmental impact on the future of the Gnoll Estate Country Park by the removal of the invasive non native species Rhododendron ponticum and preventing the spread of a notifiable tree disease (Phytopthora). Recommendation That Members accept the offer of grant aid (exact amount to be advised at Cabinet Board) and that the Principal Country Parks and Grants Officer be authorised to sign the grant offer contracts, after consultation with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services. Reason for Proposed Decision To accept an offer of grant aid towards eradication of Rhododendron ponticum from the Gnoll Estate Country park. EHB-250210-REP-EN-MR 9 List of Background Papers None Wards Affected Neath North, Neath South, Cimla Officer Contact Colin Powell Principal Country Parks & Grants Officer 01639 686176 [email protected] EHB-250210-REP-EN-MR 10 PART 1 SECTION A, ITEM NO.