Issue - meetings

A copy of the Environmental & Sustainability Committee Forward Plan is attached.

Councillor Rybinski proposed that a review of the Council’s approach to dealing with bonfire complaints to make the rules more robust should be added to the forward plan.  Cllr Rybinski reported that the number of complaints on this issue had increased by approximately 200%.  Concern was expressed that bonfires were being used as a means of avoiding paying charges at the waste centre.

It was proposed that in the meantime a poster campaign should be introduced in a similar vein to the engine idling campaign to discourage bonfires and increase awareness of the negative impact on neighbours and the environment.

Councillor Beardsmore circulated redacted extracts of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to Public Health England relating to circumstances following the death of Zane Gbangbola which had been reported in the Mail on Sunday on 19 September.  He had discussed the matter with the Leader and Deputy Leader and held discussions with the family.

It was agreed unanimously that the issue should be considered at an Extraordinary meeting of the Committee as soon as possible and that a report was prepared to consider how a full investigation and examination of the site could be conducted by the Council as soon as possible. 

The Committee resolved to note the items for future meetings on the Forward Plan subject to the inclusion of:

1.    A review of the Council’s approach to dealing with complaints relating to bonfires.

2.    A report proposing how the Council will respond to new evidence relating to Zane Gbangbola’s death.  The report to be available for an extraordinary meeting of the Environment and Sustainability Committee to be held before 9 November 2021.