Agenda item

Media Relations - Update on Media Items

Minutes:

The Overview and Scrutiny Officer referred Members to recent press articles relating to the remit of Environment and Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

The articles were:

 

·       Cars of the future will spot potholes and tell us say Highways England – The report would be used to inform the government’s next road investment strategy which is due to start in 2020. This links in with agenda Item 7.

·       National Recognition for Wharton Park restoration – The restoration of Wharton Park in Durham City has been highly commended in the Landscape Institute Awards 2017, in the heritage and conservation category.

·       UK faces build-up of plastic waste – The UK’s recycling industry says it doesn’t know how to cope with a Chinese ban on imports of plastic waste. Britain has been shipping up to 500,000 tonnes of plastic for recycling in China every year, but trade has now stopped. This links in with agenda Item 8.

·       Consultation launched into £6.2 million flood prevention plans for town – Durham County Council is considering opening up a 90-metre stretch of the Cong Burn, which runs underneath Chester-Le-Street’s Market Place, and is asking members of the public for their views. The consultation will run from 11 February 2018. The Chairman advised Members that flooding would be considered at the Scrutiny meeting to be held on 2 February 2018.

 

Resolved: That the presentation be noted.