Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

No declarations of any interest were declared.

To confirm the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 11 July 2011 (enclosed)

a)            Confirmation

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 1 July 2011 be held as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

b)            Matters arising from the minutes

10.OS.23 – Business Plan Monitoring Statements

(People and Places Directorate)

Issue raised

Further information was sought on the cost of extending the opening of the One Stop Health Shop to March 2012 and if there were any future plans after that time.

(Transformation Directorate)

Issue raised

Members asked if the Council was maximising the opportunities to share Union Street with other partner agencies.

10.OS.29 – Executive’s Response to Overview and Scrutiny Review of Accommodation Assets.

Issue raised

Members asked if further consideration had been given to the remodelling of the Council Chamber and Mayors Parlour to create additional office space for staff, in view of the possible relocation of staff from the Bengal Street premises.

The Chief Executive reported that this, along with other options would be looked into if it was deemed necessary and the Committee asked to be kept updated through the Asset Management Scrutiny Monitoring Report.

No questions were received by any members of the public.

To consider the enclosed minutes of the last Executive Cabinet meeting held on 18 August 2011.

11.EC.23 – First Quarter Chorley Partnership Performance Report 2011/12

Issue raised

Further information was sought on the cost of the Early Intervention Project. The tender documentation on the County website had suggested that the cost had increased by 50%.

To consider the enclosed report of the Chief Executive.

The Chief Executive submitted a report to update the Committee on the progress made in implementing the projects included in the revenue budget and capital programme that are to be funded with Section 106 contributions.

Contributions may be received from developers by the Council as a result of entering into Section 106 Agreements to make a development acceptable in planning terms. Contributions may be received for the provision of facilities or infrastructure, either on-site or off-site, such as affordable housing, transport or highways improvements, play an recreation and other community facilities.

The report presented details of expenditure financed with S106 contributions during 2010/11, and indicated the budget provision for 2011/12 and subsequent years, were agreed. Any uncommitted balances and contributions due to be received as developments proceed are identified and the purposes for which contributions can be applied were explained.

Members commented that it was important to ensure that there was the right balance of affordable housing across the Borough, ensuring that there was a mix of rental and purchased property where most needed.

A list of all Affordable Housing development as a result of S106 contributions that included those funded and those built by developers, was requested by the Committee.

Members representing the Chorley South East Ward of the Borough asked if they would be consulted with regards to the uncommitted balance from the S106 contributions received from the former Lex Autologistics Site, Pilling Lane, Chorley and a request was made if the Council could ask for the first payment from the Buckshaw Group 1 development that related to the Public Transport and Community Facilities contribution to be paid in advance to allow the necessary infrastructure to be put in place before the 240 dwellings were built.

The Chair thanked the Chief Executive for the detailed report and asked if an Annual Update report on Section 106 contributions could be included into the Committee’s Work Programme.

RESOLVED

1.    That the report be noted.

2.    That a list of Affordable Housing development as a result of S106 contributions, including those funded and those built by developers be circulated to the Members of the Committee.

3.    That the Chorley South East Ward Councillors be consulted on the uncommitted balance from the S106 contributions received from the former Lex Autologistics Site, Pilling Lane, Chorley

4.    That a request be made to release the first payment from the Buckshaw Group 1 development early.

5.    That an Annual Update report be provided and included on the Work Programme.

To consider the enclosed report of the Merged CDRP Manager.

The Merged Community Safety Manager submitted a report that presented Members with two areas of community safety that they could consider  scrutinising under the Committee’s requirement to the Crime and Disorder (Overview and Scrutiny) Regulations 2009.

·        Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy Services (IDVA)

·        Neighbourhood Policing

Whilst Members had previously expressed an interest in scrutinising the structures of the neighbourhood policing teams, the Committee recognised that the Lancashire Constabulary had recently undergone a significant reorganisation and felt that these changes should be allowed to embed before further consideration was given to scrutiny.

Domestic abuse (including domestic violence) is a key priority for the Safer Chorley and South Ribble Partnership. Whilst Chorley has some problems linked to the Town Centre and the night time economy, the more evident issue is violence within the home and committed by known offenders.

Over the past 4 years the funding for the IDVA services has been supported by various grants that were no longer sustainable. To date the partnership has not been able to identify sustainable funding to support the IDVA service and is currently reliant on one off grant contributions from the Home Office, Safer Lancashire Board and fortuitous funding opportunities.

The Committee,  recognising the importance of the service and the concerns about future funding, opted to scrutinise the Independent Domestic Violence advocacy Service. Members were keen to seek the opinions of the partners who contributed to the funding of this service, particularly in relation to seeking future provision through mainstream funding.

RESOLVED

1.    That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee scrutinise the IDVA service.

2.    That this be done as a dedicated meeting on 7 November 2011, to be included in the Work Programme.

3.      That the Committee would focus on the implications for Chorley and its residents.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Places and People (enclosed) approved by Executive Cabinet on 18 August 2011.

The Committee considered the response of the Executive Cabinet to the findings and recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny report on Highways Issues.

The Head of Streetscene and Leisure updated the Committee on the present position of the recommendations that had been implemented. Officers and Members were frustrated at the lack of progress being made on the recommendations made to Lancashire County Council. Efforts continued to be made to address these issues and concerns and the Committee asked to be kept updated of progress made through the Highways Scrutiny Monitoring Reports.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider the enclosed Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2011/12.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee Wok Programme would be updated to include:

·     Crime and Disorder meeting – 7 November

·     Removal of Executive Cabinet minutes – 3 October

·     Annual Report of S106 monies

Last year the Committee made a decision to go to 6 monthly monitoring information from the previous quarterly arrangements. Whilst this had reduced the number of meetings where monitoring is the main business, it had led to Members considering information which was dated and also duplication of reporting.

Members agreed to the proposed return to quarterly monitoring on an  alternate basis so that one meeting would consider business plan monitoring and the following, the Council corporate strategy and LSP project monitoring. The Committee would therefore have monitoring information at each of its meetings.

RESOLVED – That the changes to the Work Programme be agreed.

To consider the enclosed Council’s Forward Plan for the four month period 1 September  to 31 December 2011 (document enclosed).

The Committee received the Forward Plan for the period 1 September to 31 December 2011.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Lancastrian Room Task and Finish Group

To receive a verbal update on the inquiry from the Chair, Councillor Debra Platt

Tourism and Promoting Chorley Task and Finish Group

To receive a verbal update on the inquiry from the Chair, Councillor Peter Wilson.

NHS Reform Joint Task and Finish Group

To receive a verbal update on the inquiry.

a)            Lancastrian Task Group

The Committee received a verbal report from the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group – Lancastrian.

Councillor Debra Platt reported that the group had now met on 4 occasions and had undertaken the following:

1.    Looked at income over the last 3 years and also current pricing structures

2.    Carried out soft market testing of the Lancastrian Suite with external event management companies in Chorley

3.    Undertaken a survey of regular existing users to ascertain what the positive points of hiring the Lancastrian are – and where  the problems may be.

4.    Obtained rough costings for additional work that could be undertaken for eg a full working kitchen; changing facilities; improved bar facilities

The next stage was to invite South Ribble Council to Chorley to utilise their experience in running a hospitality suite.

b)            Tourism and Promoting Chorley Task Group

The Committee received a verbal report from the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group – Tourism and Promoting Chorley.

Councillor Peter Wilson reported that the first meeting of the group would be on Wednesday 14 September and that the membership was as follows:

Councillor Marie Gray

Councillor Steve Holgate

Councillor Paul Leadbetter

Councillor Marion Lowe

Councillor June Molyneaux

Councillor Mark Perks

Councillor Geoff Russell

c)            NHS Reform Joint Task Group

The Committee received a verbal update from the Democratic Services Manager.

Carol Russell reported that following the Elections in May of this year, the membership of the Task Group had changed significantly and that the group had yet to have its first meeting.

RESOLVED – That the reports be noted.