Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Harold Heaton, Keith Iddon, Beverley Murray and Joyce Snape.

To confirm the enclosed minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 3 January 2012 as a correct record.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on  3 January 2012 be held as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

No declarations of any interest were received.

No questions from any member of the public were received.

To consider the minutes of the Executive Cabinet meeting held on 23 February 2012 (enclosed).

There were no issues raised by any Member of the Committee for the Executive Cabinet meeting held on 23 February 2012.

Report of the Director of People and Places.

The Committee received a report of the Director of People and Places providing an update on the implementation of actions agreed following the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group’s Inquiry into Highways Issues.

The Head of Streetscene and Leisure Contracts outlined the report and highlighted the following:

·        As of February 2012, the initial stages for the enforcement of overhanging vegetation onto the highway are now undertaken by this Council.

·        From 2012/13 the Council will undertake the highway verge cutting, that was previously done by Lancashire County Council, in the outer Chorley area.

·        A Severe Winter Weather Action Plan (SWAAP) had been produced to outline the operational arrangements during a severe winter period.

·        Lancashire County Council’s Public Realm Manager now provides regular bulletins and monthly neighbourhood reports are now in place. In addition, there have been various other related articles published in ‘Intheknow’ covering roadworks and transport issues as and when required.

A Member asked if there was now more information available about which roads were adopted or unadopted in the Borough. It was explained that action would be taken to produce a definitive list and that this would be published via ‘intheknow’ in the immediate future.

Members were also informed that other definitive lists relating to the ownership of the grass verges and land where also available through the Contact Centre.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Chief Executive (enclosed)

The Chief Executive submitted a monitoring report setting out the performance against the delivery of the Corporate Strategy and key performance indicators during the third quarter of 2011/12, 1 October to 31 December 2011.

Overall performance of the key projects remained good, with the vast majority of the projects either completed, or on track. Only one project, the website refresh, had been rated as amber due to on-going delays. However actions were now in place to improve on this and Members were informed that the Council expected it to go live towards the end of May.

Members asked if the new website would contain more links to other associated websites that would benefit different communities. The Chief Executive reported that a lot of work had been to improve the content of the website, in response to consultation. His team planned to roll out the site to all members of staff, in advance of its launch date, so that they could view the changes and practise navigating around the site, before the system went live. This invitation would now be extended to Members and would be accessible via ‘intheknow’.

Performance on the key measures in the Corporate Strategy and key performance indicators was strong with 92% of the Corporate Strategy measures performing above target.

Only one indicator,  the number of families in temporary accommodation was currently performing worse than target and Members were provided with details of the action plan that had been developed to improve performance.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Chief Executive (enclosed)

The Chief Executive submitted a report that provided an update on the performance of the Chorley Partnership during the third quarter of 2011/12, from 1 October to 31 December 2011.

The performance of the Chorley Partnership in achieving the key performance targets remained good and the following targets were highlighted to Members:

·        Alcohol related hospital admission had shown a reduction of 8%.

·        Accidental Dwelling Fires were lower than anticipated.

·        Although crime overall had increased by 5.9% in quarter three compared to the same period last year, the year to date figure showed a reduction of 1.8%.

Overall performance on the key projects/priorities in the Chorley Partnership delivery plan was excellent, with 94% rated green.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Private Rented Housing Inspection Task and Finish Group

To receive the scoping document and a verbal update on the inquiry from the Chair, Councillor Beverley Murray.

Tourism and Promoting Chorley Task and Finish Group

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

Rented Private Housing Inspection Task Group

The Committee received a verbal update report from the Democratic Services Manager who informed the Committee that the Group had now held two meetings and had submitted the scoping document of the review for approval.

The review’s main objective would be around identifying and tackling poor housing standards in some private rented properties with its desired outcome to improve housing conditions for tenants of private rented property in the borough.

Tourism and Promoting Chorley Task Group

The Committee received a verbal update report from the Chair of the Group, Councillor Peter Wilson who informed the Committee that the Group had now undertaken five meetings and Members are satisfied that they have asked questions of all the relevant witnesses that have a key interest or responsibility in tourism in the Borough of Chorley.

The Group was hoping to present it’s Final Report and recommendations to the next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 16 April 2012 for approval.

RESOLVED – That the information from the task groups be noted and the scoping document for the Rented Private Housing Inspection Review be approved.

To consider the Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan and the Council’s Forward Plan for the four month period 1 March to 30 June 2012 (documents enclosed).

The Committee received a copy of the Forward Plan for the period 1 March to 30 June 2012 and the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2011/12.

RESOLVED – That the Forward Plan and Work Programme be noted.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public for the following items of business on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED - That the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the  following item of business on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Report of the Chief executive (enclosed)

The Committee received a report of the Chief Executive informing them of a recent request to call in an Executive Member decision, the process that had been followed and the outcome.

The call in had been received on the 6 February 2012 and had been accepted by the chair. As the next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee was not until 12 March and this delay would hold up the implementation of a major organisational review, the Chair had felt it appropriate to make arrangements to consider the call in with three other members of the Committee, in line with the call in procedure.

The Members considered both the call in request and the report which had formed the basis of the Executive Member decision. The decision of the group was not to call in the decision and Members were unanimously in agreement in not accepting the objections that had been put forward.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.