Agenda and minutes

The Chair, Councillor Steve Holgate, welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Graham Dunn and Keith Iddon.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 8 April 2013 (enclosed)

RESOLVED

a)    Confirmation

That the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 8 April 2013 be confirmed as a correct record for signing by the Chair.

b)   Matters arising

13.OS.25 - Overview and Scrutiny Review : Private Rented Housing Inspection – Update

Members inquired if there had been any further research into a landlord accreditation scheme as there were concerns that the welfare reform changes could impact on standards. It was explained that when the review had been undertaken, the Task Group had deemed such a scheme as inappropriate.

It was noted that there had been a response to the recommendations of the Task Group, contained within the Executive Cabinet minutes of its meeting on 20 June 2013 further down the agenda. All the recommendations had been approved by the Cabinet and it was considered that the private rented sector housing standards policy and inspection regime would improve standards.

A more detailed report on the Executive Cabinets response to the recommendations contained within the review would be submitted to the next meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Members consideration.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary interest you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

No declarations of any interests were received.

There were no questions by any member of the public.

To consider the enclosed minutes of the Executive Cabinet meeting held on 20 June 2013

13.EC.54 – Chorley Inward Investment Plan

Issue raised

It had been agreed that a copy of the full plan would be made available to Members and the Chief Executive explained that this would be published in the next edition of intheknow, that Friday.

To consider the report of the Chair and Vice Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee in 2012/13 (enclosed)

Members considered the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report that detailed the work of the Committee in 2012/13, including the specific outcomes from the Task Groups and the Committee’s role in finance scrutiny, other performance and holding the Executive to account.

It was reported that a formal response to the recommendations contained within the Adoption of Estates Review that related to Lancashire County Council was expected shortly.

Members were provided with a further update on the IDVA funding. The Clinical Commissioning Groups had no plans to contribute to a centralised IDVA service for 2013/14. Had they had already allocated their funds to existing priorities. This meant that the IDVA service would continue to be provided on a local basis. Members were very disappointed with this outcome and asked if more could be done secure funding in the future.

As part of the Streetscene Modernisation, scrutiny focus, Members had been assured that the absence of bus timetables at bus stops across the borough would be addressed. As they had not been reinstated, the Head of Streetscene and Leisure Contracts agreed to follow this up.

The report would be amended to reflect that the Committee had considered the Executives budget proposals for 2013/14 instead of the budget principles as in previous years.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and be submitted to full Council in July.

The Head of Health, Environment and Neighbourhoods will give a presentation at the meeting.

The Head of Health, Environment and Neighbourhoods delivered a presentation to Members on how the Council impacts on the health of its citizen’s.

The Council delivers a number of health related services, such as, Environmental Health and Housing, Planning and Development Control, Sports and Leisure, Economic Development and Welfare Benefits.

Effective partnership working is key to the successful delivery of many of these services and the authority is actively involved in the Chorley and South Ribble Health and Wellbeing Partnership. Many health initiatives have been incorporated into the neighbourhood priorities and the Council continues to work closely with the Voluntary and Community Faith Sector (VCFS) network.

Scrutiny’s role was in measuring health impact, Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNA) would analyse the health needs of populations to inform and guide commissioning of health and wellbeing services within local authority areas. However, these assessments would identify long term health trends that would be difficult to measure at present. The new arrangements would need time to become established with many of the health benefits only becoming measurable over a longer period of time.

In the meantime it was important to identify short term indicators that would include assessing value for money at a local level and the tracking of partner and council service delivery.to measure their success.

There was a new remit of the County Council to scrutinise health and wellbeing. All the districts were represented on the Health and Wellbeing Board and Healthwatch had recently been launched to scrutinise accountability and public involvement.

Members felt that there needed to be a more coordinated approach to the gathering of all the statistical information that was available for each of the neighbourhood areas. The neighbourhood plans should include every aspect relating to the health and wellbeing of its residents in that area.

It was also felt that there needed to be better collaboration and communication with the County Council and that all Members would benefit from an information session to update them on the latest situation with regards to the health and wellbeing agenda.

It was suggested that the Committee undertake a piece of work to look at the emerging Play and Open Spaces Strategy (e.g. what we’re going to do over the next 5 years in the light of the analysis undertaken by KKP for the LDF process) and to see, using our Impact Assessment methodologies, whether the health and wellbeing opportunities are being maximised.

RESOLVED

1.     That an information session on the health and wellbeing agenda to be delivered to all Members of the Council.

2.    That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee undertake a review of the emerging Play and Open Spaces Strategy at a dedicated meeting. To be chaired by Councillor Julia Berry, with support from Councillor Mark Perks.

To appoint the membership for the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Panel 2013/14

RESOLVED – That the Membership of the Overview and Performance Panel for 2013/14 be confirmed as follows:

Councillor Steve Holgate (Chair)

Councillor Mark Perks (Vice Chair)

Councillor Julia Berry

Councillor Keith Iddon

Councillor Marion Lowe

Councillor Kim Snape

Report of the Director of People and Places (enclosed)

The Committee received a report of the Direct of People and Places providing them with an update on the implementation of outstanding actions agreed following the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group review of allotments.

It had previously been reported that all agreed recommendations had been actioned and this report provided additional works that had implemented since.

Additional plots have been made available at Manor Road, with more planned as part of the Rangletts Recreation Ground development due for completion in March 2014. This would represent a 36% increase from the 146 plots that were available in 2010 and see a reduction on the waiting list from 405 to 363. Although this was still a substantial number, it was explained to Members that some people had refused four or five allotments, opting to wait for a site nearer to home.

The Parks and Open Spaces team continued to seek and identify further potential sites and included working with Parish Councils to develop non-Council owned sites. The team were currently assisting Coppull Parish Council to implement 20 plots to the rear of St. Oswald’s Church. This would help to relieve general waiting lists but would be managed by the parish council.

The Committee were pleased that the team continued to identify additional sites across the borough.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

An update will be provided at the meeting.

The Chair updated the Committee on the progress made on the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group – Select Move.

The first meeting of the Task Group will take place on 18 July 2013 and would be an information gathering session that would allow Members to effectively scope the review.

RESOLVED – That the Membership of the Overview and Scrutiny Task Group – Select Move be as follows:

Councillor Graham Dunn (Chair)

Councillor Hasina Khan (Vice-Chair)

Councillor Julia Berry

Councillor Alison Hansford

Councillor Paul Leadbetter

Councillor June Molyneaux

Councillor Steve Murfitt

Councillor Paul Walmsley

To consider the Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan 2013/14 (enclosed)

Members considered the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2013/14.

It was agreed by the Committee that the next Overview and Scrutiny Task Group would be Development Control processes and procedures, with particular reference to the Local Enforcement Plan that was due to be approved at Council on 17 July 2013.

RESOLVED – That the Work Programme be noted.

To receive and consider the Notice of Executive Decisions published on 2 July 2013 (enclosed)

The Committee received the current notice of Executive decisions for information.