Agenda and minutes

AGREED    -    That the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Panel meeting held on 3 March 2016 be confirmed as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

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.

Councillor Matthew Lynch declared an interest in the Performance Focus: Community Plan due to his role as Member Responsible for Community Development.  Councillor Lynch remained in the meeting and contributed to the discussion.

Report of the Director (Policy and Governance) enclosed.

Councillor Beverly Murray, Executive Member (Early Intervention) has been invited to attend this meeting.

Members of the Panel received a report which provided contextual information in respect of community development delivery and future development.

The Chair welcomed Councillor Beverley Murray, Executive Member (Early Intervention) and Jamie Carson, Deputy Chief Executive/Director (Early Intervention and Support) to the meeting, who attended to answer questions in relation to Community Development.

Members of the Panel were provided with an update on the latest position on staffing following the Council’s management structure which resulted in some minor changes to the team.  The Health and Wellbeing team as it was now called; had an additional Community Development Officer post.  Get Up and Go sessions continued to attract positive levels of participation with a total of 26,642 young people attending sessions in 2015/16, which was an increase of over 20% on 2014/15.

The team continued to support local clubs and groups with 155 groups supported in 2015/16 which vary from luncheon clubs through to larger organisations such as the Prince’s Trust. The total number of groups supported was lower than the same time last year (200 in 14/15) which reflected a more targeted approach and also additional support was available from within the sector, for example from the VCFS Network.

Members of the Panel discussed many aspects of the report which included:

Targeted Activities; and questioned why few activities were being arranged for those residents in the middle age group.  It was explained that programme sessions were identified based on evidence available both locally and nationally.  Latest figures suggested that those residents in the middle age group would already undertake some kind of regular activity.  There was evidence to suggest both younger and older residents were more likely not take part in regular activities and these groups were classed as some of the most vulnerable groups in society.  It was therefore important to try to engage with these groups to prevent the feeling of isolation and encourage a more active lifestyle.

Working in Schools; and how the Council engaged with them.  The Panel was informed that the Council worked closely with some schools, but not others.  Schools were not required to buy in services from the Chorley Council; they can choose which service provider they want to work with, even if that was a neighbouring authority.  However, when it came to borough wide activities such as the Chorley Grand Prix, all schools within the borough were invited to take part.

Chorley Time Credits; was hailed a great success.  The Time Credits programme had delivered successful outcomes in terms of increased volunteering and benefits for communities in Chorley.  It was acknowledged that Chorley Time Credits was a positive and proactive means of encouraging and growing volunteering effort, supporting and strengthening links between existing volunteering groups in Chorley as well as encouraging and providing opportunities for new groups to get established.

The Panel was reassured that management arrangement of Chorley Time Credits had been put in place for when the Health and Wellbeing Team took ownership of the scheme.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Members of the Panel  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.OSP.19

Report of the Director (Policy and Governance) enclosed.

Members of the Panel received a report by the Director of Policy and Governance the purpose of which was to present the single organisational business plan for 2016/17 and to review the programme of projects which had been planned for delivery over the coming financial year.

All projects within the 2015/16 organisational plan had been received and were either complete or to be carried forward with a future date for completion identified.  The plan included a significant number of large and capital investment items along with projects phased over multiple years to deliver a sustained impact and therefore 20 items were taken forward in 2016/17.

The plan included 55 projects which had been approved through the Corporate Strategy process, identified for budget investment in 2016/17 or had been carried forward from 2015/16.  In total, the 2016/17 plan incorporated 16 Corporate Strategy projects, 31 Budget Growth projects and 8 Business Improvement projects which comprised of –

·         Development of a new Buckshaw Community Centre

·         Yarrow Valley car park

·         Play, Open Space and Playing Pitch Strategy

·         Transport plan for Chorley

·         Digital access and inclusion

·         Delivery of Community Action Plans

·         Reform public services in Chorley

Members of the Panel discussed various aspects of the report:

·         The Yarrow Valley project; members of the Panel sought an update on the project in regards to the car park.  The Performance and Partnerships Manager advised that she would call upon the relevant Project Manager to provide an update and circulate it as soon as possible.

·         The management transfer of the new Buckshaw Village Community Centre, from the Council; it was reported that discussions were at an early stage and as yet nothing had been agreed.  It had been envisaged that individual groups involved in the Community Centre would join together to create a management committee.  However, if there was not enough interest expressed, the Council would consider appointing a sole management company to manage the centre.  The management transition would be facilitated by the Council.

·         School place projections project; members of the Panel raised concern about the lack of school places available at the moment, particularly high schools.  The Panel sought reassurance that when predicting the number of primary and secondary school places required, that the project considered the amount of new housing developments in Chorley that had been built recently and those which had been granted planning permission.  The Council’s Performance and Partnership Manager advised that the Panel’s concerns would be reported to the project manager and asked for this matter to be addressed in the project.  The Panel was informed that the project, which was scheduled for completion later this year, would be evidence to support any decisions made in relation to school places in the future. 

There was a further discussion about the need for providers and schools to share information to ensure that those children and families in need of assistance are identified and supported effectively.

·         Food banks; in response to enquiries made by members of the Panel the Council’s Performance and Partnership Manager  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.OSP.20