Agenda and minutes

Decision: That the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 24 January 2019 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

Decision: That the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 7 March 2019 be approved 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 a non-pecuniary interest in item 11: Task and Finish Group - Quality of housing provided by social landlords. 

There were no public questions for consideration.

To consider the Executive Cabinet minutes of the meeting held on 17 January, 14 February and 14 March (to follow).

Decision: That the minutes of the Executive Cabinet meeting held on 17 January, 14 February and 14 March 2019 be noted.

To view the latest notice of Executive Decisions click here: https://democracy.chorley.gov.uk/mgListPlanItems.aspx?PlanId=893&RP=115 .

The document is also attached and correct as of 13 March 2019.

Members considered the Notice of Executive Decisions and queried the progress with the development of the Cowling Farm site and the implementation of the Senior Management Review.  A written response to both queries will be provided following the meeting. 

The Chair requested advance notice of questions where an officer or Executive Member is required to answer in respect of items on the Notice. 

Decision: That the Notice of Executive Decisions be noted.

This report has been removed from the agenda and will be presented to the meeting in June.   

The Chair advised that this item had been withdrawn from the agenda and will be presented in June. 

To consider and receive the report of the Director (Business, Development and Growth). 

Mark Lester, Director of Business, Development and Growth, presented the report which updates Members on progress with the recommendations of the Task Group review into the Adoption of Estates.

Following the consideration of the Task Group’s recommendations into the Adoption of Estates by the Executive Cabinet in 2013, all recommendations were agreed, and there have been three follow up progress reports, the last in January 2016.

This report updates the progress that has been made since the recommendations.  Each Neighbourhood Area receives a report on the progress of adoptions including adoptions of roads and public open space for their Neighbourhood Area Meetings (NAMs) twice a year.  The NAM reports list current information held on sites, progress and responds to queries received.

Members noted the difficulties faced by the Council due to the triangular relationship between LCC and developers.  Issues of record keeping by LCC were discussed in relation to a number of cases.  The Chair suggested that a representative from LCC be invited to a future meeting. 

Decision: That the report be noted.

To consider the Work Plan of Lancashire County Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee.  The Council’s representative on the Committee, Councillor Alistair Morwood, will give a verbal update.

Councillor Alistair Morwood updated the meeting on the items considered by Lancashire County Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee.

At the meeting on 5 February the Committee considered the Lancashire and South Cumbria - Integrated Care System update. 

The Committee received an overview of the partnership in Lancashire and South Cumbria working as an Integrated Care System (ICS) which covered five local areas.

Concerns had been expressed in relation to recent issues in relation to mental health service provision in accident and emergency departments and the lack of baseline figures in the report necessary to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of expenditure.

An update on the Stroke Programme was also given.  Stroke is not an older person's disease and disabilities are lifelong. Stroke is the fourth major cause of death and the principal cause of disability in the UK and lifestyle is a major contributing factor.  A considerable number of patients are not being appropriately treated for Atrial Fibrillation and hypertension, and approximately 30% of patients are discharged from hospital with no plan.

Decision: That the update be noted.

Councillor Gillian Sharples left the meeting at 7.15pm.

Quality of housing provided by social landlords Task and Finish Group

To receive and consider the final report.

Councillor Matthew Lynch, Chair of the Task Group, reported that in 2017 the Council had recognized the need for the issue of the quality of housing provided by social landlords to be investigated. 

Funding had been secured by the Chair, Councillor Jane Fitzsimons, to undertake a survey of around two thirds of tenants.  Following her appointment to the Executive Cabinet in May 2018 Councillor Lynch became the Chair.  The Task Group have interviewed representatives from the two largest Registered Providers in Chorley, Chorley Community Housing and Places for People. 

The recommendations put forward by the Task Group are in line with the Housing green paper.  There are clear patterns in the results regarding the performance of social landlords within Chorley.  The recommendations will be taken forward as the Council sets up a Housing Company. 

Councillor Lynch thanked Councillors and officers for their contribution to the inquiry and advised that the report will be considered by Executive Cabinet in June. 

Decision: That the update be noted.

To consider the Scrutiny Work Programme for 2018/19.

Members considered the work programme and noted that the arrangements for Neighbourhood areas following the implementation of the Electoral Review in 2020 and an update on the Syrian refugee settlement programme will be presented in June. 

Decision: That the 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 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

By Virtue of Paragraph 3: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

Condition:

Information is not exempt if it is required to be registered under-

The Companies Act 1985

The Friendly Societies Act 1974

The Friendly Societies Act 1992

The Industrial and Provident Societies Acts 1965 to 1978

The Building Societies Act 1986 (recorded in the public file of any building society, within the meaning of the Act)

The Charities Act 1993

Information is exempt to the extent that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Information is not exempt if it relates to proposed development for which the local planning authority may grant itself planning permission pursuant to Regulation 3 of the Town & Country Planning General Regulations 1992(a).

Decision: To exclude the press and public for the following items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

To consider and receive the report of the Director (Early Intervention and Support).

Angela Barrago, Health and Wellbeing Manager, presented the confidential report of the Director (Early Intervention and Support) which had been considered by Executive Cabinet on 14 March. 

Members were pleased with the focus on encouraging residents to be healthy. 

Decision: That the report be noted.

To receive and consider the report of the Director (Early Intervention and Support). 

Angela Barrago, Health and Wellbeing Manager, presented the confidential report of the Director (Early Intervention and Support) which updates Members on the plans to review the protocol for managing temporary Gypsy and Traveller encampments in the borough.

Decision: That the report be noted.