Council and Democracy

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 2, Town Hall, Rose Hill, Chesterfield

Contact: Joel Hammond-Gant  01246 34 5273

Items
No. Item

38.

Declarations of Members' And Officers' Interests Relating To Items On The Agenda

Minutes:

No declarations were received.

39.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor V-A Diouf.

40.

Cabinet Member for Homes and Customers

5.05pm – Update on Housing Allocations Policy

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Homes and Customer and Assistant Director – Housing attended to provide an update on the Allocations and Transfer Policy following review of the policy in 2015 and implementation of the changes in 2016.

 

The Assistant Director reported that the majority of changes to the policy had been successful however two of the changes had raised additional issues which required revisions to the policy.

 

The 12 month residency requirement was introduced to ensure that the Council’s housing stock was utilised to meet the housing need of existing residents of the borough or those who had employment in the area. It was successful in limiting the number of properties being let to out-of-borough applicants, however it had also resulted in a marked increase in the number of long term empty/void properties. Solutions were trialled including allowing North East Derbyshire and Bolsover District residents on to the housing register for hard to let properties, decorating hard to let flats and advertising on Rightmove. Since these actions were implemented in October 2017, the number of void properties has reduced providing an increase in rental income. In addition, the 12 month residency and employment criteria would be reviewed whilst ensuring preference is still given to Chesterfield Borough Council (CBC) residents.

 

The pre-allocation risk assessment was introduced to tackle the increasing number of failed tenancies due to rent arrears. However, the minimum income level was not specified in the policy itself and therefore unable to be applied. Following the introduction of Universal Credit, there had been an increase in applicants being offered tenancies when their overall income did not cover their rental amount however they cannot currently be refused a tenancy on the basis that it is unaffordable. The Assistant Director advised that a full financial risk assessment to properly assess affordability would be proposed to ensure tenancies were only offered where there is a likelihood of success and to allow the correct support to be put in place to achieve this.

 

The Assistant Director provided a summary of other issues and proposals to address these including:

·        introducing new conditions on existing tenants transferring from one property to another;

·        procuring a new IT system for the delivery of Choice Based Lettings to offer a simpler method of managing applicants’ priorities;

·        aligning the bedroom age limits with the welfare benefits criteria;

·        changing policy wording to make pensionable age limits clearer;

·        updating bedroom rules during pregnancy;

·        introducing an equity/asset level for applicants;

·        closer alignment with the adaptations policy.

 

In response to members’ questions, the Assistant Director advised that there were approximately 1200 applicants on the waiting list at present and a turnover of 1000 houses per year. CBC would have to demonstrate its need in order to secure funding from the government to meet the housing demand. CBC was working with neighbouring authorities to understand where their demand and surpluses were.

 

The Homelessness Reduction Act would be introduced from April 2018 placing an obligation on CBC to assist anyone who approaches the Council.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

41.

Cabinet Member for Economic Growth

6.05pm – Update on Skills Action Plan

Minutes:

The Senior Economic Development Officer attended to inform members about the progress made towards delivering the Skills Action Plan 2017-2020, approved by Cabinet in June 2017, and to consult members on the areas for future focus.

 

The plan was developed with the aims of maximising the benefits of skills related programmes and investments in the town and improving the skills profile of the borough’s residents. The plan was underpinned by 4 objectives and the Senior Economic Development Officer provided a progress update on each objective:

 

Working with partners to ensure local people and businesses have the right skills to access future opportunities:

·        held a design competition with Level 3 students to develop the Apprenticeship Town brand;

·        organised round table discussions with businesses to share experiences and views on undertaking apprenticeships in Chesterfield;

·        developed an Apprentice Town web resource in conjunction with Destination Chesterfield;

·        worked with CEC and Destination Chesterfield to deliver a skills and employment conference;

·        helped businesses access funding to upskill their staff;

·        continued to support Talent Match and Ambition.

 

Provide clear advice and support to local people and businesses about the range of skills programmes available:

·        updated the jobs, skills and employment pages of CBC’s website;

·        delivered events including Christmas jobs fairs, skills conference and skills and apprenticeship round tables;

·        presented to the head teachers forum about Apprentice Town and provided interview support to schools;

·        provided skills support and advice to local businesses.

 

Work with our Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and Education Partners to ensure that skills provision is aligned to future jobs growth and economic opportunities from emerging sectors:

·        established links between Chesterfield College and the National College for High Speed Rail;

·        invited HS2 to speak at October’s Skills Conference;

·        contributed to regional skills activity and working groups at the LEPs;

·        met regularly with education partners to help secure funding;

·        working to deliver the Digital Advantage Programme with Derbyshire County Council and Arvato.

 

Maximise the number of training, employment and supply chain opportunities for local people arising from new development and secured through Local Labour Agreements:

·        working on the delivery of 4 skills and employment plans with businesses;

·        held 2 meet the buyer events and seen over 15 local jobs created;

·        contracts worth £1.75m have been won by local businesses;

·        local labour conditions have brought about 4 apprentices, 1 permanent position or internship, 5 temporary posts, 3 site visits for schools and colleges, careers talks for college students and 6 weeks work experience.

 

The Senior Economic Development Officer explained that, whilst the level of jobs growth had not changed, the number of apprenticeships starting in Chesterfield Borough during 2016/17 had risen which went against the declining national trend. The skills profile was showing an increase in the number of GCSE results above national average however the number of people with a qualification at level 4 or above was significantly below the national average though there appeared to be an upward trend.

 

Some of the key challenges impacting the delivery of the objectives included changes to national policy,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

42.

Scrutiny Project Groups

6.45pm – Scrutiny Project Group updates:

 

·        Play Strategy

·        Leisure, Sports and Cultural Activities

·        Development of the site of the old Queen’s Park Sports Centre

Minutes:

Play Strategy

 

The Principal Green Space Strategy Officer attended to provide an update on the development of a new Play Strategy which was running alongside an assessment of all public open spaces of 0.2Ha or above, jointly commissioned by the Planning Service. Contractors had been appointed to undertake the commission over the next 6 months and a public and stakeholder consultation would be carried out as part of the strategy formulation; it was expected that this would be developed and rolled out in the next 4-6 weeks.

 

As part of the assessments, each play space had been assigned a category to determine its future use and requirements for investment; ward members had been consulted regarding the interim proposals for each site and Members were provided with a summary of the outcomes of the consultation which were largely in support of the proposals.

 

Leisure, Sports and Cultural Activities

 

The Chair advised that the scrutiny project group were still waiting for the final meeting to sign off the project to build the new Queen’s Park Sports Centre; this was being followed up with the Leader.

 

Development of the site of the old Queen’s Park Sports Centre

 

A site meeting took place on 14 February, 2018 with the consultants who were now finalising plans for the proposed development. Consultations were taking place with Historic England to enable a planning application to be submitted.

43.

Forward Plan

6.55pm – Forward Plan of Key Decisions

 

Please follow this link to the Forward Plan to view the most recent and up to date version.

 

Minutes:

The Forward Plan was considered.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That the Forward Plan be noted.

44.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 133 KB

7.00pm – Work Programme of the Enterprise and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee attached.

Minutes:

The second work programming session would take place on 14 March, 2018 where the long list of items from the first session would be prioritised.

 

RESOLVED –

 

1.   That the Work Programme be approved

 

2.   That the new Assistant Director – Health and Wellbeing be invited to a future meeting of the Committee.

45.

Monitoring Schedule pdf icon PDF 82 KB

7.05pm – Monitoring Schedule attached.

Minutes:

The Monitoring Schedule was considered.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That the Monitoring Schedule be approved.

46.

Corporate Working Groups

7.10pm – Update on the Housing Revenue Account Steering Group.

Minutes:

Councillor Perkins provided an update from the Housing Revenue Account Steering Group which was working to put forward a revised business plan that addressed the impacts of the Welfare Reform Act and Housing and Planning Act on the Housing Revenue Account.

 

The group had made changes to the tenancy agreement and held extensive consultations across the borough which would be examined at the next working group meeting in March, 2018.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That the update be noted.

47.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 82 KB

7.15pm – Minutes of the meeting of the Enterprise and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee held on 12 December, 2017 attached.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 12 December, 2017 were presented.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That the Minutes be accepted as a correct record and be signed by the Chair.