Agenda and minutes

No declarations were received.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Caulfield and Councillor Dyke.

The Director of Finance and Resources advised the committee that the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) business plan was presented to the Finance and Performance Board on Monday 4 February, 2019. The committee heard that the balance carried forward from last year was mostly committed to capital expenditure. The minimum balance required by law is £3 million and the current balance was £7 million.

The current housing stock was in decent condition. A £26.5 million capital spend program was underway including improvements to Barrow Hill, Newland Dale and Grangewood. The program for 2020 would cost in the region of £15 million.

It was reported that the budget for repairs was £8.3 million with 70% of this work being delivered by the Operation Services Division (OSD) and the remainder by specialist contractors.

The Director of Finance and Resources explained that a future risk would be the planned stock condition survey which would take place in 2020 and would be carried out by an external company. The results of the survey could impact the required budget for repairs.

RESOLVED –

That the update be noted.

The Senior Environmental Health Officer gave a presentation on climate change and the new Environmental Statement that was due to be completed in March 2019.

Climate change was summarised as a change in climate patterns as a result of the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere produced by the use of fossil fuels. Examples of pollution were given as landfill, industrial process causing air pollution, vehicles, deforestation and single use plastics such as carrier bags.

Members heard that the Senior Environmental Health Officer had been set an objective last year to create an environmental statement. She expressed the opinion that in the future every corporate decision made by the Council should have an environmental consideration.

The ways in which the Council was already helping to look after the environment were listed as;

·        Installation of EV charging points in car parks

·        Biodegradable coffins available at the Crematorium

·        Recycling

·        Reducing levels of pollution

·        Introducing electric vehicles into the fleet

·        Implementing a green travel plan

·        Insulating housing stock to reduce fuel consumption

·        Energy management

·        Regeneration across the Borough

The new statement would be an overarching document outlining the legal responsibilities of the Council for residents, businesses and contractors. It was indicated that the statement would be an umbrella document to enable more specific focus documents. It would set out our commitments with the aim of reducing our impact on the environment, our commitments for protecting the environment and reducing pollution and the intention to include environmental considerations in all decisions.

It was observed that there are areas in the Borough that are deemed ‘hotspots’ in terms of air quality and there was an air quality action plan due for completion in early May.

RESOLVED –

1.   That the update be noted.

2.   That the Senior Environmental Health Officer be invited back to the next meeting on 2 April, 2019 to present the completed statement.

Leisure, Sports and Cultural Activities

The committee was of the opinion that this project group had been concluded following confirmation from the Assistant Director – Health and Wellbeing that there were no further outstanding issues.

Future use of the former Queen’s Park Sports Centre

The Chair advised that the coal mining survey and pre-planning conditions had caused delays on the site. A further update was expected from the Assistant Director – Health and Wellbeing and a site visit was to be conducted in May 2019.

Skills

The Senior Democratic and Scrutiny Officer presented the Skills Scrutiny Project Group report to the committee prior to it being presented to Cabinet on 26 February, 2019.

The project group was established to look at the Skills Action Plan at its halfway stage. The excellent support that the group had received from officers was noted. The project focussed on a number of key areas;

·        How to maximise the benefits of local labour agreements.

·        How to monitor and measure the success of apprenticeships in the Borough

·        The possibility of hosting a Construction Skills Village in Chesterfield

·        The effectiveness of the Enterprise Co-ordinator (which is part funded by the council)

·        The unknown impact of Brexit

The Chair acknowledged that this was one of the best project groups she had seen.

Play Strategy

It was noted that the Play Strategy had been removed from the Forward Plan and that an all members briefing would be held before any further progress was made.

RESOLVED –

1.   That the updates be noted.

2.   That the recommendations of the Skills Scrutiny Project Group’s report, as detailed below, be approved to be recommended to Cabinet.

i.             That the quarterly meetings between the Economic Development team and Planning team to discuss current and new developments be re-instated.

ii.            That smaller developments be encouraged to undertake best practice in supporting the local skills and employment agenda by developing and publishing guidance on maximising skills and employment opportunities on small developments.

iii.           That the Apprentice Town web resource include guidance for employers and education providers on what a good apprenticeship looks like.

iv.          That the number of apprentices that go into permanent employment from Chesterfield Borough Council and Chesterfield College be monitored so that a new tool can be developed which can be applied to other apprenticeship providers.

v.           That the importance of statistics on apprentices carrying on into permanent employment be raised at the East Midlands Ambassador Network.

vi.          That the Council initiate the conversations with relevant stakeholders to locate a suitable development to host a Construction Skills Village in Chesterfield Borough.

vii.         That the Council continue to co-fund the Enterprise Co-ordinator.

viii.       That the Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance Group (CEIAG) be encouraged to provide careers leads in schools with information on jobs linked to HS2, particularly secondary schools in North Derbyshire.

ix.          That the Council encourage the LEPs to carry out a piece of work analysing the impact Brexit will have on the local skills and employment agenda and forward  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

The Committee considered the Scrutiny recommendations monitoring schedule.

RESOLVED -

That the Scrutiny monitoring schedule be noted.

The Forward Plan for the four month period 1 February, 2019 to 31 May, 2019 was presented for information.

RESOLVED –

That the Forward Plan be noted.

The 2018/19 Work Programme for the Enterprise and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee was reported for information.

RESOLVED –

That the work programme be noted and updated to include the decisions of the current meeting.

RESOLVED –

The Minutes of the meeting of the Enterprise and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee held on 4 December, 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.