Agenda and minutes

No declarations of interest were received.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Perkins in respect of Minute No. 12.

5.05 pm

The Policy and Communications Manager presented a report on Derbyshire County Council’s (DCC) consultation on proposed changes to Adult Social Care Grant Funding for non-statutory service priorities.

DCC had advised voluntary and community sector providers in receipt of funding from the Adult Care budget and/or funding from Derbyshire NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) that the current level of funding was considered to be no longer sustainable because of further central government cuts. Funding arrangements for current recipients had been extended until September 2016 (including a three month notice of termination of funding subject to the outcome of the consultation process). It was likely that there  would be proposals to use the reduced funding available to commission new services following a competitive exercise against DCC’s and the CCGs’ local service priorities.

The report included details of the community and voluntary organisations currently in receipt of funding, nine of which provided services to Chesterfield Borough residents.

In addition to direct discussion with these organisations, the consultation process included an online survey, events, telephone completion and written submissions, closing on 24 July, 2016. A report to enable a final decision would be considered by DCC Cabinet in September.  

The Committee empathised with the position of DCC and it welcomed the consultation exercise and the opportunity for the Borough Council to participate in this.

Members expressed the view that consideration should be given to the work undertaken and outcomes achieved by each of the voluntary and community organisations in order to inform decisions on future funding to the voluntary and community sector from the Adult Care Grant Aid budget, taking account of the overall funding position of each organisation. Furthermore, Members expressed concern that such decisions should be considered in a ‘joined up’ approach to take account of the current North Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group consultation on ‘Better Care Closer to Home’, in order to seek to ensure that suitable support services were available at a local level.

RESOLVED

That the Committee’s comments on the DCC consultation exercise be reported to the Borough Council’s Cabinet to enable a response to be submitted to DCC.

5.25 pm - Verbal Report

Members of the Enterprise and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee had been invited to attend the meeting for this item.

The Deputy Leader and the Policy and Communications Manager outlined the consultation process which was being undertaken by Sheffield City Region (SCR) in respect of the proposed devolution deal for a combined authority with a directly elected City Region Mayor. The devolution deal offered new powers and funding to improve infrastructure, transport, skills, housing and other drivers of business growth.

The Leader and Chief Executive had received positive feedback from local businesses at a presentation to Destination Chesterfield members, and information was being distributed through local newspapers (Derbyshire Times, Sheffield Star, Your Chesterfield) and radio.

There was information available on the SCR website (www.sheffieldcityregiondevolution.org.uk) and on the Borough Council’s website on the devolution proposals, including on the governance arrangements for the combined authority. An online survey was available on the SCR website.

Various events had been arranged, including with Brimington Parish Council, Staveley Town Council, South Yorkshire and East Midlands Chambers of Commerce, local elected Members and a public meeting and drop in session. There was also a display at the Customer Service Centre with response forms which could be completed. 

The consultation period would close on 12 August, following which an independent survey organisation would produce a technical report for the consideration of each of the constituent Councils, with the final decision to be made by the Secretary of State.

In response to questions from Members the following points were clarified:

·          There would also be social media campaigns about the consultation and leaflets and displays in public buildings. Leaflets could be supplied to Members if they wished to distribute these;

·          The drop in event in the Market Hall would be in the public open space and would attempt to draw people in from outside;

·          Any precept set by the Mayor would need to be for the benefit of SCR residents and would require approval from a two-thirds majority of the combined authority members;

·          SCR would be responsible for public transport, but highways maintenance would remain with Derbyshire County Council.

·          If Chesterfield was successful in becoming a constituent member of SCR, Derbyshire County Council would also be allocated a place on the combined authority with full voting rights.

RESOLVED

That the consultation on the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority Governance Scheme and Review be supported.

5.45 pm

The Cabinet Member for Business Transformation and the Human Resources Manager presented a report to update Members on the areas within the Workforce Strategy linking to the Scrutiny Work Programme item ‘Workforce Fit for the Future’ and to demonstrate how the Council was approaching the development of employees.

The Workforce Strategy which had been approved by Council in April, 2016 included themes on ‘leadership, skills and capabilities’ and ‘talent management’ and these were being progressed through the agreed action plan, a copy of which was attached to the report in respect of these two themes.

The report also explained the recent introduction of the Apprentice Levy and Public Sector targets, which would result in a target for the Council of 16 – 23 new apprentice starts each year from September, 2017. Although the cost of training courses was not yet known, the levy would require the Council to allocate 0.5% of its payroll bill towards courses for the apprentices. It was likely that a proportion of the target would be met through existing staff being offered higher apprentice courses to enhance their development.

Arising from questions from Members and discussion the following points were raised:

·          The importance of all staff having development reviews (EPDs) was stressed – Human Resources would monitor this as part of their quality assurance checks of managers’ objectives;

·          Opportunities for staff to regularly practice what they had learned in training, such as IT skills;

·          Factors in respect of disability were considered in capability reviews;

·          A cultural shift was required for managers to lead the identification of staff development priorities for their staff;

·          There was a need for management tasks to be devolved to lower levels with training and support;

·          It was hoped to work with Unison in providing learning opportunities.

It was requested that consideration be given to the possibility of a Scrutiny Committee Member being included on the Workforce Strategy Steering Group.

RESOLVED

(1)     That the report be notedand a progress report be brought to the Committee’s meeting in January, 2017.

(2)     That the Workforce Strategy Steering Group be requested to consider whether a Scrutiny Committee Member could be included in the Group.

6.05 pm

The Committee considered the Forward Plan for the period 1 July – 31 October 2016.

RESOLVED –

That the Forward Plan be noted.

6.15 pm

The Committee considered the Scrutiny recommendations monitoring schedule.

RESOLVED –

That the Scrutiny monitoring report be approved.

6.20 pm

The Committee considered the list of items included on its Work Programme for 2016/17.

It was proposed that the items on Press Red Work and Health Scrutiny/Deprivation be deferred to the September meeting due to representatives having been unavailable for this meeting. It was therefore suggested that the item on Markets be deferred to the November meeting and that the Chair consider whether the item on Impacts of Welfare Reform be deferred to November. 

RESOLVED –

(1)     That the Work Programme for the Community, Customer and Organisational Scrutiny Committee for 2016/17 be updated to defer the items on Press Red Work and Health Scrutiny/Deprivation to the September meeting and to defer the item on Markets to the November meeting.

(2)     That the Chair consider whether the item on Impacts of Welfare Reform be deferred to November.

6.30 pm - Verbal Report

-      Venues

-       Friends of Groups

The Committee considered the scheduling and resourcing of the proposed Scrutiny Project groups in respect of Venues and Friends of Groups. It was recognised that the Venues Group may need to delay starting its work to enable work on other Project groups to be completed.

It was confirmed that Members would be invited to express interest in joining the Project Group on Friends of Groups. 

RESOLVED –

(1)     That Members be invited to express interest in joining the Project Group on Friends of Groups.

(2)     That commencement of the Venues Project Group be deferred pending completion of other Scrutiny Project Group work.

6.40 pm

The Minutes of the meeting of the Community, Customer and Organisational Scrutiny Committee held on 24 May, 2016 were presented.

RESOLVED –

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