Agenda and minutes

No declarations of interest were received.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dyke and Sarvent.

Minutes of the Meeting of the Community, Customer and Organisational Scrutiny Committee held on 11 July attached.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Community, Customer and Organisational Scrutiny Committee held on 11 July, 2017 were presented.

RESOLVED –

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

5.05 pm – (Report to follow)

The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, the Health and Wellbeing Manager and the Senior Public Health Manager (Mental Health, Workplace Health and Chesterfield Locality), Derbyshire County Council, presented a report to update Members of the current projects and programmes being delivered to address the need to improve health and wellbeing outcomes and reduce inequalities since the previous report to the Scrutiny Committee in March 2017.

The report outlined the key actions within the Chesterfield Health and Wellbeing Partnership locality plan, including to develop and deliver programmes with partners to improve health outcomes associated with falls prevention, alcohol and obesity.

The report referred to the Chesterfield Place Group, a wide partnership of the key agencies influencing health and social care to review the system to deliver improved outcomes and reduced costs to address the finance gap within the wider health service, shaped by the Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) developed by the Clinical Commissioning Groups across Derbyshire for the NHS.

Copies of the 2017 Health Profile for Chesterfield and the Public Health Outcomes Framework Local Indicator Summary (May 2017) were attached to the report as appendices. These showed local measures worse than the national average in respect of life expectancy, obesity, under 18 hospital admissions and adult hospital stays due to alcohol harm, hospital stays for self-harm and hospital admissions for falls in people aged over 65 and hip fractures.

The meeting considered some of the actions being taken locally to address falls prevention and obesity and inactivity, including the development of local delivery plans across the seven neighbourhood areas from the Press Red work. A bid had been submitted from Derbyshire to The Local Delivery Pilot, an investment programme supported by Sport England, aimed to change the way sport and physical activity was offered in communities, especially in order to get more underrepresented groups more active. The Derbyshire bid included Staveley and Loundsley Green in Chesterfield.

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

·        The beneficial impact of the Holiday Hunger programme run in Barrow Hill;

·        The challenge to enable local communities and volunteers to continue projects following initial inputs;

·        The importance of identifying suitable premises for projects and activities for each specific location.

The report also referred to the Sheffield City Region Early Intervention Employment Pilot,designed to provide intensive, co-ordinated support to residents who were unemployed with multiple and complex barriers, the aim being to support them to find and keep work. The pilot was expected to start early in 2018 and to support over 400 Chesterfield residents.

It was noted that the Chesterfield Health and Wellbeing Partnership had established a working group to address some of the key issues arising from the introduction of Universal Credit full service in Chesterfield in November, 2017.

The Committee thanked the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, the Health and Wellbeing Manager and the Senior Public Health Manager (Mental Health, Workplace Health and Chesterfield Locality), Derbyshire County Council for their contribution to the meeting.

RESOLVED –

(1)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

For Minute Nos. 14 - 18 the Committee sat as the Council’s designated Crime and Disorder Committee, in accordance with Section 19 of the Police and Justice Act 2006.

5.35 pm – Minutes of the Meeting of the Derbyshire Police and Crime Panel held on 13 July, 2017 attached

The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, as Chesterfield Scrutiny Member of the Derbyshire Police and Crime Panel (PCP), submitted the minutes of the meeting of the PCP held on 13 July, 2016 for the information of the Committee.

It was noted that information distributed with the agenda for the PCP meeting on 14 September, 2017 had been made available to members of the Committee.

RESOLVED –

(1)         That the minutes of the Derbyshire Police and Crime Panel meeting held on 13 July, 2017 be noted.

To move “That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item 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 of the Act".

RESOLVED -

That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

5.45 pm – Community Safety Partnership Progress Report, Information on Alcohol related Hospital Admissions and Briefing Note on Illegal Encampments attached.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing and the Health and Wellbeing Manager presented a report on the progress of the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) towards the delivery of the current Community Safety action plan (2017/18) and the CSP’s performance as recorded by the Safer Derbyshire Research and Information Unit and trends in the crime and disorder data.

The data showed that reported crime in Chesterfield had reduced by 3.2% in the 12 months to March, 2017 compared with the previous 12 months. The largest reductions had been in respect of criminal damage and drug offences, whilst the largest increases had been in sexual offences and other theft. There had been a slight reduction in calls for service relating to anti-social behaviour across the borough as a whole.

It was reported that the Police and Crime Commissioner had hosted a summit of all partners to address anti-social behaviour issues in the town centre, and that work was continuing at officer level through sub groups, including issues of enforcement and treatment and support.

It was noted that the Council was currently consulting on a proposed Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to provide enforcement powers to deal with a range of anti-social behaviours in the town centre. The proposal included the appointment of two enforcement officers.

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

·        The importance of enforcement of the proposed PSPO and of not just shifting the problem from one location to another;

·        Some previous initiatives involving police and local GPs to provide treatment for young people found drinking in public places had proved successful, but that these had not been continued;

·        There would be signage around the town centre and in parks to publicise the scope of the PSPO.

Copies of the Accident and Emergency Data Review and the Derbyshire County Council report on Alcohol specific hospital admissions amongst children under 18 were attached to the report. It was noted that further work was required between the hospitals, the Ambulance Service and the Police to improve data collection in respect of alcohol related hospital admissions and that a project was included in the Council Plan for next year to address alcohol issues, working with the Clinical Commissioning Group.

The Private Sector Housing Manager presented a briefing note on the Council’s response to illegal encampments reflecting the legislative restraints and legal obligations.

It was explained that in taking legal action to move travellers and reclaim Council land the Council had to be proportionate in its action, to have regard to the travellers’ human rights including health, housing and welfare needs, race and equality laws and to take a balanced view between the needs of the settled community and the travellers. This involved close working between various Council departments and, where necessary, the police.

The briefing note outlined the eviction process, it being noted that in most cases travellers moved on following the service of the Direction Order.

It was noted that there was not currently an authorised site  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

After the consideration of an item containing exempt information that the public be re-admitted to the meeting.

RESOLVED -

That after the consideration of an item containing exempt information the public be re-admitted to the meeting.

6.15 pm – Scrutiny Committee Recommendations - Implementation Monitoring Schedule attached.

The aspects of the Scrutiny recommendations monitoring schedule that related to Crime and Disorder matters were considered by the Committee.

In respect of the Committee’s recommendation that a review be carried out of the decision to stop locking the park gates at night it was noted that currently the gates at Queen’s Park and Eastwood Park were continuing to be locked. It was noted that this issue would be kept under review as part of a wider review of security provision, and the Committee agreed that there was no need for this to remain on the monitoring schedule.

RESOLVED –

(1)         That the Scrutiny monitoring schedule be noted.

(2)         That the decision regarding the review of locking park gates be removed from the monitoring schedule.

(3)         That the monitoring schedule be approved.

For the remaining items the Committee sat as the Community, Customer and Organisational Scrutiny Committee.

6.25 pm – Report from Friends’ Groups Scrutiny Project Group (appendices previously distributed with 24 January, 2017 agenda)

Pursuant to Minute No. 34 (Community, Customer and Organisational Scrutiny Committee 2016/17) Councillor Caulfield, Scrutiny Project Group Lead Member, presented the Scrutiny Project Group’s revised report on Friends Groups to the Committee, taking account of the need for further investigation of financial and resource implications where necessary.

The project group had been set up to look at how friends groups worked with the Council to improve local parks and open spaces. The report detailed the objectives of the review, its findings and analysis, including a survey of all the friends groups and research of related documents used by other authorities, and its recommendations.

The Committee recognised the contribution of friends groups to looking after parks and open spaces.

The Chair thanked Councillor Caulfield and the members of the project group for the group’s work and report.

RESOLVED –

That the recommendations of the Scrutiny Project Group’s review of friends groups as detailed below be approved to be recommended to Cabinet:

(1)         That an up-to-date data base of friends of groups contacts is maintained by officers and that all friends of groups are given defined points of contact at the council to facilitate streamlined, effective and accountable channels of communication between groups and the council.

(2)         That the Friends of Groups information pack is reviewed and updated to provide:

·        Guidance on developing a new group or joining an existing group

·        Guidance on developing aims, constitutions, management committees and financial arrangements

·        Advice and tips for key management committee roles including the chair, secretary and treasurer

·        Tips for keeping the members of the friends of group, local community and council updated including social media and links to council publications, social media and websites

·        Basic insurance and risk management advice

·        Advice on developing an action plan

·        Templates and examples of key documents to assist groups

·        Where to go for help and support including Chesterfield Borough Council and Links CVS

(3)         That an annual survey with Friends Groups be carried out to collect information on their activities and achievements to enable the council to see how their work is contributing  to the delivery of the council’s objectives, as  set out in the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy.

(4)         That the council encourage and support friends of groups to develop a plan for their park or open space. This plan should be developed in consultation with both the council and the local community and should clearly set out both the group’s and council’s role in developing the park or open space.

(5)         That in addition to the support within recommendations 2 and 3, the council’s policy and communications service work with the green spaces team and friends of groups to develop case study material for Chesterfield Borough Council led promotional opportunities including Your Chesterfield (the Council’s magazine that goes to all homes in Chesterfield borough), the website and social media channels.

(6)         That a bi-annual friends groups’ forum is re-established to share key messages, best practice, increase networking and support and to enable the work of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

6.40 pm - Forward Plan of Key Decisions – 1 October, 2017 – 31 January, 2018 (available via the link below)

http://chesterfield.moderngov.co.uk/mgListPlanItems.aspx?PlanId=78&RP=134

The Committee considered the Forward Plan for the period 1 October, 2017 – 31 January 2018.

RESOLVED –

That the Forward Plan be noted.

6.50 pm – Work Programme attached.

The Committee considered the list of items included on its Work Programme for 2017/18.

RESOLVED -

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