Agenda and minutes

No declarations were made.

Apologies were received from Councillors Callan and Hawksworth.

To move “That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve 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 items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act

The Executive and Assistant Executive Members for Housing and the Housing Service Manager, Customer Division presented the report on Derbyshire County Council’s Consultation on Proposed Budget Cuts – Older People’s Services

The report outlined how the proposed cuts would affect the Sheltered Housing and the Floating Support to Older People schemes which are currently provided under contract from Derbyshire County Council.

Members asked numerous questions regarding the current level of service provision as well as how the proposed budget cuts would affect the Sheltered Housing and the Floating Support to Older People schemes and also the people whose use them.

Members expressed concern about how changes to the schemes would affect the service users, their quality of life and their ability to maintain a level of independence. Members also noted that the way in which the cuts had been proposed did not take into account the individual circumstances of the different districts/boroughs in Derbyshire. The Executive and Assistant Executive Members and the Housing Service Manager advised that a meeting with the Derbyshire County Council Health and Wellbeing Board could be requested to raise these concerns.

The Committee thanked the Executive and Assistant Executive Members for Housing, and the Housing Service Manager, Customer Division for presenting the report and answering the Committee’s questions.

RESOLVED –

1.    That the proposals from Derbyshire County Council are noted.

2.    That the proposed written response to Derbyshire County Council is supported.

3.    That the Committee’s concern on the proposals potential impact on the welfare of elderly residents be noted.

4.    That the issues and questions raised by the Committee be followed up and taken into consideration.

The Executive and Assistant Executive Members for Housing, and the Housing Service Manager, Customer Division presented the report on the Update on the Careline Service – Proposed Joint Working Arrangements.

The report outlined the progress made since the report to Cabinet of 9 April 2013 regarding the joint working arrangements with Derbyshire County Council, Bolsover District Council and South Derbyshire District Council to provide Careline Services across Derbyshire and to seek approval to establish two jointly owned companies with these partners.

Members asked several questions regarding the report and how the proposals for Careline Services would affect Chesterfield Borough Council, the other partner authorities’ as well as the users of the service. Members also asked questions regarding how the Careline Service would develop in the future if the proposals were to be implemented.

The Committee thanked the Executive and Assistant Executive Members for Housing, and the Housing Service Manager, Customer Division for presenting the report and answering the Committee’s questions.

RESOLVED –

1.    That the recommendation for the formation of a Teckal and a separate trading company, subject to the appropriate specialist legal advice regarding the formation of the companies be supported.

2.    That the recommendation that further reports are brought to Members at key stages of the project be supported.

3.    That the recommendation to commence procurement of a new ICT platform to enable joint working with Bolsover District Council and South Derbyshire District Council be supported.

4.    That the joint business case is supported.

To move that after the conclusion of items containing exempt information that the public be readmitted to the meeting.

RESOLVED –

That the public be readmitted to the meeting.

Councillor Flood, the lead member of the Scrutiny Project Group looking at the proposed Playing Pitch Strategy presented the group’s findings to the Committee.

At the last meeting of the Enterprise and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee it was resolved to support the draft strategy and draft

Cabinet report recommendations subject to any further findings of a Scrutiny Project Group. The Scrutiny Project Group has subsequently reviewed the draft strategy further, and made the following recommendations to the Committee:

1.    That the Enterprise and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee reaffirms its support for the draft Playing Pitch Strategy and draft cabinet report recommendations, as considered and agreed on 2 October 2014

2.    That a progress report is brought to the Enterprise and Wellbeing Committee in 12 months time to confirm the status of the strategy implementation and delivery; and also to confirm whether the strategy has started to reverse the shortfall of junior teams and interest in playing by young people, both boys and girls.

The Assistant Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism thanked Councillor Flood for presenting the group’s findings and recommendations; he also noted that the process of the strategy going through Scrutiny had been very worthwhile. The Assistant Executive Member also agreed that 12 months was a suitable time frame to review the implementation and delivery of the Playing Pitch Strategy, but did feel that this strategy would not attract more young people into sport. 

Members of the Committee asked several questions on what would encourage more young people to participate in sport and it was agreed that good coaches, working with schools as well as quality facilities were needed to increase participation. Members also noted the benefits of participation in sport to reduce social exclusion and increase social and community wellbeing.

The Committee thanked Councillor Flood for presenting the Scrutiny Project Group’s recommendations and the Assistant Executive Member for attending and answering the Committee’s questions.

RESOLVED –

That the Scrutiny Project Group’s recommendations on the proposed Playing Pitch Strategy be supported.