Agenda and minutes

Councillor Derbyshire wished it to be noted in respect of Minute No. 5 that, while not having an interest to declare, her sister worked for the Careline Service.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Sarvent and V. Diouf.

5.05pm

The Chair welcomed the Members of the Committee and remarked that the Committee would benefit from the experience of previous Members and the fresh eyes of new Members. The Chair commented that the induction session that had been held on the Overview and Scrutiny Committees for all councillors was a good introduction and that there would be opportunities for the Members to request further training or development sessions.

The Chair hoped this first meeting would provide an opportunity to review the previous work of the Committee and to consider ways to move forward.

5.15pm

The Chair referred the Members to the previous reports that had been submitted to this Committee from the Leisure, Sport and Culture Activities Scrutiny Project Group. This group had been running since 2013 to review the on-going construction project for the new Queen’s Park Sports Centre and had since expanded to include reviews of the Playing Pitch and Outdoor Facilities Strategy, the Sports Facilities Strategy and the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy.

Some of the Members on the project group had stood down at the last election, so there was a need to invite new Members to join the Group. The Committee agreed to invite the previous Members of the group who had been re-elected to continue and that the Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees also be invited to take part.

The Committee also agreed that the Chair would take over leadership of the group from Cllr Flood, who had previously been the project group leader. It was commented that Cllr Flood had a lot of responsibility and commitments as Vice-Chair of Appeals and Regulatory Committee and of Licensing Committee. The Chair of the Enterprise and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee taking on the lead of the project group was proposed to provide a clear leadership of the group from the Committee.

The Project Group would be asked to meet as soon as possible to consider its on-going work and also to review the scoping document for a sub-group on the review of the Community Sport and Physical Activity Strategy that had been considered at the previous meeting of this Committee. 

It was discussed that it would be beneficial for a development session to be held on the working of project groups. This was to cover project group procedures, the expectations on Members taking part in a group and the support that would be provided by the Council. This clarification on the project groups and their resourcing would then assist in the planning of the workload for the Committee and its expectations on the amount of project group work that could realistically be undertaken.

All Councillors would be invited to attend the development session and it was requested that this session be held before the next meeting of the Committee in July 2015.

The Policy and Scrutiny Officer advised the Committee that there are some guidance documents on the project groups on the intranet that may also be helpful for the Members to refer to.

Members discussed that, following the development session on the project groups, a review should be undertaken on the membership arrangements for project groups and that some guidance could be produced to be considered by the Overview and Performance Scrutiny Forum.

RESOLVED –

1)           That the Members of the Leisure, Sport and Culture Activities Scrutiny Project Group who had been re-elected be invited to continue to take part in the group.

2)           That all Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees be invited to take part in the Leisure, Sport and Culture Activities Scrutiny Project Group.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

- Careline Partnership – Current Position

5.35pm

The Forward Plan was considered. There had been no Notices of Urgent Decisions published since the last meeting.

The Chair advised the Members of the Committee that they could contact officers directly with any questions about reports on the Forward Plan, but Members could also discuss this with the Policy and Scrutiny Officer or the Chair or Vice Chair.

Regarding key decision 512 on the Careline Partnership, the Housing Service Manager - Customer Division had submitted an update on the current position. Members discussed that this partnership was an excellent solution to provide the service and retain public sector jobs.

RESOLVED -

1)           That the Forward Plan be noted.

2)           That the update on the Careline Partnership be noted.

5.55pm

The Committee discussed that the monitoring of the implementation of the recommendations on the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy and on the Hackney Carriage Licence Limit could be deferred to the next meeting in July 2015.

Progress reports on the recommendations on the Parking Policy and on the Water Rates Payment Policy were also due to be considered at the meeting in July 2015.

The Committee agreed that the Chair and Vice-Chair would consider which items would be presented at the next meeting and which would be considered by written progress report circulated to Members by email. Members were asked to let the Chair or Vice-Chair know if they preferred to have any particular report presented at the Committee.

RESOLVED –

1)           That the Scrutiny Monitoring Report be agreed.

2)           That the Chair and Vice-Chair shall agree with the Policy and Scrutiny Officer at a later date whether progress reports regarding the following items will be received at the next meeting in July 2015 or will be received in writing only and circulated by email:

-   Parks and Open Spaces Strategy

-   Hackney Carriage Licence Limit

-   Parking Policy

-   Water Rates Payment Policy

6.00pm

The Chair advised the Committee that this agenda item is an opportunity for Members to request areas or topics for development sessions and to be advised on corporate and other updates affecting the Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

A member development plan for the Overview and Scrutiny Committees was to be developed for the coming year and Members were invited to contribute ideas for matters to be covered.

RESOLVED –

That the update be noted.

6.05pm

The Committee considered its Work Programme.

The Committee discussed the recommendations from the Overview and Performance Scrutiny Forum (Minute No. 61 (2014/15)), for the Enterprise and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee to consider appointing project groups in relation to developing the town centre, and increasing the supply and quality of housing. It was agreed to defer a decision on this until after the member development session on project groups had taken place.

RESOLVED –

1)           That the Work Programme be agreed.

2)           That the Overview and Performance Scrutiny Forum’s recommendations be noted for further consideration at the next meeting.

3)           That it be considered at the next meeting whether to reschedule or remove the items pending on the Work Programme.

4)           That the Chair and Vice-Chair shall agree with the Policy and Scrutiny Officer the agenda for the meeting in July 2015, with regard to the progress reports referred to above, at Minute No. 6.

6.15pm

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 23 April, 2015 were presented.

RESOLVED –

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