Agenda and minutes

No declarations of interest were received.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Callan.

5.05pm

The Chair thanked the Policy and Scrutiny Officer and the Committee and Scrutiny Co-ordinators for delivering the scrutiny development session on project groups.

6.20pm

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 2 June, 2015 were presented.

RESOLVED –

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

5.15pm

a)       Progress Report of the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing on the Implementation of Scrutiny Committee Recommendations Regarding the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy      

5.30pm

b)       Hackney Carriage Licence Limit

c)        Parking Policy

d)       Water Rates Payment Policy

The Committee received the following progress monitoring reports:

Hackney Carriage Licence Limit

The Chair reported that further information had been requested on how the Council intended to proceed without the change in legislation that had been anticipated. The additional information would be reported to the next meeting.

Parking Policy

The Chair reported that the Cultural and Visitor Services Manager would bring some additional information on the implementation of these recommendations to the next meeting.

Water Rates Policy

The Chair reported that the Customer Services and Revenues Manager would attend the next pre-agenda meeting to discuss these recommendations as some progress has been made, but they had not yet been fully implemented. Further information would then be provided at the next meeting.

Parks and Open Spaces Strategy

Consideration of this progress monitoring report was deferred to the next meeting as the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing was not able to attend.

It was also agreed that progress monitoring reports would be received at the next meeting on the Playing Pitches Strategy and the Sports Facilities Strategy. The Sport and Leisure Manager would be asked to address the issue of accessibility at the new Queen’s Park Sports Centre for people with visual impairments and how information would be displayed, such as the use of electronic notice screens. 

RESOLVED –

1)           That the Scrutiny Monitoring Report be agreed.

2)           That further information be brought to the next meeting of the Committee on the progress monitoring reports in relation to the Hackney Carriage Licence Limit, Parking Policy and Water Rates Policy.

3)           That progress monitoring reports be brought to the next meeting of the Committee on the Playing Pitches Strategy and the Sports Facilities Strategy.

6.00pm

The Policy and Scrutiny Officer advised the Committee that a member development programme for overview and scrutiny was being developed for the coming year and would be submitted to the next meeting of the Overview and Performance Scrutiny Forum for comment and approval. The programme would form part of the corporate member development programme.

The Chair reported that she had attended the East Midlands Scrutiny Network, together with the Policy and Scrutiny Officer. It had been a good opportunity to share experience with other local authorities on best practice for scrutiny. They had also received a presentation from the Centre for Public Scrutiny on the role of scrutiny with Combined Authorities.

RESOLVED –

That the update be noted.

5.40pm

·        Consideration of Scope for Community Sport and Physical Activity Strategy and Project Group

The Chair, as Leader of the Leisure, Sport and Culture Activities Scrutiny Project Group, provided the Committee with an update on their progress. The Project Group had recently met and discussed the work that had been achieved so far as well as future plans. The Committee members were informed that they could access documents for the Projects Group work in a public folder on the shared drive on the IT server. Members should contact the Committee and Scrutiny Co-ordinators for assistance in accessing this folder if required.

The draft scope for the Community Sport and Physical Activity Strategy had been reviewed and the revised document was submitted to the Committee for comment and approval.

RESOLVED –

1)           That the update on the work of the Leisure, Sport and Culture Activities Scrutiny Project Group be noted.

2)           That the Leisure, Sport and Culture Activities Scrutiny Project Group’s scoping document on the Community Sport and Physical Activity Strategy be approved.

5.55pm

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

RESOLVED -

1)           That the Forward Plan be noted.

6.05pm

Consideration of the Community, Customer and Organisational Scrutiny Committee Recommendation to look at the cleaning of pavements.

Consideration of appointment of Project Groups regarding:

·        the development of the Town Centre (Overview and Performance Scrutiny Forum Recommendation)

·        the supply and quality of housing in the Borough (Overview and Performance Scrutiny Forum Recommendation)

The Committee considered its Work Programme.

Councillor Simmons presented the recommendation of the Community, Customer and Organisational Scrutiny Committee that the Enterprise and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee consider the issue of the maintenance of footpaths and pavements. Members discussed that there were a lot of concerns over litter, over-grown vegetation and general deterioration in standards with pavements and footpaths around the Borough. It was commented that the staff employed as Pavement Sweepers only sweep channels and roadways, rather than pavements.

It was agreed that the Committee needed more information on this subject and that a report would be requested to be brought to the next meeting covering the following matters:

·        Where does the responsibility lie for the maintenance of different types of pavements and footpaths?

·        Who should be contacted with concerns about pavements and footpaths?

·        What are the current plans or protocols for the maintenance of footpaths and pavements within the Borough?

·        What budget does Chesterfield Borough Council have for maintaining footpaths and pavements?

·        What powers does the Council have to ensure footpaths or pavements on private land are maintained where there is a public right of way over that land?

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 in the Borough. It was agreed that Councillor Perkins, who had offered to lead a review on the development of the town centre, would bring some proposals for a project group to the next meeting of this Committee.

It was agreed that a briefing note would be circulated to the Committee members on the issue of the supply of housing in the Borough to inform a further consideration of this matter at the next meeting.

The Committee considered the matters pending reschedule or removal on the work programme. It was requested that an update report be circulated to Members of the Committee by email on the impact of possible County Council funding reductions on housing accommodation and support, and older people services. It was agreed that this item remain on the Work Programme to be reconsidered following receipt of this update report.

Members discussed that the Housing Allocations Policy may have been impacted by the changes to be brought in from the Summer Budget particularly relating to changes around access to housing by younger people.  Members also felt that the wider impact of the Summer Budget on the housing service needed to be considered. Members requested that a report on the impact of the Summer Budget on the housing service be brought to the next meeting of this Committee, and the Cabinet Member for Housing and the Service Manager be invited, if a report would be available by that time.

It was agreed that the new business item proposed on the tenant consultation survey results be considered later in the year.

RESOLVED –

1)           That the Work  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.