Agenda and minutes

No declarations of interest were received.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Catt, Dyke and Perkins.

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 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.

5:05 – 5:30pm

The Assistant Cabinet Member for Town Centre and Visitor Economy, the Executive Director, Michael Rich and the Project Lead, Mick Blythe attended to provide a progress report on the demolition of the old Queen’s Park Sports Centre.

The report noted that a demolition project programme for the site had been developed, with preparatory project planning having commenced in February 2016 and site demolition being targeted for completion by December 2016. It was hoped that  a new scheme on the site would be delivered by December 2017, subject to appropriate consultation, planning permissions and sustainable options being agreed. It was noted however that the December 2017 project completion date could change depending on the size and complexity of the final option approved for the site.

The Executive Director noted that the planning application for the demolition of the site had now been submitted, and that it would be considered by the council’s Planning Committee at the end of August. The planned six week public consultation on what should be done with the site after demolition had been scheduled to start in September, with consideration in the scheduling given to officer capacity and resources, as well as to not overloading the public given the recent referendum and current devolution consultation. It was noted that the consultation would include options which would be consistent with current Planning policy as well as the Councils Corporate priorities. The Executive Director advised that members would be kept fully informed and involved in the consultation process.

Members welcomed the fact that the application for the demolition of the old centre would be decided by the council’s Planning Committee as it would demonstrate that council was taking the decision in an open, transparent and robust way. Members also noted that it had been a good decision to delay the consultation until after the summer holiday period as it would enable as many people as possible to take part in the consultation on the future use of the site.

Members thanked the Assistant Cabinet Member, the Executive Director, Michael Rich and the Project Lead, Mick Blythe for attending and providing the progress update.

RESOLVED –

1.   That the progress report be noted.

2.   That the Executive Director, Michael Rich be invited to the October, 2016 meeting of the Enterprise and Wellbeing Committee to provide a progress report on the consultation process on the future of the old Queen’s Park Sports Centre site.

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

RESOLVED –

That the public be readmitted to the meeting.

5:30 – 5:50pm

Verbal report

The Green Spaces Development Officer attended to provide a report on how the council’s green spaces were being used by residents of the borough and on how the green spaces were being managed by the council. It was noted by the Chair that this item had been added to the committee’s work programme as the committee were keen to examine how the council were maximising the use of its green spaces in order to meet one of the key objectives of the Council Plan which was to improve the quality of life for local people by improving their health and well-being.

The Green Spaces Development Officer advised that while there were currently no capital investments for green spaces planned by Chesterfield Borough Council, there were still numerous grants being received from a diverse range of sources including the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Landfill Tax which were allowing investment in green spaces to be made. It was also noted that investigations were being made into accessing grants from money raised by the 5p plastic bag levy. Members were informed that the friends of group at the King George V Playing Fields, Staveley had been successful in accessing grants from the Big Lottery Fund and that the money received was being used to hold activities at the site as well as being used to develop the group so it could engage with a larger number of local residents.

Members were provided with a comprehensive list of activities happening at the parks and green spaces across the borough, which were being run by both the council and by friends of groups. Activities included tree and bulb planting, Sports Relief events, walking football, whippet racing at Poolsbrook Country Park as well as a wide range of summer holiday activities. The Green Spaces Development Officer noted that these activities were being participated in by a wide demographic of residents across the borough.

Members noted with approval the wide range of activities being offered. The Green Spaces Development Officer advised that many of these including the whippet racing club and the ladies netball league also provided a good source of revenue for the council. Members asked how the council was working with friends of groups to ensure that they were able to access as much funding as was possible, as  it appeared that participation, and the subsequent success of friends groups in obtaining funding and grants, was higher in more affluent areas of the borough. The Green Spaces Development Officer advised that work was being carried out to improve participation and engagement in friends of groups in the more deprived areas in order to address this concern.

Members asked how it was decided which parks and green spaces were targeted to receive funding and grants. The Green Spaces Development Officer advised that there was a focus on the more deprived areas of the borough, but if grants or funding were available they would be pursued actively for whichever part of the borough they would benefit.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

5:50 – 6:10pm

·        Progress report of Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing on Playing Pitches Strategy

·        Progress report of Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing on Hackney Carriage Licence Limit

The Committee considered an update on the implementation of approved Scrutiny recommendations.

Parks and Open Spaces Strategy: The Green Spaces Development Officer submitted an updated implementation plan that provided a progress update on the Scrutiny Review Panel’s recommendations on the council’s Parks and Open Spaces Strategy. The written update provided details of how the strategy was being implemented since the last progress report was received by the committee in October, 2015. The committee noted their approval for how the strategy had been implemented as well as for the actions being taken to address their concerns about the shortfall of junior teams and to increase interest in playing by young people, both boys and girls. The updated implementation plan did note that with regards to football, whilst the junior game continued to thrive in the area and across Derbyshire as a whole, a steady decline in the number of adult teams was of concern. Members asked why this was occurring and were advised by the Green Spaces Development Officer that this was due to the decline and closure of pubs which had always provided a strong foundation for local leagues, people choosing to spend their leisure time differently and clubs, despite flexible payment terms being offered, being unable to pay their subs to the council.

Hackney Carriage Licence Limit: The Licensing Manager submitted an updated implementation plan that provided progress on the Scrutiny Review Panel’s recommendations on the Hackney Carriage Licence Limit. The written update provided details of how the recommendations were being implemented since the last progress report was received by the committee in October, 2015. The committee noted that recommendations 2 and 3 and had now been fully implemented and were satisfied that a clear written process has been put together for the inclusion of the review of Hackney carriage licence limits on the council’s forward plan, and that the Appeals and Regulatory Committee were taking actions to resolve problems with the number of Hackney Carriage licences within the borough. The Licensing Manager provided members with details regarding the upcoming survey and review of the number of Hackney carriage licences that would be happening during autumn 2016 and noted that a report regarding the results was scheduled to be submitted to the Appeals and Regulatory Committee for consideration in December, 2016.

Members thanked the Green Spaces Development Officer and the Licensing Manager for attending and providing the progress updates on the committee’s recommendations.

RESOLVED –

1.   That the monitoring report be approved.

2.   That Playing Pitches Strategy item (EW5b), be removed from the monitoring schedule as the committee was satisfied that its recommendations had now been fully implemented.

3.   That Hackney Carriages Licence Limit item (EW4), be amended to remove the monitoring of recommendations 2 and 3 as the committee was satisfied that these recommendations had now been fully implemented.

4.   That the Licensing Manager be invited to the December, 2016 meeting of the Enterprise and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee to provide a progress report on the Hackney Carriage Licence  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

6:10 – 6:20

Councillor Perkins, as scrutiny committee appointee to the Housing Revenue  Account Business Plan steering group, to provide a verbal update from the first meeting of the group.

Councillor Perkins, as the Scrutiny representative on the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan Steering Group had been scheduled to provide the committee with a verbal update on the group’s first meeting which she had attended. In her absence the Chair advised that Councillor Perkins had agreed to write a short update report to be circulated to members of the committee.

RESOLVED –

That Councillor Perkins circulates a short written report to members of the committee to provide an update on the first meeting of the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan Steering Group.

6:20 – 6:25pm

The Forward Plan was considered.

RESOLVED –

That the Forward Plan be noted.

6:25 – 6:35pm

Progress report from Cllr Derbyshire as project group Lead Member for the Play Strategy Scrutiny Project Group.

Progress report from Councillor P Gilby as project group Lead Member for the Sport and Cultural Activities Project Group.

Councillor Derbyshire, the project group Lead Member for the Play Strategy Scrutiny Project Group provided members of the committee with a progress report on the group’s work and tabled the project group’s scope for the committee’s consideration. Councillor Derbyshire advised that the project group had held its first meeting and that plans for the group to meet with the officers who were developing the strategy had been made.

Councillor Gilby noted the importance of considering an Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) when carrying out scrutiny project work. The completion of an EIA would allow the impact that any recommendations may have on different equality groups to be identified at an early stage.

Councillor Gilby, project group Lead Member for the Sport and Cultural Activities Scrutiny Project Group, provided members of the committee with a progress report on the group’s work. The final task for the project group was to review and monitor the final sign-off with the contractor. No final date had been set for this but Councillor Gilby advised that full information regarding this aspect of the project would be brought to the committee when it was available.

RESOLVED –

1.   That the progress reports on the Scrutiny Project Groups be noted.

2.   That the scope for the Play Strategy Scrutiny Project Group be approved.

3.   That the Play Strategy Scrutiny Project Group considers completing and using an Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) during its review.

6:35 – 6:45pm

The Committee considered its Work Programme.

RESOLVED –

1.   That the Work Programme be approved.

2.   To reconfirm that the Executive Director, Michael Rich be invited to the October, 2016 meeting of the Enterprise and Wellbeing Committee to provide a progress report on the consultation process on the future of the old Queen’s Park Sports Centre site.

3.   To reconfirm that the Health and Wellbeing Manager be invited to the December, 2016 meeting of the Enterprise and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee in order for the committee to receive further information about his role and his priorities for coordinating the council’s approach to health and wellbeing.

4.   To reconfirm that the Licensing Manager be invited to the December, 2016 meeting of the Enterprise and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee to provide a progress report on the Hackney Carriage Licence Limit Survey

5.   That the Economic Growth Manager be invited to the October meeting to report on the Northern Gateway proposals.

6.   That the Economic Growth Manager be invited to the October to report on the Apprentice Town report scheduled to be submitted to Cabinet.

6:45 – 6:50pm

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 7 June, 2016 were presented.

RESOLVED –

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