Council and Democracy

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 2, Town Hall, Rose Hill, Chesterfield

Contact: Amanda Clayton  01246 34 5273

Items
No. Item

53.

Declarations of Members' And Officers' Interests Relating To Items On The Agenda

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were received.

54.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Caulfield.

55.

Cabinet Member for Homes and Customers - Homelessness pdf icon PDF 56 KB

5.00pm

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Housing Options Manager presented statistics on the Winter Night Shelter. It was highlighted that there had been 43 one night stays and one guest that had stayed 64 nights. The Housing Options Manager assured the committee that the night shelter had been operated strictly and professionally and therefore there would be a good reason why the individual was allowed to return so many times. A full report would be produced following a debrief with the night shelter staff and volunteers.

 

A number of bans were detailed in the report and it was explained that the safety of the staff and volunteers was a priority and the bans were only used at the end of a stepped rule-break system. The permanent ban was due to inappropriate behaviour towards a female member of staff.

 

The report listed the outcomes for the guests after using the night shelter. Although there was a portion of the guests whose outcome was listed as ‘unknown,’ it was clarified that once the data could be analysed in depth, more information would be available by comparing names with our own databases and those of Pathways.

 

Members asked if there had been a difference in the attitude of the guests when volunteers were involved rather than council workers. He advised that guests had been more open to talking to volunteers about their needs than council workers, and that there was an inherent respect for religious buildings. It was acknowledged that the nightshelter would not have been a success without the involvement of the churches and volunteers.

 

The committee heard that the new Homeless Hub opened on 21 February, 2019 and by the middle of March it had already been accessed by 157 people. It was anticipated that the numbers will now increase following the closure of the night shelter.

 

The Housing Options Manager advised the committee that, using the data that had been gathered at the night shelter, a strategic assessment of what homeless people in Chesterfield need would now be carried out. This would be done in conjunction with other agencies involved in the Homelessness Forum to allocate tasks and work together.

 

RESOLVED –

 

1.   That the update be noted.

 

2.   That the formal report be circulated once completed.

 

3.   That the inclusion of a review of the formal report as an item on the Committee’s work programme for 2019/20 be considered as part of the annual scrutiny work programming in June.

 

 

56.

Cabinet Member for Homes and Customers - Allocations Policy

5.30pm

Minutes:

The Housing Options Manager advised the committee that the Allocations Policy had been approved by the Cabinet and full Council. Staff training had begun on the new software and it was anticipated that the new system would be implemented in May 2019.

 

Members asked if our neighbouring authorities were using the same software and it was explained that they were, but not for allocations. It was noted that there would be a full review of its effectiveness 12-18 months after implementation. The new software also had the potential to allow Housing Associations and private landlords to advertise, and for the council to charge them for the facility.

 

RESOLVED –

 

1.   That the update be noted.

 

2.   That the inclusion of the implementation of the new Allocations System as an item on the Committee’s work programme for 2019/20 be considered as part of the annual scrutiny work programming in June.

57.

Cabinet Member for Homes and Customers - Careline Response Service

5.45pm

Minutes:

The Careline and Support Services Manager presented an update on the Careline Services detailing the developments since he briefed the committee in September 2018. The following points were highlighted;

 

·        An agreement had been made with Ashfield District Council to monitor careline alarms and out of hours services. It was hoped that this would be fully operational by August 2019.

·        The service achieved accreditation to the TEC (Telecare Enabled) Services Association Quality Standards Framework.

·        Derbyshire County Council (DCC) advised the service of potential changes to the eligibility criteria for receiving funding. A consultation on this possible change was completed at the end of January 2019. CBC submitted comments as part of the consultation.

·        In February 2019 DCC offered new 2 year contracts to its existing providers for their visiting support service. Rykneld Homes, the supplier currently covering North East Derbyshire, had decided to end their contract on 31 March, 2019. CBC was offered the opportunity to deliver this service until October 2019 and had accepted. A bid was also being prepared for the tender process to continue providing the service until October 2021.

·        Work to refurbish the sheltered housing schemes was ongoing.

 

The Careline and Support Services Manager explained that a report to the DCC Cabinet was expected in May following the outcome of the consultation and expressed his concern that up to 90 percent of the current funded users could lose their funding. The committee acknowledged that without the funding many of the users would not be able to afford the service and it would be necessary to look at the possible options available such as charging users a nominal fee.

 

The Careline and Support Services Manager reassured the committee that work had already been carried out into the feasibility of the options and this would continue until a decision had been made.

 

 

 

RESOLVED –

 

1.   That the update be noted.

 

2.   That the inclusion of the implementation of any potential changes to the eligibility criteria as an item on the Committee’s work programme for 2019/20 be considered as part of the annual scrutiny work programming in June.

58.

Scrutiny Project Groups

6.15pm

 

- Play Strategy

- Skills

- Development of the site of the former Queen’s Park Sports Centre

Minutes:

Play Strategy

 

The Chair presented an overview of the timeline of the Play Strategy Working group as follows;

 

·        The project group met 5 times during 2016/17 and provided input into the strategy development.

·        In July 2017 the Principal Green Space Strategy Officer advised that a ward by ward breakdown of the values of each space would be prepared.

·        In March 2018 consultants were appointed to undertake a desktop review, site based assessments and consultation on play.

·        In April 2018 the Enterprise and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee resolved that the scrutiny project group had achieved its initial project aims and that a resolution for concluding the review should be sought.

·        The Play Strategy would be presented to Cabinet during summer 2019 and include a 5 year programme of work to support the delivery of the strategy.

 

It was recommended that the scrutiny project group members be thanked for their input and that the continued involvement of members in decisions regarding the strategy be endorsed.

 

Skills

 

The Chair advised the committee that the report on Skills had been presented to Cabinet 26 February, 2019 and was well received. The recommendations had been accepted and an action plan was being developed to support the implementation.

 

Future use of the former Queen’s Park Sports Centre

 

It was noted that work had commenced on the site. The working group was due to meet at the site in May to review progress. This item was to remain on the monitoring schedule until the project had been signed off.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.   That the updates be noted.

 

2.   That the Play Strategy be removed from the Monitoring Schedule and that the committee request further reports should they feel that additional scrutiny involvement is required.

 

3.   That the Skills Report recommendations be added to the Monitoring Schedule.

59.

Scrutiny Monitoring pdf icon PDF 83 KB

Minutes:

The Committee considered the Scrutiny recommendations monitoring schedule.

 

RESOLVED -

 

That the Scrutiny monitoring schedule be noted.

 

60.

Forward Plan

Minutes:

The Forward Plan for the four month period 1 April, 2019 to 31 July, 2019 was presented for information.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That the Forward Plan be noted.

 

61.

Work Programme for the Enterprise and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee pdf icon PDF 87 KB

Minutes:

The 2018/19 Work Programme for the Enterprise and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee was reported for information.

 

RESOLVED –

 

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

 

62.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 72 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED –

 

The Minutes of the meeting of the Enterprise and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee held on 5 February, 2019 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.