Agenda and minutes

-      5.00pm

No declarations of interest were received.

-      5.05pm

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Blakemore, Wheeldon and Snowdon.

-      5.10pm

The Service Director – Corporate presented a report to the Committee detailing the work of the Council’s overview and scrutiny committees.

The annual report, attached at Appendix 1 of the Director’s report, set out the work, achievements and impact of the overview and scrutiny function in 2022/23 across all three scrutiny committees.

It was reported that the range of issues of interest to Scrutiny continued to grow and matched the ambitions of the Council’s Council Plan and Delivery Plans but also day to day service provision. Selecting the areas to focus scrutiny activity could be a challenge.

Following the reduction in Council size due to the Local Government Boundary Review, the number of Overview and Scrutiny Committees had been reduced from three to two. The overall number of overview and scrutiny places had decreased from 32, but the actual number of members engaged had increased, helping to increase overview and scrutiny oversight and provide much needed evening committee places.

The new Scrutiny Select Committee model would help to take forward the engagement and pre-decision scrutiny approach and build upon the successes of 2022/23.

RESOLVED –

That the report be recommended to Council.

-      5.35pm

The Service Director – Corporate presented a report on the progress made towards the delivery of the Council Plan Delivery Plan 2022/23.

The progress made on the 36 milestones tracked during 2022/23 was detailed in Appendix 1 of the Director’s report.

It was reported that 86% of milestones for the “Making Chesterfield a thriving borough” priority area had been delivered and a further 14% had made good progress and were set to be delivered during 2023/24.  Highlights were said to include;

·        The Northern Gateway Enterprise Centre was now open and fully operational with a 65% let rate in its first year of operations

·        One Waterside Place was officially opened in January 2023, providing six floors of grade A office and ground floor retail.

·        Over 700 business enquiries had been received during 2022/23 with a range of support being offered including business start ups, expanding business and inward investment

·        Over 1973 learners had benefited from skills programmes – enhancing their current and future careers

·        We had achieved 100% local labour clauses across eligible developments during the life of the Council Plan. In 2022/23 this created 1,017 jobs including 40 apprenticeships and created in excess of £34 million in local supply chain spend

·        Over £22 million had been brought in for economic development programmes and projects during the life of the Council Plan

·        The events programme had grown throughout the Plan period with traditional favourites such as the Medieval Market, 1940s Market and Fireworks but also a range of speciality markets

It was also reported that 86% of the milestones for the “Improving quality of life for local people” priority area had been delivered and 95% of the Climate Change Action Plan had been fully delivered, with asset management and the strategic transport assessment being moved into delivery for 2023/24. Highlights in this priority area were;

·        Completing £14 million worth of improvement work at Pullman Close, Mallard, Leander, Brierley and Dixon Courts.

·        33 new homes were added to the Council’s housing stock with local families moving into high quality homes at Badger Croft and Harehill Mews

·        Delivery of a comprehensive range of equality and diversity educational and celebratory events including sponsoring Chesterfield Pride 2022, Holocaust Memorial Day, Neurodiversity awareness sessions, cultural awareness sessions, LBT Research project and International women’s day

·        New Anti-social behaviour strategy and approach launched focusing on prevention, early intervention, problem solving and engagement with new partnership approaches including multi-agency tasking, greater visibility across all partners and enhanced learning and development.

·        Over £629,000 worth of disabled facilities grants were provided and adaptations made to enable people to maintain their independence and homes

·        2720 children were taught how to swim, 6662 people were members of our leisure centres and 1454 had accessed sessions for health and wellbeing

62% of the milestones for the “Provide value for money services” priority area had been delivered and 72% of the key measures within this priority met their target.  Delivery highlights included;

·        Take up and usage of ‘My Chesterfield’, our customer portal, was rising each  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

-      6.00pm  (Report to follow)

This agenda item was adjourned. 

RESOLVED –

That the report be presented at the next committee.

-      6.25pm

There were no Scrutiny Project Groups updates to be presented.

-      6.30pm

This is a standard agenda item for the Committee to consider the scrutiny recommendations implementation monitoring schedule.

RESOLVED –

There was no scrutiny monitoring schedule to be noted.

-      6.35pm

Forward Plan of Key Decisions 1 August – 30 November, 2023 available via link below

https://chesterfieldintranet.moderngov.co.uk/mgListPlanItems.aspx?PlanId=154&RP=134

The Committee considered the Forward Plan for the period 1 August 2023 to 30 November 2023.

RESOLVED –

That the Forward Plan be noted.

-      6.45pm

The Committee Members discussed options for agreeing the next Scrutiny Work Programme for 2023/24.  An action was noted that further work was to be carried out for Members to meet and agree which topics would be added to the Work Programme and what timescale this would cover.

RESOLVED –

That the action be noted.

This is a standard agenda item to present the Minutes of the meeting of the last Scrutiny Select Committee – Resilient Council.

RESOLVED –

There were no previous Minutes to be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.