Members will be asked to make any declarations of interest in respect of items on this agenda.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct, the following declaration of interest was made –

To receive reports on business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be brought forward for urgent consideration.

Appointment of Vice-Chair

Agreed, in the absence of Councillor Bowyer, that Councillor Michael Leaves, is appointed Vice-Chair for this meeting only.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting held on 30 September 2013.

Agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 30 September 2013.

The panel will receive an update on the latest crime statistics for the City.

The Chair welcomed Councillor Penberthy, Chief Superintendent Andy Boulting and Sarah Hopkins who were in attendance to update the panel on the latest crime statistics for the city and on performance against the following five targets –

·         Closing the gap in overall crime

·         Acquisitive Crime

·         Violence with Injury

·         Criminal Damage

·         Anti-Social Behaviour

Members were advised –

In response to questions raised, Members heard further that –

The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member, Chief Superintendent and Community Safety and Partnerships Manager for their attendance.

The panel will receive a situation report on the level of personal debt in the City and how this is being managed.

Further to a request made at its last meeting, the panel heard from the Cabinet Member for Cooperatives and Community Development, and Chris Angle, Financial and Social Inclusion Officer, on personal debt.  Councillor Penberthy introduced the report, advising Members that it was only able to provide a snapshot of the current situation as it was based on information gathered from Advice Plymouth’s customer base – just one of many agencies offering support and advice on debt.

In addition, to set the scene nationally, Steve Meakin reported that in England and Wales it was estimated that there were eight million people in debt.

In response to questions raised, Members were advised that –

The panel recognised that people dealt with unmanageable personal debt in different ways and that, whilst many may approach their creditors in the first instance or seek support and advice through one of the various agencies, there were also many who felt ashamed of their debt and were suffering silently.

Agreed that an in-depth cooperative review is undertaken on personal debt with time being taken, prior to commencement of the review, to gather the necessary data from as many support and debt advice agencies as possible.

(Steve Meakin declared a personal interest in respect of the above item).

The panel will receive an update on progress with delivery of the Customer Services Transformation project.

Further to minute 18(1), the panel heard from Dave Saunders, Interim Assistant Director for Customer Services, on progress with implementing the Customer Services transformation programme.  The presentation informed Members –

In response to questions raised, Members were advised further that -

The panel welcomed the progress update and the Chair thanked the Interim Assistant Director for Customer Services for his attendance.

Agreed that regular updates on progress with the Customer Services transformation programme are presented to the panel.

The panel will receive an update in respect of Tree Management.

Having considered the briefing paper and statement provided in respect of Tree Management, Members asked that the following questions/concerns be passed to the Cabinet Member for Environment for response and/or comment –

·         whether there was enough money in the budget to undertake the work required and for continued future tree management

·         is the council’s policy to cut down trees rather than maintain them if that is the cheaper option?

·         does the council know which trees it owns and has responsibility for and is this information available in map form?

·         were waiting lists being managed effectively or were people waiting too long?

Agreed that –

The panel will receive an update in respect of roadside memorials.

Members welcomed and supported the Roadside Memorial Guidance.

The panel will receive an update in respect of public funerals.

Members welcomed the briefing paper and agreed that a short half-day cooperative review is undertaken in order to give consideration to the following –

·         whether the wishes of family members should be accommodated in regard to timing of the Bereavement Service;

·         should family members be notified of the date and time of the funeral even though they have not accepted responsibility for payment;

·         whether family members who are not contributing to the cost of the funeral should be offered a choice of burial or cremation;

·         where denomination of the deceased is known, should a minister be employed (currently incurs a fee of £179);

·         services currently make no provision for flowers or grave markings – is that acceptable?

The panel to review and monitor the progress of tracking resolutions and receive any relevant feedback from the Cooperative Scrutiny Board.

The panel noted its tracking resolutions schedule.

To review the Your Plymouth work programme 2013 – 2014.

The Chair highlighted that, as a result of earlier decisions, the panel had now committed to undertake an additional two cooperative reviews, and had a third had been referred from the Cooperative Scrutiny Board –

·         Personal Debt

·         Public Funerals

·         The effects of the expansion of Plymouth University and its students on the surrounding residential areas

In view of the above, and the potential impact on scrutiny arising from the transformation programme, the Chair suggested that the panel may wish to reconsider its work programme.

Agreed that the Chair and Vice-Chair review and re-prioritise the panel’s work programme for 2013/14. 

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it (they) involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph(s)   of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

There were no items of exempt business.