Agenda and minutes

Customers and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel - Monday 25 January 2010 10.00 am

Venue: Council House, Next to the Civic Centre

Contact: Helen Wright, Democratic Support Officer  Email: helen.wright@plymouth.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

51.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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

Minutes:

Name

Minute No. and Subject

Reason

Interest

Councillor Mrs Foster

 

Minute 55 Plymouth Sports Facility Strategy

Mount Batten Sailing and Water Sports Centre – Board of Directors

 

Over 60s free bus pass holder

 

Personal

 

 

 

 

 

Personal

Councillor Mrs Nicholson

Minute 55 Plymouth Sports Facility Strategy

 

 

Over 60s free bus pass holder

 

Chair of the Mayflower Trust

 

Personal

 

 

Personal

Councillor Wildy

Minute 55 Plymouth Sports Facility Strategy

Devonport Community Leisure Limited

 

Over 60s free bus pass holder

Personal

 

 

 

Personal

 

52.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 40 KB

The Panel will be asked to confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 26 October 2009 and 23 November 2009.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Resolved that the minutes of the meetings held on 26 October 2009 and 23 November 2009 are confirmed as a correct record.

53.

CHAIR'S URGENT BUSINESS

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

Minutes:

There were no items of Chair’s Urgent Business.

54.

FEEDBACK FROM OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY MANAGEMENT BOARD

To receive any relevant feedback from the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board.

Minutes:

The Vice Chair provided an update on the main issues raised at the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board meeting held on 2 December 2009.

 

The recommendations outlined in the report from the joint task and finish group on Localities Working which, had been led by this panel, had been agreed by the Management Board. The value of panels producing quarterly reports had been questioned.

55.

PLYMOUTH SPORTS FACILITY STRATEGY UPDATE

The Panel will receive an update on the Plymouth Sports Facility Strategy following the conclusion of the consultation period.

Minutes:

The Assistant Director for Culture, Sport and Leisure provided an update on the Plymouth Sports Facility Strategy following the conclusion of the 12 week consultation period, as follows –

 

(i)

an insert had now been placed in copies of the consultation leaflet relating to the availability of the leaflet in other languages and formats; the strategy would include this information;

 

(ii)

a total of 112 responses with a resultant 217 different comments, had been received during the public consultation period. The responses had been gathered in various ways including email, online (limehouse) and outreach events such as road shows at Drake Circus and the Respect Festival;

 

(iii)

 

the market segmentation tool had been provided by Sport England. It is a standard tool used for analysis and Plymouth’s use had been commended by Sport England as an example of good practice;

 

(iv)

 

the segmentation information provided by Sport England was the standard analysis used.


Members of the panel put forward questions, to which the following responses were provided –

 

(a)

due to the public consultation exercise concluding on Friday 22 January 2010, there had been no opportunity to analyse the responses received and provide a written report to the panel;

 

(b)

the terminology (descriptions of the segments) used in the final version of the strategy could be different to that adopted by Sport England;

 

(c)

 

Sport England had contributed towards the cost of this exercise by funding the consultant’s fee;

 

(d)

 

a total of 1200 consultation leaflets had been produced;

 

(e)

it was anticipated that the strategy would be submitted to Cabinet in March 2010;

 

(f)

the data provided by Sport England was the most up to date and had been gathered via its annual survey; additional data from the Council such as the Local Development Framework and the Area Action Plans together with the six strands of diversity and localities working could be used to shape the recommendations within the strategy.

 

The panel reiterated its concerns regarding the terminology used by Sport England in their research documentation.

 

The panel requested that further work was undertaken to ‘match’ the data provided by Sport England to that of the Council’s such as the Local Development Framework, Action Plans, localities working and the six strands of diversity.

 

The Chair thanked the officers for attending.

 

Resolved that a written response relating to the request for further work to be undertaken on the strategy is circulated to all panel members with any comments being submitted to Chair and Vice Chair.

 

 (Councillors Mrs Foster, Mrs Nicholson and Councillor Wildy declared a personal interest in the above item).

56.

COUNCILLOR CALL FOR ACTION TOOL KIT pdf icon PDF 23 KB

The Head of Performance, Policy and Partnerships will present the ‘principles’ of the tool kit.

Minutes:

The Head of Performance, Policy and Partnerships submitted a discussion paper on the Councillor Call for Action tool kit. The discussion paper outlined the following main points –

 

The following main points were highlighted –

 

(a)

definition of Councillor Call for Action;

 

(b)

principles on which the successful operation of Councillor Call for Action should be based;

 

(c)

 

establishing a ‘Gateway’;

(d)

scrutiny and localities.

 

The panel considered that a task and finish group would be the most appropriate way to deliver the tool kit.

 

The Chair thanked the officer for his attendance.

 

Recommended to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board that –

 

(1)

the PID for the Councillor Call for Action tool kit is approved;

 

(2)

membership of the task and finish group is approved as follows -

 

 

Councillor Berrow

 

 

Councillor Mrs Foster

 

 

Councillor Fox

 

 

Councillor McDonald

 

 

Councillor Mrs Nicholson

 

 

Councillor Smith

 

 

Councillor Mrs Stephens

 

 

Councillor Wildy

 

57.

SAFE AND STRONG THEME GROUP UPDATE pdf icon PDF 38 KB

The Panel will receive an update on the Safe and Strong Theme Group.

Minutes:

The Chair of the Safe and Strong Theme Group had submitted an update report on the work of the Group, which outlined the following main issues –

 

(i)

current status/developments – successes;

 

(ii)

targets unlikely to be met in the next quarter;

 

(iii)

 

planned interventions for any failing targets;

(iv)

issue that would impact on other Theme Groups. 

 

The panel raised concerns relating to the issues that were currently off target, as follows -

 

(a)

the reporting of the domestic violence incidents indicator;

 

(b)

the stretch target for the long term stability of looked after children;

 

(c)

 

the national indicator 60 - core assessments for children’s social care carried out within 35 days of commencement;

 

(d)

 

the national indicator 64 - child protection plans lasting two years or more.

 

Resolved that –

 

(1)

the lead officer for Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Panel is requested to provide a written update on the actions being taken to address the following issues that are currently off target  -

 

 

?

the stretch target for the long term stability of looked after children;

 

 

?

the national indicator 60 core assessments for children’s social care carried out within 35 days of commencement;

 

 

?

the national indicator 64 child protection plans lasting two years or more;

 

(2)

the Chair of the Safe and Strong Theme Group is invited to attend the next panel meeting on 29 March 2010.

 

Recommended to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board that the reporting of the domestic violence incidents indicator, which is off target, is included on the panel’s working programme and is scrutinised at its meeting on 29 March 2010.

58.

NATIONAL INDICATOR 192 RECYCLING LEVELS

The Panel will consider setting up a joint task and finish group with the Safe and Strong Theme Group regarding the National Indicator 192 Recycling Levels.

 

The Overview and Scrutiny Management Board referred this item to the Panel at its meeting held on 2 December 2009.

Minutes:

The Overview and Scrutiny Management Board had referred to the panel, for its consideration, the setting up of a joint task and finish group with the Safe and Strong Theme Group regarding the national indicator 192 - recycling levels.

 

The panel felt that the most appropriate way to scrutinise the recycling levels would be to consider this item together with waste collection which was included on its work programme for 29 March 2010.

 

Recommended to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board that the national Indicator 192 - recycling levels is included on the panel’s work programme to be considered in conjunction with waste collection at its meeting on 29 March 2010.

59.

PLYMPTON LIBRARY REPLACEMENT UPDATE pdf icon PDF 13 KB

The Panel will receive a written update on the replacement of Plympton Library.

Minutes:

The Head of Capital and Assets submitted a brief update on the Plympton Library replacement.

 

The following main points were noted by the panel –

 

(i)

the two proposed schemes had been subject to a public consultation exercise and a review by the design panel in April/May 2009;

 

(ii)

as a result of the response from the design panel and the overwhelming verdict from the public consultation, the project was proceeding with the health and library option which had gained planning approval in September 2009;

 

(iii)

 

the scheme was currently being prepared for tender following which the exact costs would be known and the final commitment would be gained from all parties to commence work on site;

 

(iv)

 

depending on the results of the tender exercise, works were expected to commence on site in spring 2010 and open to the public in February 2011.

 

The panel raised concerns relating to whether the money acquired from the insurance claim would be sufficient to cover the construction costs of this project, and if not, whether this impact upon the Council’s capital programme.

 

Resolved that the Head of Capital and Assets provide a written response to the panel at its next meeting on 29 March 2010 on the following –

 

(a)

whether the monies acquired from the insurance claim are sufficient to cover the construction cost of the replacement library, and if not;

 

(b)

whether the facility would impact upon the Council’s capital programme.

 

60.

FINANCIAL INCLUSION STRATEGY (TASK AND FINISH GROUP)

The Panel will consider the task and finish group arrangements for the Financial Inclusion Strategy.

Minutes:

The Assistant Director for Safer Communities advised the panel that –

 

(i)

the Financial Inclusion Strategy 2009-2012 had been approved by Cabinet in March 2009;

 

(ii)

the Strategy’s key aims were to -

 

 

?

maximise take up of welfare benefits and tax credits with an emphasis on in-work benefits

 

?

reduce problem debt

 

?

provide accessible and high quality financial inclusion services

 

?

reduce fuel poverty

 

?

maximise opportunities for delivering financial inclusion through partnership working

 

(iii)

 

the action plan was due to be refreshed in March/April 2010;

 

(iv)

the contract for the provision of the service had been awarded via a partnership bid to Plymouth Citizens Advice Bureau and Routeways Ltd;

 

(v)

the task and finish group could form the focus of the consultation process for the refresh of the action plan.

 

Recommended to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board that –

 

(1)

the PID for the refresh of the action plan for the Financial Inclusion Strategy is approved;

 

(2)

membership of the task and finish group is approved as follows -

 

 

Councillor Berrow

 

 

Councillor Fox

 

 

Councillor Mrs Nicholson

 

 

Councillor Wildy

 

61.

TRACKING RESOLUTIONS pdf icon PDF 27 KB

To monitor the progress on the previous resolutions.

Minutes:

The panel received for its information a copy of the Tracking Resolutions schedule.

 

With regard to minute 7, the panel considered that the Events Strategy – Coherent Marketing Strategy (joint task and finish group) should be reallocated to the Growth and Prosperity Overview and Scrutiny Panel to lead on this item, although the panel would wish to have in input into this matter.

 

Recommended to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board that –

 

(1)

the lead for the Events Strategy – Coherent Marketing Strategy (joint task and finish group) is reallocated to the Growth and Prosperity Overview and Scrutiny Panel;

 

(2)

Councillor McDonald represents the Customers and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel on the joint task group.

 

62.

WORK PROGRAMME pdf icon PDF 44 KB

The Panel will consider its work programme for 2009/10.

Minutes:

The panel considered its work programme for 2009/10.

 

The panel sought the approval of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board (minute 58 refers) to include the national indicator 192 – recycling levels on its work programme.

 

Resolved that the work programme is noted.

63.

EXEMPT BUSINESS

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(s) 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.

Minutes:

There were no items of Exempt Business.