Agenda and minutes

Customers and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel - Monday 7 June 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

APPOINTMENT OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR

The panel will appoint the Chair and Vice Chair for the municipal year 2010/11.

Minutes:

Agreed that Councillor Ball is appointed as Chair and Councillor McDonald is appointed Vice Chair of the panel for the forthcoming municipal year 2010/11.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest made by Members in accordance with the code of conduct.

MINUTES PDF 46 KB

The panel will be asked to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 29 March 2010.

Minutes:

Agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 29 March 2010 are confirmed as a correct record subject, to the following amendment (minute 70(ii) refers) 'Blandford Road'.

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.

TERMS OF REFERENCE PDF 19 KB

The panel will note the Terms of Reference for the Customers and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel.

Minutes:

The panel received, for its information, a copy of its terms of reference.

Agreed that the panel's terms of reference are noted.

TRACKING RESOLUTIONS AND FEEDBACK FROM THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY MANAGEMENT BOARD PDF 14 KB

The panel will monitor the progress of previous resolutions and receive any relevant feedback from the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board.

Minutes:

The panel received, for its information, a copy of the tracking resolutions schedule.

Agreed that the report is noted.

APPOINTMENT OF CO-OPTED REPRESENTATIVES

The panel will consider the appointment of co-opted representatives and/or confirm existing co-opted representatives.

Minutes:

The panel considered the appointment of co-opted representatives.

Agreed that –

(1)

confirmation is sought from the panel’s existing co-opted representative, Mr C Singh, that he is willing to continue in this role;

(2)

nominations for co-opted representatives are brought to the next committee meeting.

OVERVIEW OF PRIORITIES FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES AND CORPORATE SUPPORT (CUSTOMER SERVICES)

The panel will receive an overview of the priorities for Community Services and Corporate Support (Customer Services).

Minutes:

The Director for Community Services gave a presentation together with the Cabinet Members for Community Services (Street Scene, Waste and Sustainability), and Community Services (Safer and Stronger Communities and Leisure, Culture and Sport) and the Assistant Directors for Leisure, Culture and Sport and Community Services (Environmental Services), on the key areas of work of the department and how it linked with the panel as follows –

(a)	the service areas within the department -
	?	Environmental Services
	?	Adult, Health and Social
	?	Leisure, Culture and Sport
	?	Safer Communities
	?	Business Support
(b)	Cabinet Members informed the panel of the key areas within their portfolios and provided an update on proposals for the forthcoming year, as follows –
	Community Services (Street Scene, Waste and Sustainability)
(c)	?	key areas –
	?	waste management
	?	cleansing, waste disposal and recycling
	?	fleet management
	?	parks including playgrounds
	?	public open space
	?	climate change and sustainability
	?	public protection
(d)	proposals for the forthcoming year –
	?	additional resources to tackle fly tipping;
	?	investigate proposals for a waste to energy plant to reduce the landfill;
	?	increase the provision of allotments within the city;
	?	review the Licensing Act including the cumulative impact policy and sex establishments;
	Community Services (Safer and Stronger Communities and Leisure, Culture and Sport)
(e)	key areas –
	?	anti social behaviour
	?	community safety
	?	communities cohesion and equalities
	?	leisure/sports facilities
	?	events
	?	cultural activities
	?	heritage, museums and libraries
	?	Mount Edgcumbe country house and park
	?	licensing hackney carriages
	?	localities
(f)	proposals for the forthcoming year –
	?	implementation of localities working;
	?	crime reduction including anti social behaviour, offender management and violent/sexual abuse;
	?	increase the number of transit and permanent sites for gypsies and travellers within the city.

The Assistant Director for Customer Services and Business Transformation gave a presentation on the key areas of work of the department and how it linked with panel as follows –

(g)	key areas –
	?	customers services
	?	business continuity
	?	ICT
	?	media, public relations and communications
(h)	proposals for the forthcoming year –
	?	web services to allow access to all Council services 24/7, with easy links to appropriate information and related services;
	?	branded self-help points within key Council facilities, such as libraries;
	?	consistency of service for the customer;
	?	clear, published standards of service for Council staff;
	?	customers to be offered the opportunity to leave feedback after every interaction;
	?	regular consultation on all aspects of the Council’s services;
	?	increasing the number of issues resolved at the first point of contact;
	?	customer satisfaction regularly monitored and a Plymouth City Council satisfaction index published monthly on the website.

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

(i)

the provision of a further 100 allotments would be achieved this financial year;

(j)

the Council had been successful in securing three convictions for fly tipping; the use of covert cameras for what were considered low level crimes was considered controversial;

(k)

the expansion of the allotments at Plympton St Maurice was problematic, however the Council had entered into negotiations to secure a piece of land at Plymstock;

(l)

it ... view the full minutes text for item 8.

DRAFT WORK PROGRAMME 2010/11 PDF 40 KB

The panel will consider its draft work programme for 2010/11.

Minutes:

The panel considered its draft work programme for 2010/11.

Recommended to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board that the following items are included on the panel’s work programme for 2010/11 –

(1)	Life Centre and Related Projects (including Management Contract) – Updates/Scrutiny;
(2)	Plymouth’s Sports Facility Strategy – Update;
(3)	Licensing Act (including Cumulative Impact Policy – Review 2011 (task and finish group);
(4)	Localities Working 12 Month Review – (Position Statement 3 Months);
(5)	Sex Establishments;
(6)	Public Confidence in Tackling Crime and Disorder;
(7)	Assisted Waste Collection;
(8)	Allotments;
(9)	Quarterly Scrutiny Reports;
(10)	Safe and Strong Theme Group – Update;
(11)	Joint Finance and Performance Monitoring including LAA Performance Monitoring (subject to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board referring issues to the panel);
(12)	Monitor CIPs that the panel is responsible for – CIP 1 (improve customer satisfaction by providing services designed around customer needs) CIP 6 (to enhance the quality of life of Plymouth residents by widened and improved opportunities to participate in cultural and leisure activities):
(13)	the panel would receive written update reports for –
	?	Plympton Library Replacement
	?	Councillor Call for Action Tool Kit
	?	Election Annual Review

10.

FUTURE DATES AND TIMES OF MEETINGS

The panel is asked to note the dates of future meetings for the municipal year 2010/11. All meetings will commence at 10am –

Monday 7 June 2010
Monday 19 July 2010
Monday 6 September 2010
Monday 18 October 2010	Provisional
Monday 15 November 2010
Monday 17 January 2011
Monday 14 March 2011
Monday 18 April 2011	Provisional

Minutes:

Agreed that the dates and times of the panel's future meetings are noted, as follows –

Monday 7 June 2010

Monday 19 July 2010

Monday 6 September 2010

Monday 18 October 2010 (provisional)

Monday 15 November 2010

Monday 17 January 2011

Monday 14 March 2011

Monday 18 April 2011 (provisional)

11.

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.