Agenda and minutes

Venue: Chappell Room. View directions

Contact: Helen Lee  Democratic Services Officer

Items
No. Item

80.

Apologies for Absence and Substitutions.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Murray.

81.

To approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2020 pdf icon PDF 148 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the minutes of the above meeting, having been circulated, be approved as a correct record.

 

82.

Declaration of Interests.

Minutes:

None.

83.

Programme of Portfolio Holder Attendance. pdf icon PDF 150 KB

Report of the Democratic Services Officer.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillors Hollingsworth and P Barnes attended the committee to discuss areas of responsibility and activity in their portfolios.

 

Councillor Hollingsworth answered the questions that she had received in advance of the meeting.  During discussion the following points were highlighted

 

·         Members were informed that in 2019 there was a feasibility study into various tram extensions including one using the mineral line, the findings of this report are being reviewed and next steps are being discussed with the City and County Councils regarding work with the Transforming Cities funding through the Metro Strategy.

·         There are not a large amount of available brownfield sites in the borough, the Housing Delivery Action Plan is used to encourage developers to build on them.

·         Arnold market is governed by the market licence which does not permit changes to its location.  The Town Centre Manager is looking at vacancy rates for Arnold Town Centre and engaging with traders to understand the issues that affect footfall.

·         National Planning Policy would have to be amended if it was going to be stipulated that all new houses in the borough have to be built with solar panels.

 

Councillor Barnes then discussed the questions he had received in advance of the meeting. In answer to the questions he explained:

 

·         That replacement of vehicles is a long term commitment, however even if all the fleet was electric some of the topography of the borough is not suitable for electric vehicles.

·         The money available for Carbon Reduction Initiatives has only just been granted and currently there are no specific plans in place as to how it will be utilised.

·         Environmental grant funding, S106 and CIL monies from developers remains the most successful way to improve the borough’s parks and play areas.

·         Unadopted footpaths are not owned by the Council and therefor it does not have responsibility for weed spraying or clearing litter.  If requested, however, this be can be undertaken, but not on a regular basis.

·         Contamination of recycling collections was an issue and the information and strategies to encourage better recycling practices were discussed.

 

The Members were informed that Councillor Clarke and Payne would be attending the next committee and they would be contacted with a request for questions and areas for discussion.

 

RESOLVED:

 

·         To thank Councillor Hollingsworth and Councillor P Barnes for their attendance; and

 

·         Note the information;

 

 

Councillor Ellwood joined the meeting at 6.00pm.

Councillor Thompson left the meeting at 6.40pm.

84.

Corporate Risk Management Scorecard pdf icon PDF 362 KB

Report of the Assistant Director - Finance

 

Minutes:

The Assistant Director - Finance introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting explaining the purpose of the Corporate Risk Management Scorecard. The purpose of the Framework is to define how risks are managed by the Council, it provides guidance on the processes, procedures, roles and responsibilities for risk, and it sets out the context on how risks are managed.  The Audit Committee has a role in considering this data and provides independent assurance to the Council with regard to the effectiveness of the risk management framework and associated control environment.  This includes monitoring of the framework and ensuring the implementation of all audit actions.

It was explained that it was not the role of the committee to duplicate the role of the Audit Committee when considering this data, and that it would be provided going forward as a data source to be used when developing the Overview and Scrutiny work programme. This data would be presented in report form following its submission to the Audit Committee.

During discussion it was agreed that information regarding any risks that the Audit Committee highlighted, or about which they had requested additional information, should be included in the report.

 

RESOLVED:

 

·         To note the progress of actions identifies in the Corporate Risk register; and

 

·         That when receiving the information regarding the Risk Register concerns identified by the Audit Committee would be included.

85.

Gedling Satisfaction Survey 2019 pdf icon PDF 141 KB

Report of the Director of Organisational Development and Democratic Services.

Minutes:

The Director of Organisational Development and Democratic Services introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting summarising the results of the Gedling Satisfaction Survey 2019.  Members were given a presentation which outlined the results of the survey.  It was explained that that the results of the survey, in particular the views of residents about what is most important to them and services most in need of improvement, should be considered when developing the work programme for the upcoming year.

 

RESOLVED:

 

·         To note the results of the survey; and

 

·         Use the data when developing its work programme for the upcoming year.

86.

Council Plan 2019/20: Overview of Quarter 3 pdf icon PDF 310 KB

Report of the Director of Organisational Development and Democratic Services.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director of Organisational development and Democratic Services introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting summarising performance as at the end of Quarter 3 of the financial year.

 

RESOLVED:

 

To note the progress off indicators against actions and performance indicators in the 2019/2020 Gedling Plan at the end of Quarter 3.

87.

Scrutiny Work Programme pdf icon PDF 374 KB

Report of the Democratic Services Officer.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

INFORMATION REQUESTED AT THE SEPTEMBER COMMITTEE

 

Revenue Section Complaints

 

Members noted the information.

 

SCRUTINY WORKING GROUPS

 

·         Executive Scrutiny protocol

·         Economic Development – the opportunity to intervene

 

Both these reports were approved by the Committee for submission to Cabinet for a response.

 

·         Housing Allocations Policy

 

Members were updated on the briefing that members had attended.

 

·         Flooding

 

It was agreed that that a working group should be established as soon as possible to undertake a review of flooding issues in the borough.

 

SCRUTINY IN COMMITTEE

 

The scrutiny work programme and the Forward Plan were noted.

 

RESOLVED to:

 

·         Note the information update

·         Agree the Executive Scrutiny Protocol and the Economic Development Reports

·         Establish a working group to examine flooding issues in the borough

·         Note the work programme and Forward Plan.

88.

Reports and Notices received by the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee as required under the Constitution or Law. pdf icon PDF 143 KB

Report of the Democratic Services Officer.

Minutes:

Members considered a report that had been circulated in advance of the meeting, which included information on items referred to the chair as required by the constitution.

89.

Any other item which the Chair considers urgent.

Minutes:

None.