BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY

(COMMUNITY SERVICES) COMMITTEE

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY (COMMUNITY SERVICES) COMMITTEE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, COUNCIL OFFICES, CORKS LANE, HADLEIGH ON TUESDAY, 17 OCTOBER 2006

PRESENT: Mr C J Hunt – Chairman

Mr C M Spence and Mrs S P Clarke attended in order to present their reports on Local Strategic Partnerships referred to in Minute No. 31 below.

Mr D Wood, Manager of the Western Suffolk Local Strategic Partnership, attended in order to make a presentation on that Partnership, referred to in Minute No. 31 below.

Ms C Harvey, the County Council’s Manager of the Local Public Service Agreement, attended in order to make a presentation relating to the Western Suffolk Local Strategic Partnership referred to in Minute No. 31 below.

Mr K Grimsey, Mr R E Kemp and Mr J A B Long were unable to be present.

25 SUBSTITUTE

It was noted that in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 5, a substitute was in attendance as follows:

Mr J C Brand (substituting for Mr R E Kemp)

26 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

There were no declarations of interest.

27 MINUTES

RESOLVED

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 September 2006 be confirmed and signed as a correct record, subject to the following amendment:-

In Minute No. 23, at the end of the third bullet point, add:

“It was noted that a number of actions had been agreed, including Business Process Re-engineering and improved customer access through the CAST programme, which should improve performance and in future years increase the Planning Delivery Grant.”

28 PETITIONS

None received.

29 QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS

None received.

30 WORK PLAN

The Head of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper F106) which provided details of the Committee’s anticipated work for the remainder of 2006/07, including items that may be the subject of call-in procedures.

In relation to the update on Babergh’s Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership due to be considered at the meeting on 5 December 2006, it was suggested that a more detailed scrutiny of crime and disorder reduction might be appropriate. It was agreed that as a first step, Mr D G Grutchfield or Mr B D Hurren would join the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership Responsible Authorities Group on a fact-finding visit to an area of Ipswich where a Safer Neighbourhood Team had been particularly effective. At a later stage, it might be appropriate to draw up a Planning Assessment Sheet regarding a scrutiny of crime and disorder reduction.

It was noted that at a future meeting the Committee would receive a report on enforcement performance.

A motion was proposed and seconded that the Committee should receive separate progress reports on the sale of East House, the disposal of land at the Brett Works site and the disposal of any other Council assets. However, on being put to the vote, the motion was lost.

RESOLVED

That the Work Plan submitted as Paper F106 be noted.

31 REPORTS FROM REPRESENTATIVES ON OUTSIDE BODIES

Members had before them reports (Paper F107) from representatives on the Western Suffolk Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) and the Babergh East Local Strategic Partnership (LSP).

Mr C M Spence presented his report on the Western Suffolk Local Strategic Partnership and Community Strategy.

Mr D Wood, Manager of the Western Suffolk LSP, gave a PowerPoint presentation outlining the ways in which Performance Reward Grant monies would be spent. It was noted that expenditure would be focused on the following initiatives:-

• Respect alcohol, respect yourself.
• Bridging the skills “poverty gap”.
• Responding to a changing community.

Ms C Harvey, the County Council’s Local Public Service Agreement Manager, gave a presentation in which she described actions planned to tackle childhood obesity, reduce the number of people killed on the roads, and discourage anti-social behaviour.

Mr Spence, Mr Wood and Ms Harvey answered questions put to them on a range of issues.

Mrs S P Clarke presented her report on the Babergh East LSP and described the six projects on which the LSP was focusing. She answered Members’ questions on a range of issues relating to the Babergh East LSP.

RESOLVED

That the contents of the reports contained in Paper F107, together with the presentations at the meeting, be noted.

32 REVIEW OF CALL-IN PROCEDURES

The Committee Services Manager presented a report (Paper F103) by the Working Group to review Call-In Procedures. He drew attention to the questions set out in Appendix 1 which had provided the framework to the review.

Members noted that at its meeting on 10 October, the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee had had a lengthy discussion on the report. That Committee had expressed reservations about the proposed new protocol set out in Appendix 5, and had suggested that further work might be needed to ensure that the protocol did not contradict the procedures set out in the Constitution. The Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee endorsed this view, and noted that it might be necessary for the Working Group to meet again before the next Strategy Committee meeting to consider this and any other outstanding matters.

The Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee had recommended approval of Recommendations 2.1 to 2.3 and 2.5 to 2.9 as set out in Paper F103, but had recommended that Recommendation 2.4 be amended to the effect that the Chairman of the appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, in consultation with the Head of Corporate Services and the Monitoring Officer, should consider the validity of a call-in request. Members of the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee concurred with this view.

RECOMMENDED TO STRATEGY COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL

(1) That Recommendations 2.1 to 2.3 and 2.5 to 2.9 be approved as set out in Paper F103.

(2) That Recommendation 2.4 of Paper F103 be amended to read “that the Chairman of the appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, in consultation with the Head of Corporate Services and the Monitoring Officer, considers the validity of a call-in request, having regard to any agreed protocol. The Chief Executive and Corporate Directors are to maintain an overview of the procedures, be notified of a call-in request and be consulted if necessary”.

33 ENVIRONMENT ACT 1995 – REPORT ON THE UPDATING AND SCREENING ASSESSMENT OF AIR QUALITY IN THE BABERGH DISTRICT 2006

The Head of Natural and Built Environment submitted a report (Paper F108) setting out the findings of the latest Updating and Screening Assessment of air quality in the District.

It was noted that nitrogen dioxide concentrations along Cross Street, Sudbury were currently being monitored. The results of the monitoring would be reported early in 2007.

It was confirmed that pollution caused by traffic congestion at the Copdock Interchange was regularly assessed, but was not currently considered hazardous to local residents.

RESOLVED

That the contents of Paper F108 and future actions and implications be noted.

34 THE REVIEW OF THE COUNCIL’S APPROACH TO SUSTAINABILITY – PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENTS

The Head of Corporate Services presented a report (Paper F109) concerning progress and new developments in relation to the review of the Council’s approach to sustainability. It was noted that in addition to the topics for review agreed by the Committee at its meeting on 30 May 2006, the Council, at its meeting on 1 August 2006, had asked the Committee to look at ways in which the use of local Post Offices might be supported, as part of its overall consideration of issues relating to sustainability, particularly of village communities.

Attention was drawn to the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2005 which had received Royal Assent in June 2006 and which required the Secretary of State to produce a report detailing ways in which local authorities could improve energy efficiency, increase micro-generation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and alleviate fuel poverty. Officers were asked to provide all Council Members with a précis of the Act.

RESOLVED

That the information on progress and developments in relation to the Council’s approach to sustainability as set out in Paper F109 be noted.

35 PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT – QUARTERLY REPORT

The Head of Corporate Services presented a report (Paper F110), giving the 2006/07 first quarter figures for the Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPIs), and Local Performance Indicators (LPIs) included in the 2006/07 Corporate Plan.

It was noted that whereas at the Committee’s last meeting there had been 32 performance indicators for which no data was available, there were currently only 9 for which information was lacking. It was confirmed that the aim would be to supply data for all LPIs in the next Quarterly Report to the Committee.

RESOLVED

(1) That the performance information contained in Paper F110 and associated Appendix be noted.

(2) That Officers be requested to ensure that data was available on all performance indicators in the next Quarterly Report to the Committee.

Note: The Committee adjourned for refreshments between 11.05 a.m. and 11.20 a.m.

The business of the meeting was concluded at 1.20 p.m.

Chairman