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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 23 AUGUST 2005
PRESENT: Mr C J Hunt – Chairman
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Mr K Grimsey |
Mr J A B Long |
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Mr D G Grutchfield |
Mr J W Roberts |
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Mr B D Hurren |
Mr J R A Sayers |
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Mr R E Kemp |
Mr D L Wood |
Mrs S M Wigglesworth, Chairman of the Housing Panel, attended the meeting to present the Panel’s report (Minute No. 25 refers).
19 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
None declared.
20 MINUTES
RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 July 2005 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
21 PETITIONS
None received.
22 QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS
None received.
23 LOCAL CRIME AND COMMUNITY SENTENCE PROJECT
Mr Jeffrey Manton, Board Member, Suffolk Probation Area, spoke to Members about a Project which had been put together as part of a national drive by Suffolk Magistrates and Suffolk Probation Service. The aim was to encourage understanding of the issues involved in sentencing and the prevention of re-offending and to promote confidence in initiatives such as Community Sentencing. Members noted that Suffolk was the best performing County in England and Wales for the delivery of community punishment.
Mr Manton gave some case study examples of how Community Orders operated and explained to Members the format of workshops which were being offered to Councillors and other community leaders to increase awareness of the issues. Mr Manton also responded to questions from Members on various related matters. The Committee concluded that it would be of benefit to the Council to accept the offer of Workshops to be run by the Suffolk Magistrates Association.
RESOLVED
(1) That all Members and relevant Heads of Service be invited to attend one of two seminars to be delivered by Suffolk Magistrates Association, subject to a maximum of 20 attendees at each.
(2) That relevant officers be asked to explore the potential for Babergh District Council to become involved in possible community based schemes, to be the subject of a report by the Head of Housing following the workshops.
24 WORK PLAN
The Head of Legal and Administrative Services submitted a report (Paper E107) which provided details of the Committee's anticipated work for the remainder of 2005/06, including items that may be the subject of call-in procedures.
It was noted that the review of the Scrutiny role would be included in future Work Plans as a separate item from the Review of the Constitution.
RESOLVED
That the Work Plan submitted as Paper E107 be noted.
25 REVIEW OF THE COUNCIL’S HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS STRATEGIES AND HRA BUSINESS PLAN
Mrs S M Wigglesworth, Chairman of the Housing Panel, attended the meeting to present the Panel’s report (Paper E111) following its review of the Council’s 2004-2009 Housing Strategies and Business Plan. Members noted that relatively few changes were suggested and that the Housing Panel considered that good progress was being made with the Action Plans. Mrs Wigglesworth referred to the main areas covered by the Panel’s recommendations which related to the need for more investment in Affordable Housing and tackling Crime and Disorder, the new Government initiative for Choice Based Lettings, and a countywide approach to housing successful asylum seekers. During the course of the discussion, Members raised various matters including the effect on waiting lists of the Affordable Housing proposals and Choice Based Lettings, land availability for future building, the role of the Council’s Estate Ranger and the operation of Shared Ownership Schemes and Section 106 Planning Obligations. Members also agreed that the two places on the Choice Based Lettings Development Group for elected members who were not on the Housing Panel should be filled by Members of the Committee. The names of Mr D G Grutchfield and Mr J R A Sayers were put forward for inclusion in the recommendation to Council.
RECOMMENDED TO STRATEGY COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL
(1) That the updated Affordable Housing Programme, as detailed in Appendix 1 to Paper E111, be approved.
(2) That (a) a Choice Based Lettings Development Group be established to undertake the tasks detailed in section 4B of Paper E111 (b) the Group’s membership includes 5 elected Members, three of which to be Housing Panel Members and the remaining two to be Members of the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee and (c) the Council be asked to appoint Mr D G Grutchfield and Mr J R A Sayers to serve on the Group.
(3) That the current allocation of £100,000 per annum for Registered Social Landlords to provide affordable housing be increased to £200,000 per annum, subject to consideration through the Council’s Service and Financial Planning process.
(4) That up to twelve properties a year in the Babergh District be provided for successful asylum seekers from Ipswich Borough Council as part of a Suffolk wide agreement as detailed in Section 4D of Paper E111.
(5) That the temporary posts of Estate Ranger (Post JO32T) and the Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinator (Post JO29) be made permanent and that 100% of Post JO32T and 25% of Post JO29 be funded from the Housing Revenue Account. Further, that the remaining 75% of Post JO29 be funded from the General Fund, subject to consideration through the Council’s Service and Financial Planning process.
Mr D L Wood abstained from voting on this matter and asked for his abstension to be recorded in the Minutes.
26 UPDATE ON 2004/05 BEST VALUE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS AND FUTURE TARGETS
Geoff Kistner, Corporate Director, presented the report of the Corporate Support Manager (Paper E108) responding to the Committee’s request for future investigations into areas identified at its previous meeting (Paper E59 refers).
RESOLVED
That the amended PI data contained in Appendix 1 to Paper E108 and the results of the investigations carried out be noted.
27 PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT – QUARTERLY REPORT
Geoff Kistner, Corporate Director, presented the report of the Corporate Support Manager (Paper E109) asking the Committee to review the BVPI data set out in the report and determine whether further action was required. Mr Kistner asked Members to note an amendment to the target figure for BVPI 82 bii, to read ‘1600 tonnes’ instead of 1120 tonnes. Members requested future clarification on the percentage for BVPI 204 (Planning Appeals). They were aware that more work was required on BVPI 205 (Quality of Planning Services checklist), and expressed particular concern about BVPI 109a – the percentage of major planning applications determined in 13 weeks. Members were also aware that further information could be obtained on request from the relevant Head of Service for those BVPIs where percentage achievement was specified.
RESOLVED
(1) That the BVPI data contained in Paper E109 as amended in respect of BVPI 82 bii be noted.
(2) That the officers be asked to ensure that performance is maximised in those areas (PLANNING BVPIs in Paper E109) which will particularly address the securing of the planning delivery grant.
28 REVIEW OF PROCEDURES FOR UNDERTAKING WORKS THAT ARE TO BE RECHARGED TO FORMER COUNCIL-OWNED PROPERTIES
The Head of Technical Services submitted a report (Paper E112) relating to the Joint Member Officer Working Group’s review of procedures used to undertake rechargeable estate maintenance/improvement work. Members noted that in addition to the recommendation set out in paragraph 2 of Paper E112 the Committee was asked to consider requesting the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee to appoint an additional Member to help in the work of the Group.
RESOLVED
(1)
(1) That the improved procedures suggested in paragraph 4.4(c) of Paper E112 be implemented wherever relevant to future estate maintenance/improvement schemes.
(2) That the work of the Group be extended to cover other areas of work involving recharges as detailed in paragraph 4.4(d) of Paper E112.
(3) That the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee be asked to appoint an additional Member to serve on the Group.
Note: The Committee adjourned for refreshments between 10.50 and 11.10 a.m.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 12.35 p.m.
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