Agenda and minutes

To receive the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 2014

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 2014 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman asked Members to refer to next week’s Members’ Information Bulletin for grant information relation to Quarters 1 and 2.

The Chairman reminded Members that this was the last meeting before Christmas and wished Members a Happy Christmas and New Year.

To receive:-

(A)                  the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 2014;

(B)         and a verbal update from the Health and Wellbeing                       Panel Chairman

Councillor N Symonds, Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Panel stated that she had attended a Health Scrutiny Meeting at Hertfordshire County Council on 16 October 2014, to consider the results of a recent GP Access Survey.  The NHS and CCGs (Clinical Commissioning Groups) had endorsed the report and all practices had agreed to meet with the HealthWatch Team.  Councillor Symonds stated that the matter would be re-considered by Health Scrutiny in six months’ time. 

Councillor Symonds stated that the Obesity master class on 4 December 2014 had been cancelled and would be rescheduled for the new year.

Councillor Symonds referred to a scrutiny tour of  East of England Ambulance Trust on 4 December 2014.  She also said that she would be attending a Health Scrutiny meeting at Watford General Hospital on Friday 21 November 2014.

RESOLVED – that (A) the verbal report be received; and

(B)   the Minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Panel meeting held on 14 October 2014 be noted.

The Chairman submitted a report setting out the future work programme for Community Scrutiny Committee for 2014/15.  She stated that the Executive Member for Health, Housing and Community Support had requested Community Scrutiny might consider reviewing the work of the Community Voluntary Services (CVS) for Broxbourne and East Herts in respect of the service and projects it had been funded for and provided for this Council.  The Chairman suggested that as the meeting in March 2015 was particularly heavy, that this be included on the Committee’s Work Programme for June 2015.  This was supported.

Councillor J Wyllie requested that Councillor P Phillips, Executive Member for Economic Development be invited to the next meeting of Community Scrutiny Committee to provide an update on the outcome of the Market Tendering process.  This was supported.

The Scrutiny Officer reminded Members that the first meeting of the new civic year would probably have newly elected Members as part of the Committee.  She stated that in order to help Members, there would be a training session on “Choice Based Lettings: how does the housing points system work?” held before Community Scrutiny Committee on 16 June 2015 as part of the much wider Induction Programme being held in May-July 2015 for new Members.

The Committee approved the report.

RESOLVED – that (A) the work programme, as amended, be approved; and

(B)   the Executive Member for Economic Development be invited to attend the next meeting of Community Scrutiny Committee to provide an update on the outcome of the Market tendering process.

The Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive and Director of Customer and Community Services submitted an exception report which provided a summary of the Council’s achievements against its priorities for 2014/15 and detailed those service plan actions which were either off target, required a revised completion date or were proposed for deletion or suspension.  The report also monitored the outstanding service plan actions from 2013/14 and 2012/13.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services provided a summary of the 2014/15 actions, the detail of which was set out in the report now submitted.  He pointed out the error in the printed papers which incorrectly gave this as 2013/14.

In response to a query from Councillor K Warnell regarding over and under usage of the gym facilities in the District in terms of their capacity, the Director of Neighbourhood Services advised that SLM, the leisure providers would be attending the next meeting of the Committee and this would be a good question to put to their representatives.

In respect of Surface Water Management Plans, Councillor K Warnell raised the issue of flooding in Dunmow Road and Stansted Road, Bishop’s Stortford, expressing concern that very little appeared to be being done by Hertfordshire County Council.  The Director of Neighbourhood Services stated that a report on this issue was in progress and would be presented to the Executive.  Councillor G Cutting supported Councillor Warnell’s comments adding that flooding was a continuing problem in these roads.

Councillor S Bull praised Officers’ efforts in reducing residual waste and the use of compostable caddy liners, especially in the summer.

Councillor J Wyllie raised the issue of the 30 minutes free car parking in some of the Council’s car parks and stated that more should be done to publicise this new scheme.  This was supported.

The Committee received the report.

RESOLVED –that (A) the progress made against the Council’s priorities and the status of the outstanding actions detailed against 2014/15 , 2013/14 and 2012/13 Service Plan Actions, be received; and.

(B)   the 30 minute free parking scheme in Bishop’s Stortford be given more extensive publicity.

The Chief Executive and Director of Customer and Community Services submitted a report on the performance of key indicators relating to Community Scrutiny Committee for the period August to September 2014. 

Councillor N Symonds expressed concern about an increase in the time taken to process Housing Benefit claims and sought assurances that the Council would be employing extra staff to deal with the issue.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services stated that he had discussed this with the Head of Service, adding that additional funding had been agreed to employ more staff to deal with the on-going issue in the longer term and to process claims more promptly.

In response to a query from Councillor S Bull regarding income from Market Traders, (EHPI 11.1 – Rental Income from Market traders), the Director of Neighbourhood explained that this was rental income from stalls and that there had been an increase in traders.

Councillor K Warnell was concerned about the fall in the number of swims (EHPI 3a Usage: Number of swims under 16) and (EHPI 3b Usage: Number of swims 16 – 60 year olds) and the over-performance of gym attendance.  He queried whether the latter was leading to an overcrowding problem and asked whether there was a capacity issue for use of gym equipment or classes.  The Director of Neighbourhood Services stated that these targets had been set for  SLM, the leisure providers at the start of the contract.  He suggested that the Member raise the issue with SLM at the next meeting.

Members received the report.

RESOLVED – that performance figures for August to September 2014 as detailed in the report now submitted, be received.