Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors David Howarth, Sue Jones, Jim Marsh, Lizzie Mawson, Barrie Yates and Karen Walton.

Held on Thursday, 12 April, to be signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

That the minutes of the Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 12 April 2018 signed as a correct record.

Report attached.

The Committee received an update of the progress made against matters arising from previous meetings.

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

That all outstanding matters arising be removed.

Members are requested to indicate at this stage in the proceedings any items on the agenda in which they intend to declare an interest. Members are reminded that if the interest is a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (as defined in the Members’ Code of Conduct) they must leave the room for the whole of that item. If the interest is not a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, but is such that a member of the public could reasonably regard it as being so significant that it is likely that it would prejudice their judgment of the public interest (as explained in the Code of Conduct) then they may make representations, but then must leave the meeting for the remainder of the item.

There were no declarations of interest.

Report of the Specialist Consultant attached.

The Deputy Leader (Councillor Caroline Moon) and the Specialist Consultant (Joanne Platt) addressed the Committee and responded to its comments and enquiries relating to the Corporate Performance Report at the end of Quarter 4.

During the discussion, the Committee’s comments/enquiries included the following areas:

u   The year-end performance position would be reported as part of an annual report being presented to the Full Council meeting to enable all Members to get an overview of how the Council was performing.

u   With regards the decrease in business rates collect this was not felt to be a concern but further information would be provided to the Committee for the next meeting.

u   It was felt that further information on the remedial action being taken to bring performance measures back on track be included in future reports.

u   Concern was expressed that there was not yet a complete picture of statutory and mandatory training for staff.  Whilst it was not reported because it was not complete, confirmation was given that statutory training requirements were being met.

u   Clarification was provided on the number of jobs created by City Deal, which appeared low but was at a point in time and not the total created over the period of the City Deal.  A strategic review of the City Deal had been commissioned and it was felt that more context would have been useful.

u   Response times in the Gateway customer contact centre had increased with feedback that there were difficulties getting through.  It was acknowledged that due to the implementation of the green waste scheme had increased the volume of calls and the service was undergoing re-structuring.  Reassurance was provided that action had been taken and that the performance was now improving and would be reported in the next performance report.

u   The definition of the number of visits to leisure and health facilities was queried as there was reference to football pitches, which would be difficult to calculate.  The definition would be reviewed and disaggregated for the future.

u   The number of empty properties brought back into use had worsened and due to the reductions made it was queried whether any additional work would be an effective use of resources. 

u   An update was provided on the current situation with the Cuerden Development site as reference had been made in the report to work starting at the site and the coverage of the IKEA withdrawal in the local media.

u   As mentioned previously, following the delays with masterplans as a result of the City Deal which was outside the Council’s control a review had been commissioned and would be received imminently and would be shared with Members.

u   The shortfall in property income due to writing off debt was highlighted and the amount and process for writing off debt was queried.  More detailed information would be provided to the Committee and future quarterly reports would include the amounts written off.

u   It was confirmed that the report from the Local Government Association (LGA)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Information from the Director of Planning and Property attached.                

The Cabinet Member for Assets and Transformation (Councillor Warren Bennett) and Director of Planning and Property (Jonathan Noad) addressed the committee and responded to its comments and enquiries relating to Worden Hall.

During the discussion, the Committee’s comments/enquiries included the following areas:

u  As a result of the success of the Artisan Market in April holding more events and being commercial was being explored further.

u  The delay in the consultants commencing their review of Worden Hall was as a result of procurement taking longer than originally thought.  Reassurance was provided that the consultants would look at Worden Hall in the context of the wider Worden Park.

RESOLVED (unanimously):

That:

1.    the Committee welcomes the Cabinet Member’s commitment to explore events for Worden Park in the future; and

2.    looks forward to seeing the Cabinet report on future options for Worden Park in September 2018.

The Chair reported on the proceedings of the last Lancashire County Council Health Scrutiny Committee meeting.

It was reported that a workshop for the Committee had been arranged to discuss its future work programme.  Committee Members were encouraged to attend.

The North West Strategic Scrutiny Network organised by North West Employers’ Organisation would take place on 12 July 2018.

The Committee noted the Cabinet’s forward plan.