Agenda and minutes

The Chair, Councillor David Howarth, led members of the committee and guests in a minutes silence in memory of Councillor Colin Clark, who had recently passed away.

Apologies were received from Councillors Mal Donoghue and Stephen Thurlbourn.

To be signed as a correct record by the Chair.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That the minutes of the previous meeting, held on Monday 8 February 2021, be approved as a correct record.

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.

None.

Report attached.

Members received an update on recommendations made at previous meetings of the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That

1.    the update be noted; and

2.    any completed actions be removed from the Matters Arising sheet.

Report of the Director of Communities attached.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing (Councillor Mick Titherington) and the Director of Communities and Assistant Director of Projects (Neil Anderson) presented an update on the work of the portfolio since May 2019 and responded to members’ comments and queries.

Key priorities for the portfolio included improving employment and economy levels in the borough; increasing activity levels amongst residents; improving air quality; preventing and dealing with homelessness; and improving community safety and resilience. 

Members queried how success is measured within the portfolio and were advised, in response, that many projects can be measured through the level of engagement with residents and statistical data. For example, the success of the council’s tree-planting scheme can be measured by the number of trees planted.

Business plans were currently being developed and would highlight performance indicators, which would be reported to the Scrutiny Budget and Performance Panel on a quarterly basis from the beginning of the next financial year.

Discussion largely focused on the beginning of the council’s in-house management of leisure centres in the borough from April 2021. Members welcomed the Cabinet Member’s assurances that preparations for the transfer were on-track.

In response to a query regarding what consultation methods would be used over upgrades to the facilities, the Cabinet Member acknowledged that such consultation would be fundamental to the council’s management of leisure centres.

Both users and non-users of leisure centres could be asked for their views on possible works, to ascertain exactly what kind of facilities residents would benefit from.

Members also queried what differences residents would see as a result of council-managed leisure centres, to which the Cabinet Member stated that there would be an increase in facilities, appropriate membership fees and investment into leisure centres that matches private-sector facilities.

Assurances that leisure centre staff would be paid the living wage, in line with the council’s terms and conditions of employment, were welcomed.

In response to a question regarding the long-term aspirations for the management of leisure centres, the Cabinet Member confirmed that it was anticipated that the council would retain management of premises.

The Cabinet Member also expressed a commitment to work with any organisation that offers residents opportunities to get active, such as Park Run.

Following a question on food hygiene visits, the Cabinet Member acknowledged some issues in the standards across South Ribble but confirmed that visits were still being undertaken to high-risk premises.

The Cabinet Member shared the concerns of members on the number of road traffic collisions in South Ribble and the committee was advised that the council works with Lancashire County Council to improve highway safety and the Sports Development team offer bike safety lessons.

Work is also ongoing on the Green Links project to encourage walking and cycling and the council also collaborates with the Community Safety Partnership.

Members also welcomed confirmation that Speed Indicator Devices (SPIDs) would be rolled out in hotspots in the borough.

It was also requested that the council lobbies the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.

The Chair of the Scrutiny Committee and the Scrutiny Review Task Group on Health Inequalities, Councillor David Howarth, provided an update on the progress of the review.

Since the last update at the previous Scrutiny Committee meeting, the Task Group had met with more key stakeholders, including Citizens Advice and the council’s Revenues and Benefits Manager and Communities Manager, to gather evidence.

The Task Group looked forward to presenting their draft report to the Scrutiny Committee in summer 2021.

There had been no recent meetings of the Health Scrutiny Committee.

No training had recently been undertaken by Scrutiny Committee members due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The latest version of the Forward Plan can be found by clicking here.

The Cabinet Forward Plan was noted.

Scrutiny Committee Forward Plan attached.

Members considered the Scrutiny Committee Forward Plan up until June 2021 and discussed potential topics to scrutinise going forwards.

There was particular enthusiasm to scrutinise the council’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the council’s management of leisure centres in the borough.

It was also requested that an invitation to attend a meeting be extended to the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire, following the election in May 2021.