Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Nicky Peet.

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.

Councillor Michael Green declared a personal interest in item 5 - Quarter Three Performance Monitoring Report 2023-24 as the Lancashire County Council Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting, held on Tuesday 20 February 2024, as an accurate record for signing by the Chair

Resolved: (Unanimously)

That the minutes of the last meeting, held on Tuesday 20 February 2024, be agreed as an accurate record for signing by the Chair, subject to a minor amendment to note the attendance of Councillor Paul Foster at the meeting.

Progress updates on previous recommendations made by the Corporate, Performance and Budget Scrutiny Committee attached for noting and feedback.

The Committee noted progress updates outlined within the report and agreed to remove completed recommendations from the tracking document.

Report of the Director of Change and Delivery attached.

The Chair invited the Leader of the Council, supported by the Director of Change and Delivery, to present the quarterly performance monitoring report.

Key points highlighted to the Committee included the two ‘amber’ rated projects within the report, the Leyland Town Deal and improvement works to local play areas. Significant progress on site acquisitions had been made since this reporting period with a confidential update provided as part of the last Cabinet meeting. Likewise, Cabinet had recently approved the procurement process for both play areas with King George V in Penwortham expected to be completed in the next month and the play area in Longton scheduled to open by the Summer.

On the embedding of the social prescribing team referenced within the report, the Committee heard that the team had successfully embedded with key stakeholders such as the Citizens Advice Bureau, Department for Work and Pensions, NHS and the councils housing and homelessness team and were already delivering positive outcomes for residents. It was acknowledged that further demand for this service was expected in the future, would be monitored closely, and that the need for additional resources would reviewed as and when required.

It was confirmed that the Family Wellbeing Centre in Lostock Hall had been completed and leases agreed. A key aim of the project was not only to provide early intervention service to benefit the local community but to ensure that the facility was sustainable, with the Council subsidising the lease on a short-term basis to support the self-sustainability of the centre and assisting with accessing additional grant funding.

Questions were asked about the Community Asset Framework and its aims. The framework’s aim was to achieve the best utilisation of the council’s assets through either income generation or community use and was part of a wider review of assets currently underway.

Further clarification was sought over the sustainability of funding that supports the delivery of the Cost of Living Action Plan, and whether there was adequate funding to meet demand. In response, the Committee heard that there was increasing demand which presented challenges to the council in bridging the gap between external funding provided and the cost of delivering services, as demonstrated by additional resources being used to support the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme.

In relation to performance indicators on the basic digital skills training scheme it was noted that this was underperforming, however, issues around monitoring and reporting from an external partner delivering the training did partially account for this with work ongoing to make improvements. The Committee were reassured that more training had been delivered that did not appear within the report.

The Committee welcomed further information on the timescales involved in procuring the new Customer Relationship Management System (CRM) and the benefits that it will bring to residents’ experience.

Questions were asked about the print strategy recently approved by Cabinet, what it has achieved to date and whether future performance monitoring reports include updates in this area. Given it had only been adopted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

Report of the Director of Planning and Property attached.

The Chair invited the Leader of the Council, supported by the Head of Planning and Enforcement, to present the update report on recommendations made by the Building Better Homes and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Task Group.

The work of Councillor James Flannery, as former Cabinet Member for Planning, Business Support and Economic Development over the last few years was commended after recently stepping down due to work commitments.

On the re-constitution of the Local Plan Working Group and more widely around ensuring members are fully informed and engaged as the new Local Plan progresses, the Committee were re-assured that although a decision had not yet been made about a member working group, all members would be kept informed on the development of the emerging Local Plan. Further clarification over future consultation to be undertaken as part of the plan-making process was provided. The Committee welcomed the offer of confidential briefing sessions being arranged in the future to provide a detailed update on progress of the Local Plan.

In response to a query over South Ribble’s influence on developing design policies with Preston leading on this piece of work, Members were informed that all three authorities fed into policy development with around half of the policies that the new Local Plan will contain already being drafted. Once final amendments had been agreed then they would be available for members.

Members reflected on the benefits that the Charter accreditation scheme could and would bring in raising housing standards, though it was acknowledged that without being legally enforceable, it would require buy-in from partners and developers.

The Committee questioned whether there remained a commitment to including provision within the new Local Plan for achieving carbon neutrality for all new dwellings. In response, changing government policy and legislation had presented challenges for the teams in developing policies for the new Local Plan.

The Committee welcomed the offer of a further update on achieving the recommendations made by the Scrutiny Task Group, and additionally a wider update on the progress of the Local Plan, in six months time.

It was subsequently;

Resolved: (Unanimously)

That the Corporate, Performance and Budget Scrutiny Committee:

1.    Thanks the Leader and Head of Service for attending and answering questions;

2.    Asks that further consideration be given to engaging members more in the development of the Local Plan;

3.    Welcomes the progress being made on implementing recommendations; and

4.    Asks that a further progress report be provided in 6 months time.

An update on the establishment and progress of a scrutiny task group around homelessness in the borough was provided by its Chair, Councillor Haydn Williams

A further progress update on the establishment of a scrutiny task group to consider the development of a Cultural Strategy was provided by its Chair, Councillor David Howarth.

No meetings or training had been attended by committee members since the last meeting.

The latest version of the Forward Plan can be found on the Council’s website by clicking here.

The Cabinet Forward Plan was noted.