Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the Meeting held on Wednesday, 16^th October, 2019 (previously circulated). 

The Minutes of the meeting held on 16^th October 2019 were signed by the Chair as a correct record.

To consider the review. 

Request updates on the following issues including the impact on the District. 

(1)       County Line Drug Trafficking. 

(2)       Drug issues - Poulton Ward. 

(3)       Public spaces protection orders. 

(4)       Knife crime. 

(5)       Parking on pavements. 

(6)       Parking near schools. 

(7)       Rural Crime. 

(8)       Horses being ridden down public footpaths. 

The Chairman welcomed Chief Inspector James Martin, Sergeant Lindsay Brown, Councillor Alistair Sinclair, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Community Safety and the Director for Communities and the Environment to the meeting.

The Committee was reminded that it was acting in its capacity as the City Council’s designated Crime and Disorder Committee in accordance with the Police and Justice Act 2006 and Crime and Disorder (Overview & Scrutiny) Regulations 2009.

Members were given an overview of the work that was being undertaken by the Community Safety Partnership and Lancashire Constabulary on the issues raised by the Committee.

Such issues as County Line drug trafficking, drug issues in Poulton, Public Spaces Protection Orders, knife crime, parking on pavements and near schools, rural crime and horses on public footpaths were discussed. 

It was agreed that Police contact details would be circulated to the Committee as well as a list of the PCSOs within the district and which wards they were assigned to.

Resolved:-

(1)  That the Police representatives be thanked for their attendance.

(2)  That the updated be noted. 

(3)  That contact details be circulated to the Committee as well as a list of the PCSOs within the district and which wards they were assigned to.

Cabinet Member and Portfolio Holder with responsibility for: 

·                Community engagement & development. 

·                Community health & wellbeing. 

·                Community safety & emergency planning. 

·                Council owned community facilities. 

·                Voluntary Sector & Trade Unions. 

·                Equalities & Social Justice Initiatives including age; disability; race; religion or belief; sex, gender or gender identity. 

·                Advice services. 

Councillor Sinclair has been invited to attend the meeting. 

Councillor Alistair Sinclair provided the Committee with an update on his portfolio with the main area being discussed being community wealth building.

Resolved: -

That Councillor Sinclair be thanked for attending the meeting and that the verbal report provided at the meeting be noted. 

To consider any issues that the Committee may wish to add to the Work Programme and any Task Group updates. 

Members of the Committee were reminded that, at the Council meeting on 13^th November 2019, Council had considered a Motion on Notice regarding recycling of household waste. Council agreed :-

“Requests that Overview and Scrutiny Committee set up a working group open to all Councillors to investigate best practice in achieving higher recycling rates by consulting with other councils, residents and City Councillors. For example asking residents and members what they want to know about recycling, how this might be presented and how they wish to be kept informed.”   

The Committee agreed to establish a Working Group to consider recycling of household waste with a start date of March 2020.

The Committee went on to consider a briefing note that had been provided on the registration of Council owned land. At the first meeting of the Property Portfolio Informal Task Group it was reported that the Council was in possession of a number of historic deeds that had yet to be registered. It was expected that this task would be complete by Summer 2020. It was noted that this would impact on the work of the Informal Task Group.

It was unanimously agreed:

“That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee raise concern with the Cabinet Members with responsibility for Finance and Asset & Property Management regarding the registration of the historic deeds in the Council’s possession and request the Cabinet Members to consider allocating additional resources to accelerate this process as part of the budget process.”

Members of the Committee were reminded that information had been circulated on Local Authority Trading Companies (LATCs) as had been agreed at the September meeting of the Committee. It was reported that there were currently three potential LATCs being progressed namely Salt Ayre, Trade Waste and for a Housing Company.

It was agreed that it be requested that the Committee should consider the Business Case for each proposed LATC before they were considered by Cabinet with all Members being invited to the meeting so that any views could be submitted to Cabinet prior to consideration of the cases.

The Chief Executive had asked for clarification of the outcomes, issues and accountabilities of the proposed Integration of Council Services Informal Task Group before it went to the scoping stage. This information had been requested by email and a copy of the responses had been circulated.

It was agreed to move forward with scoping of the informal Task Group.

Resolved :-

(1)  That a Working Group be established to consider recycling of household waste with a start date of March 2020.

(2)  That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee raise concern with the Cabinet Members with responsibility for Finance and Asset & Property Management regarding the registration of the historic deeds in the Council’s possession and request the Cabinet Members to consider allocating additional resources to accelerate this process as part of the budget process.

(3)  That it be requested that the Committee consider the Business Case for each proposed LATC before they were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.