Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the Meetings held on 26^th July and 28^th August, 2018 (previously circulated). 

The Minutes of the meetings held on 29th July and 28^th August 2018 were signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To receive declarations by Members of interests in respect of items on this Agenda. 

Members are reminded that, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, they are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which have not already been declared in the Council’s Register of Interests. (It is a criminal offence not to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest either in the Register or at the meeting). 

Whilst not a legal requirement, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9 and in the interests of clarity and transparency, Members should declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the Register, at this point in the meeting. 

In accordance with Part B Section 2 of the Code Of Conduct, Members are required to declare the existence and nature of any other interests as defined in paragraphs 8(1) or 9(2) of the Code of Conduct. 

The Civic and Ceremonial Democratic Support Officer declared a personal interest in respect of Minute 8, Salt Ayre.

A presentation will be provided to the Committee.

All Members of Council have been invited to attend the meeting for this item.

The Chairman welcomed the Chief Officer (Health and Housing), the Sport and Leisure Manager and Joanna Bussell from Winckworth Sherwood to the meeting. 

Members were given a presentation on the option of Salt Ayre Leisure Centre becoming a Local Authority Trading Company (LATC). 

It was reported that the City Council was exploring alternative delivery options for the management and operation of the Leisure Centre which would safeguard the City Council’s significant investment in the Centre and the potential to maximise the financial return from that investment. 

The Committee was advised that the preferred approach for this would be to create a Local Authority Trading Company to manage and operate the Centre, which would be wholly owned by the City Council. 

Members were given the advantages of establishing a Local Authority Trading Company, how it would work for the Council and the governance of it. 

Committee Members and other Members were given the opportunity to ask questions.

Members asked a number of questions on the detail of the proposal regarding the Living Wage, the make up of the Board of Directors, VAT savings, Limited companies, profit shares, risk, poor performance, pension contributions,

Concern was expressed over the lateness of the Business Case at the meeting and clarification of the time scale of the project was requested. It was reported that the timing had slipped and it was envisaged that the Business Case would now be ready in approximately 2 to 3 months.

It was proposed, seconded and unanimously agreed as follows: -

Resolved :-

(1)     That Joanna Bussell from Winckworth Sherwood, the Chief Officer (Health and Housing) and the Sport and Leisure Manager be thanked for their attendance at the meeting and presentation to the Committee. 

(2)     That an additional meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be set up to enable the Committee to consider the Business Case for Salt Ayre before it is considered by Cabinet. 

(3)     That all Members are invited to the extra meeting of the Committee. 

(4)     That information on the other options for the future management and operation of Salt Ayre that were considered and dismissed, and the reasoning of why they were not suitable, be provided for the Committee. 

The Committee considered the final report of the Resilience Commission Informal Task Group which was presented by the Chairman of the Task Group, Councillor Caroline Jackson.

Members agreed that the Informal Task Group had produced an excellent report and the Committee unanimously agreed as follows: -

Resolved :-

That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommend: -

(1)          That training exercises/events continue to be arranged and held in the future in the district, to develop a means of sharing good communication and practices.

(2)          That the role of a Councillor regarding community leadership be included within the Councillors’ induction when elected. 

(3)          That Lancashire County Council, as the Lead Local Flood Authority under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 and Flood Risk Management Overview and Scrutiny (England) Regulations 2011, be requested to appoint a City Council representative as a co-optee non-voting Member, to its relevant Scrutiny Committee when considering flooding issues regarding this District.

(4)          That the City Council’s Building Control Service is considered a valuable service that should be resourced and extended. 

(5)          That clarification be provided by the EA that all parties have access to the latest detailed maps that provide information on the latest classification of Zone 1 surface water. 

(6)          That alternatives to sandbags, such as floodsax, be trialled by the Council and, subject to successful trial, be made available to sell to local residents with details made available on the City Council’s website.

(7)          That for those Council houses/bungalows, where it has been shown that properties have flooded in the past, adaptations be made to these properties.  Consideration to could include adapting doorframes so that flood boards can be fitted and, if appropriate, flood guards for air bricks. 

(8)          That officers ensure that recovery and emergency plans are regularly assessed. 

(9)          That a Flooding and Community Response Cabinet Liaison Group be created, with Terms of Reference as set out below: -

Terms of Reference

Recommended Terms of Reference for the Flooding and Community Response Cabinet Liaison Group :

To provide assistance to the Cabinet Member to form a strategic oversight of flooding issues in the district including hearing the flooding issues, action plans and timescales from all the agencies with a responsibility for flooding  e.g. the Environment Agency and Lancashire County Council and also to hear from community groups and residents about what would help them best prepare and deal with flooding and to attract membership from qualified and knowledgeable people in the community. 

To advise the Cabinet Member on actions arising from an update report on relevant issues that will/may affect the District from the Lancashire Resilience Forum. 

To consider, on an annual basis, arrangements to mitigate the risk to council properties, where it has been shown that properties have flooded in the past and for appropriate adaptations to be made to these properties. 

To advise on the local flood emergency responses of the various agencies. 

To advise the Cabinet Member on action following receipt of reports on cross boundary issues.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Report of the Interim Head of Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer. 

Members were requested to consider the updated Work Programme.

With regard to the update on Canal Corridor North, the Committee expressed concern that the officer advice was that there were no resources to undertake this piece of work. 

It was agreed that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee inform the Chief Executive of its concern that the Committee was being restricted and was not able to discharge its duty as set out in Article 6 of the City Council’s Constitution. 

Members went on to consider the update on complainants. 

It was agreed :-

(1)       That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommend that, if complaints are received by Committees, their Chairman or Committee Members, from people classified by the City Council as persistent complainers, then the complaint is treated, as it would be as a persistent complainer.

(2)       That officers be requested to consider conducting future correspondence with persistent complainers in paper form in future.

(3)       That these recommendations be referred to the Constitutional Working Group for further consideration. 

Members were advised that it had been suggested that the November Crime and Disorder meeting be rescheduled for 8^th November 2018, after the Member Briefing by the Police and the City Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team. 

It was agreed that officers would email Members of the Committee to determine their availability for 8^th November 2018. 

It was noted with concern that the City Council had recently served notice on the Musicians’ Co-operative.  Members agreed that there would be an informal Committee meeting on 21^st November 2018 to consider this matter further and that the Committee would compile a list of questions regarding the Council’s property portfolio. 

Resolved :-

(1)       That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee inform the Chief Executive of its concern that the Committee was being restricted and was not able to discharge its duty as set out in Article 6 of the Council’s Constitution. 

(2)          With regard to complainants : -

·         The Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommend that, if complaints are received by Committees, their Chairman or Committee Members, from people classified by the City Council as persistent complainers, then the complaint is treated, as it would be as a persistent complainer. 

·         That officers be requested to consider conducting future correspondence with persistent complainers in paper form in future. 

·         That these recommendations be referred to the Constitutional Working Group for further consideration. 

(3)       That officers email Members of the Committee to determine their availability for 8^th November 2018 to hold the Committee’s Crime and Disorder Committee meeting. 

(4)       That there be an informal Committee meeting on 21^st November 2018 to consider the Musicians’ Co-operative and that the Committee compile a list of questions regarding the Council’s property portfolio.