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BABERGH DISTRICT COUNCIL
OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY (COMMUNITY SERVICES) COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY (COMMUNITY SERVICES) COMMITTEE HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, COUNCIL OFFICES, CORKS LANE, HADLEIGH ON TUESDAY, 6 FEBRUARY 2007
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PRESENT: Mr C J Hunt – Chairman
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Mr J C Brand
Mr K Grimsey
Mr D G Grutchfield |
Mr B D Hurren
Mr J A B Long
Mr J W Roberts |
Ms J Jenkins, Mr P Jones and Mrs S M Wigglesworth attended the meeting for the presentation on the School Organisation Review referred to in Minute 41 below, and spoke on the item at the invitation of the Chairman.
Mr R E Kemp, Mr J R A Sayers and Mr D L Wood were unable to be present.
It was noted that in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 5 a substitute was in attendance as follows:-
Mr J C Brand (substituting for Mr R E Kemp)
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Mr J A B Long declared a personal interest in respect of the item referred to in Minute No. 41 below, by virtue of the fact that his wife is a teacher in a Suffolk school.
Mr D G Grutchfield declared a personal interest in respect of the items referred to in Minute Nos. 41 and 45 below, by virtue of the fact that he is a Member of Suffolk County Council and Hadleigh Town Council.
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RESOLVED
(1) That the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 October 2006 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
(2) That the Minutes of the joint meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee and the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee held on 11 December 2006 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
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None received.
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Mr D G Grutchfield asked the following question of which due notice had been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 15.4 – (a) and (b).
“What are the numbers of CCTV cameras in the district and where are they?
What are the total running costs?
Have any convictions happened as a result of the cameras?”
The Chairman responded as follows:-
“In total there are 24 CCTV cameras in the district, 7 in Hadleigh and 17 in Sudbury.
The total running costs are currently £52,000 per annum for monitoring and maintenance.
On the subject of convictions, figures for the last year are expected to be available from March 2007.”
As a supplementary question, Mr Grutchfield asked whether it would be possible to look into the effectiveness of the current arrangements regarding CCTV cameras. Members noted that at its next meeting the Committee was due to receive a report on community safety in Babergh. It was agreed to ask the Head of Community Development to take this matter into account in drawing up his report.
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Members recalled that at their meeting on 25 July 2006, they had considered a report concerning a consultation being undertaken by Suffolk County Council into how schools are organised in Suffolk. Mr Allan Cadzow, one of the County Council’s Area Directors for Children and Young People, made a presentation (subsequently numbered Paper F187) to the meeting, updating Members on the progress since the completion of the consultation exercise. He outlined the findings of the Suffolk County Council Policy Development Panel. The Committee noted that at its meeting on 22 March 2007 the County Council would consider a number of recommendations, including a proposal that a two-tier system be the preferred option throughout the County.
Mr Cadzow and Mr Frank Stockley, Senior Education Officer (Access and Admissions) answered a number of questions from Members.
In the ensuing discussion, the following were among the points noted:-
· The response rate to the consultation exercise had been disappointing, but a small majority of those who had responded were in favour of change.
· It was confirmed that the optimum size for a sixth form college was seen as 200 pupils, but this did not necessarily mean that smaller sixth forms would be closed down.
· There was concern about the future viability of village schools, but it was suggested that the reorganisation might present an opportunity for investment in village schools which were currently struggling with falling rolls.
· Members were concerned about the impact on the environment if schools were closed and pupils had to be transported longer distances. There was particular concern about younger pupils being bussed to different schools.
· The need to manage change carefully was emphasised. It was noted that the County Council would need to make strenuous efforts to ensure that any reorganisation did not distract schools from meeting the needs of current pupils. The need to address the anxiety and concerns of parents and teachers undergoing the change programme was also emphasised.
It was agreed that Mike Hammond, Corporate Director, in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee, should prepare a draft letter to the County Council highlighting the concerns expressed by Members as set out above. The draft would be circulated to all Members of the Committee for comment prior to finalisation by Mike Hammond in consultation with the Chairman. A copy of the finalised letter would be sent to all Members of the Council.
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Susie Tyrrell, Arts and Community Development Officer, made a PowerPoint presentation (subsequently numbered Paper F188) on the impact of the Arts and Community Development Service in the period from August 2005 to January 2007. Ms Tyrrell answered questions on a number of aspects of her work.
Members congratulated Ms Tyrrell on her achievements since taking up her post. They noted in particular that limited funds for arts and community development were being used in a targeted way to contribute towards the Council’s corporate objectives.
RESOLVED
That the presentation set out in Paper F188 be noted.
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The Head of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper F176) which provided details of the Committee’s anticipated work for the remainder of 2006/07, including items that may be the subject of call-in procedures.
In relation to the report on Community Safety due to be considered at the next meeting, Members requested that this should evaluate the cost and effectiveness of CCTV, including information on convictions achieved due to cameras. They agreed to invite a member of the Suffolk Constabulary to attend the meeting to answer questions about CCTV.
It was agreed that the meeting scheduled for 4 September 2007 would be held at The Quay Theatre, Sudbury, and that one of the items to be considered at that meeting would be the Annual Report on The Quay Theatre.
RESOLVED
That the Work Plan submitted as Paper F176 be noted.
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The Head of Natural and Built Environment submitted a report (Paper F178) concerning the following Notice of Motion submitted to the Council on 19 December 2006 (Minute No. 66 refers).
“That Babergh District Council offers its brown bin garden waste collection service free to persons who are registered disabled on the basis that, because they may not have the physical ability to compost or dispose of their garden waste, they do not have the choice available to non-disabled persons and, therefore, have no alternative but to pay for a collection service.”
In the ensuing discussion the following were among the points noted:-
· The Council is under no statutory obligation to collect garden waste, and the relevant regulations empower waste collection authorities to make a reasonable charge where such a service is offered.
· In line with the Council’s strategic charging policy, appropriate reductions are applied for those in hardship, based on ability to pay. This is generally based on a benefits related means test.
· In the event of registered disability, and no other assistance being available in a household, steps are taken to help residents – for example, assisted bin collections.
RECOMMENDED TO STRATEGY COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL
That the Notice of Motion set out above be not accepted, and that the current arrangements for the collection of garden waste remain, with charges being reduced for qualifying individuals in accordance with the Council’s strategic charging policy.
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The Head of Finance presented a report (Paper F168) concerning the scrutiny of the draft Budgets. These had been approved by Strategy Committee on 11 January 2007, subject to further consideration on the capital programme and borrowing requirements. The report, therefore, provided a more detailed examination of these issues.
Paper F168 also included a recommendation for a temporary increase in the staffing establishment to deal with new smoke-free legislation. This matter had arisen since the Strategy Committee meeting.
It was noted that the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee at its meeting on 30 January 2007 had:-
· endorsed the view that there be further consideration of the future capital programme and borrowing requirements early in the life of the new Council;
· generally supported the proposal to increase Council Tax for 2007/08 by 2.9%;
· requested Officers to ensure that publicity relating to the Budget and Council Tax for 2007/08 included reference to new obligations placed on the Council by Central Government, but not fully funded by it.
In the ensuing discussion, the following were among the points noted:-
· The Department of Health had allocated £42,000 to the Council to enable it to meet its obligations relating to new smoke-free legislation. It was envisaged that this would involve a temporary increase in the staffing establishment for the Natural and Built Environment Division of 0.5 FTE for two years, although Officers would look into the possibility of collaborating with other Suffolk Authorities on this.
· Officers were asked to look into the apparent discrepancy between the figure of £56,167 for CCTV operating costs stated in the Budget document and the sum of £52,000 quoted in answer to Mr Grutchfield’s question (see Minute No. 40 above).
· Members asked that every effort be made to achieve as many savings as possible through joint working with other authorities, including any arising from the Pathfinder Bid.
RESOLVED
That the comments made by the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee in relation to the capital programme and the rate of increase of Council Tax be endorsed.
RECOMMENDED TO STRATEGY COMMITTEE
(1) That provision be made in the draft Budget for a temporary increase in the staffing establishment for the Natural and Built Environment Division of 0.5 FTE for two years to deal with the new smoke-free legislation requirements.
(2) That the draft Budget for 2007/08 be approved as set out in Paper F168, subject to the amendment set out in Recommendation 1 above.
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The Head of Corporate Services presented a report (Paper F165) setting out a draft Corporate Plan for 2007/08. This had been drawn up by the Corporate Plan Working Group which had met three times. The Strategy Committee had considered the plan on 11 January 2007 and made some amendments. The Committee was asked to review the plan for completeness and alignment of the key actions to key concerns and key objectives. The Corporate Plan Working Group would meet on 7 February, and the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees would be reported verbally before the Plan’s final consideration by Strategy Committee on 8 February.
It was noted that the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee at its meeting on 30 January 2007 had suggested a number of amendments relating to pockets of depravation, fear of crime and public satisfaction with Council services.
It was noted that the new Council would be asked to adopt the Corporate Plan for 2007/08 as a basis for its first year, whilst it reviewed and revised a Corporate Plan for the period from 2008/09 onwards.
It was suggested that some references to housing on page 14 of the draft Plan might need to be clarified, in relation to the number of people on the housing waiting list, the number of ‘points’ they had accrued, and the number of houses owned by the Council.
It was noted that a number of risk management workshops were taking place in order to update strategic risks and draw up risk management action plans. The Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee had been asked to monitor the Corporate Plan and the risk management process.
RESOLVED
That the Corporate Plan Working Group be advised that the draft Corporate Plan for 2007/08 be approved as set out in Paper F165, subject to any necessary amendments reflecting the comments referred to above.
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The Head of Finance and the Head of Corporate Services presented a report (Paper F177) giving an update on significant issues with regard to finance and performance management information.
It was noted that overall 59% of Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPIs) and Local Performance Indicators (LPIs) were on or exceeding target, and that 39% were below target. Members also noted that the Corporate Plan Working Group had asked Officers to look into performance issues relating to private sector housing.
Members expressed concern about Performance Indicators relating to planning applications. They noted that a number of measures had been taken to improve performance, but that it would be several months before the effects were felt. It was agreed that the Development Committee should be asked to make reference to BVPIs in its next annual report to the Committee.
RESOLVED
That the keys points relating to variations in the 2006/07 Budget, the latest position on Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPIs) and key Local Performance Indicators (LPIs) as set out in Paper F177 be noted.
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The Head of Corporate Services presented a report (Paper F170) setting out the 2005/06 Best Value Performance Indicator figures for English Authorities, and showing whether Babergh’s performance had improved during that period when compared to others.
It was noted that the final column of the table in paragraph 4.3 of Paper F170 should read as follows:-
Quartile Position |
2005/06
Number |
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Top quartile |
33 |
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Second quartile |
14 |
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Third quartile |
10 |
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Bottom quartile |
11 |
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Better than average |
47 (of) 68 |
It was noted that the number of PIs in the top quartile continued to increase and the number in the bottom quartile continued to decrease.
Members noted that the Overview and Scrutiny (Stewardship) Committee at its meeting on 30 January 2007 had expressed concern about the following BVPIs where performance appeared to be poor:-
63 - Energy efficiency of local housing stock.
199a - Local street and environment cleanliness (litter) – proportion that falls below acceptable level.
166a - Score against an environmental health checklist.
218a - Percentage of abandoned vehicles investigated within 24 hours.
218b - Percentage of abandoned vehicles removed within 24 hours.
82a(ii) - Tonnage of waste arising which has been recycled.
Officers were asked to provide the Overview and Scrutiny (Community Services) Committee with further information on these areas.
RESOLVED
That the 2005/06 National Performance Indicator Comparisons as set out in Paper F170 be noted.
Note: The Committee adjourned for refreshments between 11.00 a.m. and 11.20 a.m. and between 12.45 p.m. and 1.15 p.m.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 2.35 p.m.
Chairman
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