|
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, 19 AUGUST 2008
PRESENT: Mr J A B Long – Chairman
|
Mrs S P Clarke
Mr D G Grutchfield
Mr M Newman
Mr J R A Sayers |
Mrs C A Todd
Mr A J Ward
Mr D L Wood |
The following members were unable to be present: Mr B D Hurren, Mrs M O Munson and Mr A F D W Osborne.
Mrs S M Wigglesworth, Chairman of the Housing Panel, was in attendance to present the item referred to in Minute No 27 below.
Mr A J Hinton, the Babergh representative on the Haven Gateway Partnership, was in attendance to present that part of the item referred to in Minute No 31 below.
22 - Substitutes
23 - Declaration of Interests
24 - Minutes
25 - Petitions
26 - Questions from Members
27 - The Housing Panel's 2008 Housing Review
28 - Finance and Performance Management - Quarterly Report
29 - Babergh's District Resilience Forum - Progress Report 2007/08 and Action Plan for 2008/09
30 - A Review of Flood Management
31 - Reports from Representatives on Outside Bodies
32 - Work Plan
It was noted that in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No. 5 substitutes were in attendance as follows:-
Mr A J Ward (substituting for Mr B D Hurren)
Mr D G Grutchfield (substituting for Mrs M O Munson)
Back to top
Mr D L Wood declared a personal interest in the item referred to in Minute No. 31 below by virtue of being a member of the East LSP through the Suffolk Police Authority, but he indicated that his interests were such that he would be able to speak and vote on the matter concerned.
Back to top
RESOLVED
That the Minutes of the meeting held on 1 July 2008 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
Back to top
None received.
Back to top
None received.
Back to top
Mrs S M Wigglesworth introduced a report (Paper H90) of the Housing Panel, which outlined the results of the Housing Panel’s 2008 review of the Council’s Housing Strategy, Homelessness Strategy and the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan.
She explained that the Panel’s review provided an update on the following housing issues:-
-
Babergh’s Housing Strategy
-
Greater Haven Gateway Housing Sub-Region
-
Babergh’s Housing Revenue Account Business Plan
-
Babergh’s Landlord Priorities
-
Babergh’s Homelessness Strategy
-
Update on other housing issues
It was noted that it is the Panel’s intention to review the Strategies and the Business Plan in twelve months time and that the Panel had also been requested to undertake some additional tasks relating to fuel poverty/energy efficiency and the future use of the Calais Street Pavilion site in Hadleigh.
RESOLVED
That the report be noted.
Back to top
The Director of Corporate Services and the Director of Finance submitted a joint report (Paper H85) providing an integrated picture of the significant issues relating to finance and performance management in the first quarter of 2008/09.
In the ensuing discussion the following were among the points noted:-
There is likely to be significant additional investment and recycling income as a result of higher surplus funds and interest rates and the decision not to proceed with the third bin project. The Strategic Financial Planning Task Group would be requested to consider whether this should be utilised to support the Medium Term plans and the Strategic Plan priority outcomes.
The Head of Contract and Asset Management would be requested to have regard to the general condition, for example the internal decorations, at the Kingfisher Leisure Centre as part of the planned maintenance budget of £200,000.
Members then scrutinised the financial and performance information set out in Paper H85 and its Appendices.
RESOLVED
That the key points relating to the variations against the 2008/09 budget, National Indicators, former Best Value Performance Indicators and Local Performance Indicators be noted.
Back to top
The Director of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper H91) updating Members on the progress made to date by the District Resilience Forum (DRF) in relation to Emergency Planning and highlighting the actions planned over the next year to further develop the Council’s emergency preparedness.
The report also included a draft version of the three year medium term plan for the emergency preparedness outcome approved as part of the Council’s Strategic Plan 2008/18.
It was accepted that although considerable progress had been made over the last year with a very positive direction of travel, there was still more work to do to fully embed our arrangements and to develop certain aspects.
Of particular concern to the meeting was the role and training need of Members. It was noted that work regarding this was ongoing.
It was also suggested that the six monthly meetings with the Parish Councils should discuss roles of the local communities in emergency planning.
RESOLVED
(1) That the progress made by the Council in relation to emergency preparedness in 2007/08 be noted.
(2) That the action plan for 2008/09 as contained in Appendix 2 of Paper H91 be approved.
(3) That the proposals outlined in the draft Medium Term Plan, as contained in Appendix 3 of Paper H91 be noted.
Back to top
The Director of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper H92) advising that a Suffolk wide review of flood management has been carried out.
Following the publication of the final report of the Pitt Review, an action plan has been established to take forward local authority recommendations from both reviews.
It was noted that a number of actions have significant costs attributed to them but it is not clear at this stage as to who will bear these. As this becomes clearer appropriate consideration would be needed through the current Service and Financial Planning process.
RESOLVED
(1) That the draft County wide action plan attached as an Appendix to Paper H92 be noted.
(2) That the progress against the final action plan is monitored at the end of 2008/09.
Back to top
Members had before them a report (Paper H93) from Member representatives on the Babergh East Local Strategic Partnership (BELSP) and the Haven Gateway Partnership.
Babergh East Local Strategic Partnership
Mrs S P Clarke, Babergh’s representative on the BELSP presented a report on that partnership and answered a number of questions from Members.
Haven Gateway Partnership
Mr A J Hinton, Babergh’s representative on the Haven Gateway Partnership, presented a report on the work of that organisation and answered a number of questions from Members.
RESOLVED
That the report be noted.
Back to open
The Director of Corporate Services submitted a report (Paper H94) which provided details of the Committee’s anticipated work for 2008/09, including items as referred to in the Appendix to the report that might be the subject of call-in procedures.
RESOLVED
That the Work Plan submitted as Paper H94 be noted.
Back to top
The Committee adjourned for refreshments between 10.50 a.m. and 11.10 a.m.
The business of the meeting was concluded at 1.15 p.m.
..................................................................... Chairman
|