Agenda and minutes

As this is the first meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the

Committee is required to elect a Chairman from its membership. This

Chairman will serve for the duration of the municipal year.

Proposed by Councillor Michael Lyons

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Rodica Wheeler and

Resolved: To appoint Councillor Peter Gane as Chairman of this Committee for 2017/18.

As this is the first meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the

Committee is required to elect a Vice-Chairman from its membership. This

Vice-Chairman will serve for the duration of the municipal year.

Proposed by Councillor Peter Gane

Seconded by Councillor Michael Lyons and

Resolved: To appoint Councillor Mrs Claire Jeffrey as Vice-Chairman of this Committee for 2017/18.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive and note the minutes of the meeting held on 18 April 2017.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 April 2017 were submitted, approved and signed by the Chairman.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee acts once a year as the Crime and

Disorder Scrutiny Panel to oversee community safety work across the

district.

The Committee will receive a presentation from partner representatives

who chair the various sub-groups of the Community Safety Partnership.

Members received a copy of the Shepway Community Safety Partnership Plan with the agenda and Shaun Taylor, Communities Team Leader informed that officers and partners were in attendance to update members on their work over the past year.

Mr Taylor gave a short introduction to the partnership, providing further details in the presentation papers attached to these minutes. He explained that the Chair of the group was chosen on rotation from the four sub groups.

He updated members on a number of issues surrounding the Clean, Green and Safe priority and confirmed that work, alongside the private housing sector team to work with landlords to improve standards is on-going. He also confirmed that the urban pastor scheme is still going and work with Giles Barnard, Community Safety Officer is continuing.

There have been a number of issues relating to illegal encampments which have been dealt with swiftly working across teams including environmental and legal. PSPO work is leading to more court orders being placed and in turn with a more robust action plan in place will continue to be monitored.

It was also reported that there is more action being taken in respect of fly tipping but it is noted that some areas are being targeted by business waste. Work will continue to make residents aware of the enforcement action that will be taken by enforcement officers if it continues and if people are caught.

The members approved the pink lighting project of Sandgate Road car park and acknowledged it had been a success in reducing ASB after years of complaints.

Rebekah Button, Integrated Family Service Manager, spoke in respect of Safeguarding paying particular attention to the following:

·         Domestic Abuse – there has been an increase in visitors being assisted and work is being done to raise awareness through agencies. A domestic abuse conference in September was a huge success, bringing together agencies, school children and a previously abused woman.

·         Child Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking – a variety of agencies have been working hard to educate children by going into schools, teaching them and training them on how to become mentors for the younger generation. To deliver awareness and provide an online tool for schools around community safety.

·         Taxi drivers – receive training and awareness around community safety and some elements of this training will be built into their knowledge tests.

A number of initiatives have already taken place with more work being done by multi-agencies to get awareness across. A youth conference attracted 700 year 9 pupils aimed at safeguarding the next generation.

Schools are being targeted to help young adults learn about community safety and safety action week looking at road safety, policing and pier relationships. Universities are involved in the development of some of these programmes.This is something that can be replicated across the country.

Further work now needs to be done to highlight the dangers and encourage parents to get more involved with their children, raising awareness in the local community, working with agencies.

Ivan Rudd,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Council is committed to report on its changes to the Corporate Risk Register and Report C/17/02 outlines updates since April 2016 based on the corporate objectives outlined in the Corporate Plan 2013-2018.

Report C/17/02 The Council is committed to report on its changes to the Corporate Risk Register and this report outlines updates since April 2016 based on the corporate objectives outlined in the Corporate Plan 2013-2018.

Proposed by Councillor Peter Simmons

Seconded by Councillor Michael Lyons and

Resolved:

1.            To receive and note report C/17/02.

(Voting: For 8; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

Report C/17/06 provides an update on progress delivering new homes and jobs on a council-owned brownfield site known as Bigginswood in Folkestone.  The report outlines the proposed preliminary work and budget necessary to establish a delivery route and associated programme.

Report C/17/06 provides an update on progress delivering new homes and jobs on a council-owned brownfield site known as Bigginswood in Folkestone.  The report outlines the proposed preliminary work and budget necessary to establish a delivery route and associated programme.

A presentation given by Andy Jarrett, Head of Strategic Development Projects is attached for information.

Mr Jarrett informed members that the site had been vacant for a number of years and the Council acquired it in December 2016 for £1.5m. The land has planning permission for 77 homes and employment use and it is for this reason that the Council wants to invest for the next generation, delivering more jobs, more homes and building on the appearance with value for money and meeting corporate objectives.

There are a number of constraints within the site as shown in the presentation papers and officers will now work to determine the most effective way to move forward, a number of options are available to the Council listed below:

1.         The Council becomes the developer and then selling it themselves once the development is complete.

2.         Sell to a developer with agreement to purchase proportion of homes and serviced land allowing the Council to hold homes for affordable housing.

3.         De-risk site by remediating land by clearing and replacing the site with clean soil which would cap the land and make it safe before going to market.

Members were informed that an environmental study had been done with further tests to take place. A copy of the study is available on request. They were also informed that there was no indication that the site has been identified as having air quality issues.

Proposed by Councillor Peter Gane

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Claire Jeffrey and

Resolved:

1.         To receive and note report C/17/06.

2.         To receive a further report before Cabinet when a delivery decision needs to be made.

(Voting: For 6; Against 0; Abstentions 2)

Report C/17/05 seeks agreement for investing Shepway District Council’s share of the Kent Business Rates Growth Pool in two key employment related projects in the district: (1) Biggins Wood; and (2) the refurbishment of floors 3 and 4 of the Civic Centre.

Report C/17/05 seeks agreement for investing Shepway District Council’s share of the Kent Business Rates Growth Pool in two key employment related projects in the district: (1) Bigginswood; and (2) the refurbishment of floors 3 and 4 of the Civic Centre.

Katharine Harvey, Head of Economic Development, informed members that since the Council joined the Kent Growth Pool they had acquired approximately £500,000 over the 2 year period.

After considering all the options for how to use these funds to promote future economic growth in the district, which is a requirement for how these funds are used, it is proposed to directly invest in two Shepway District Council schemes to bring forward high quality business accommodation:

·        Civic Centre floors 3 and 4 - officers have tried and failed to secure tenants for all of these two floors and so it is proposed to use these funds to improve the quality of the accommodation.

·        Bigginswood – this scheme is identified in the report previously discussed and it is proposed to use the funds to bring forward the employment space component.

Proposed by Councillor Peter Gane

Seconded by Councillor Michael Lyons and

1.            To receive and note report C/17/05.

(Voting: For 8; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

Report C/17/03 The medium term financial position updates the latest forecast for the Council’s financial projections.  It seeks to take a view over the medium term so that the Council can undertake its financial planning in good time and carry out any required actions in a planned and timely manner. 

Report C/17/03 The medium term financial position updates the latest forecast for the Council’s financial projections.  It seeks to take a view over the medium term so that the Council can undertake its financial planning in good time and carry out any required actions in a planned and timely manner. 

Tim Madden, Corporate Director for Organisational Change, informed members that this report updates on the latest forecast for the Council’s financial projections, anticipating the future. Preparatory work is being done looking at the future financial strategy.

Members paid attention to the projected forecast and the key impacts and assumptions in particular the following issues:

·         Changes to New Homes Bonus which has had a significant impact upon the financial forecasting, which has led to a lack of clarity and uncertainty

·         Re-tendering of the waste contract with indications showing significant financial pressures within the current contract. The forecast assumes a growth impact of £1.5M per annum. Work has now started in respect of the tendering process with results in due course. Officers expect a significant cost to continue the service at current levels.

Mr Madden informed members that it is clear that the Council has significant pressures ahead and work will need to be undertaken now to help to alleviate those pressures in the future.

Members asked if the waste contract could come back in-house and were informed that officers have a major piece of work to do before any decisions can be made.

Members were also informed that government consultations were taking place on business rates and how the new system would operate in practice but this had been postponed pending the outcome of the General Election. 

Proposed by Councillor Peter Simmons

Seconded by Councillor Michael Lyons and

Resolved:

1.      To receive and note report C/17/03.

(Voting: For 8; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

Report OS/17/01 presents recommendations for the work programme for the overview and scrutiny committee for 2017/18.

Report OS/17/01presents recommendations for the work programme for the overview and scrutiny committee for 2017/18.

Proposed by Councillor Peter Gane

Seconded by Councillor Michael Lyons and

Resolved:

1.      To receive and note report OS/17/01.

2.        To approve the annual scrutiny work programme for 2017-18 attached to this report.

3.        That FlyTipping is added to the scrutiny work programme for 2017-18.

(Voting: For 8; Against 0; Abstentions 0)