Members of the committee should declare any interests which fall under the following categories*:

a)    disclosable pecuniary interests (DPI);

b)    other significant interests (OSI);

c)     voluntary announcements of other interests.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider and approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 12 February 2019 and 19 February 2019.

The minutes of the meetings held on12 and 19 February 2019 were submitted, approved and signed by the Chairman.

Report OS/18/03 sets out the work that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee have completed during 2018/2019. This involved the identification of items from the pre-decision scrutiny and monitoring financial and performance monitoring information.  The committee also developed their relationships with partners and contributed to the preparation of responses to consultations on various local matters for consideration by the Cabinet.

Report OS/18/03 set out the work that the Overview and Scrutiny

Committee have completed during 2018/2019. This involved the

identification of items from the pre-decision scrutiny and monitoring

financial and performance monitoring information. The committee also

developed their relationships with partners and contributed to the

preparation of responses to consultations on various local matters for

consideration by the Cabinet.

Amandeep Khroud, Assistant Director - Governance, Law & Regulatory Services introduced the report and informed members that the report will be taken to the Annual Council meeting in May for approval.

Members raised the following issues to be addressed:

·         Domestic Bins – confirmation of when this report will come to Committee was sought.

·         Fly tipping – this was not shown as part of the annual scrutiny programme, therefore clarification will be sought from the relevant officers.

·         Play Strategy – this is shown as part of the annual scrutiny programme but, as yet, has not been presented to Committee. Clarification as to when this will happen will be provided to members once the relevant officers have been spoken to.

Proposed by Councillor Clive Goddard

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Claire Jeffrey and

Resolved: To receive and note report OS/18/03.

(Voting: For 9; Against 0; Abstentions 1)

Report C/18/80 provides an update on the Council’s performance for the third quarter of 2018/19, covering 1 October 2018 to 31 December 2018.  The report enables the Council to assess progress against the approved key performance indicators for each service area. 

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will be monitored during 2018/19 and reported to CLT and members quarterly. 

Report C/18/80 provided an update on the Council’s performance for the

third quarter of 2018/19, covering 1 October 2018 to 31 December 2018.

The report enables the Council to assess progress against the approved

key performance indicators for each service area.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will be monitored during 2018/19 and

reported to CLT and members quarterly.

Gavin Edwards, Policy and Improvements Officer presented the report informing members that 2 further indicators have been added and these are shown at 1.4 in the report.

Members noted the following:

Review of Performance Indicators – this is currently being undertaken with a report being presented to Committee in the new financial year.

FOI requests – members asked for further information on numbers of FOI requests and this will be provided following the meeting.

KPI’s – a definitive list of KPI’s is provided at the end of the financial year but on request this will be provided to members as soon as officers have collated the information.

Progress report – members are keen to let residents know of the progress being made and asked that future reports include how the Council is performing against previous years.

Proposed by Councillor Michael Lyons

Seconded by Councillor Russell Tillson and

Resolved: To receive and note report C/18/80.

(Voting: For 10; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

Report C/18/83 provides a projection of the end of year financial position of the General Fund revenue budget, based on expenditure to the 31 December 2018. 

Report C/18/83 provided a projection of the end of year financial position of

the General Fund revenue budget, based on expenditure to the 31

December 2018.

Leigh Hall, Group Accountant presented the report to members with no additional information to report.

Clarification on how on-street parking monies is spent was sought and although this is included in the Annual Accounts  statement published in  May it was agreed officers would provide the latest figures to the Committee following the meeting.

Proposed by Councillor Clive Goddard

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Claire Jeffrey and

Resolved: To receive and note Report C/18/83.

(Voting: For 9; Against 0; Abstentions 1)

Report C/18/82 provides a projection of the end of year financial position for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) revenue expenditure and HRA capital programme based on net expenditure to 31 December 2018. 

Report C/18/82 provided a projection of the end of year financial position

for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) revenue expenditure and HRA

capital programme based on net expenditure to 31 December 2018.

Charlotte Spendley, Assistant Director - Finance, Customer & Support Services presented the report confirming that much of the current variance related to the profiling of the new build/acquisition programme

Proposed by Councillor Russell Tillson

Seconded by Councillor Michael Lyons and

Resolved: To receive and note Report C/18/82.

(Voting: For 9; Against 0; Abstentions 1)

Report C/18/77 - The Council is required to produce a comprehensive Business Plan for its housing stock.  The Business Plan is focused on improving the quality of the Council’s landlord services and sets out the investment priorities for its existing Council stock.  The document also provides details of the Council’s new build and acquisition housing programme.  In view of policy changes implemented by the Government in 2016, it was necessary to reduce the Council’s target to deliver up to 300 homes over the next 10 years, to up to 200 homes over the next 10 years.  Further Government Policy changes announced in late 2018 and the financial position within the HRA, mean that the Council is once again able to increase its delivery target for new builds and the updated Business Plan is based on delivering up to 300 homes.  The report also provides an update on the number of homes delivered to date through the programme and also on the number of sites currently in the pipeline. 

Report C/18/77 - The Council is required to produce a comprehensive

Business Plan for its housing stock. The Business Plan is focused on

improving the quality of the Council’s landlord services and sets out the

investment priorities for its existing Council stock. The document also

provided details of the Council’s new build and acquisition housing

programme. In view of policy changes implemented by the Government in

2016, it was necessary to reduce the Council’s target to deliver up to 300

homes over the next 10 years, to up to 200 homes over the next 10 years.

Further Government Policy changes announced in late 2018 and the

financial position within the HRA, mean that the Council is once again able

to increase its delivery target for new builds and the updated Business

Plan is based on delivering up to 300 homes. The report also provided an

update on the number of homes delivered to date through the programme

and also on the number of sites currently in the pipeline.

Adrian Hammond, Housing Strategy Manager presented the report highlighting that following Government  Policy Changes the Council is once again able to increase its delivery target for new builds to 300, which was welcomed by members.

Members noted that the Council has in place a stock condition survey, which identifies a work and investment plan for maintaining existing housing stock.

If members have any concerns about the condition of individual Council properties in the district that they would like to highlight, then these can be directed to Mr Hammond who will work with East Kent Housing to investigate the concerns.

It was agreed that Councillors have a responsibility to support the delivery of housing and can achieve this through planning applications that are presented to Council.

Mr Hammond informed members that it was too early to discuss the detailed delivery of affordable housing with regards to the Otterpool development/masterplan.

Proposed by Councillor Michael Lyons

Seconded by Councillor Clive Goddard and

Resolved: To receive and note report C/18/77.

(Voting: For 9; Against 0; Abstentions 1)

On 14 November 2018, Cabinet agreed to consult the public on a proposal to introduce a new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) as the current one is due to expire on 19 June 2019.  The creation of bespoke PSPOs provides officers and partners (Kent Police) an additional tool on top of existing powers and legislation to help tackle specific issues of antisocial behaviour affecting parts of the District.  PSPOs were brought in as part of a Government commitment to put victims at the centre of approaches to tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB), focusing on the impact behaviour can have on both communities and individuals, particularly on the most vulnerable. 

Report C/18/78 summarises the results of the public consultation which shows that there is public support for all seven measures.  The report also provides an insight into the views of the public as well as the Government’s recommended position when implementing PSPOs.  Members are asked to approve the new PSPO measures outlined in section 2.2. 

On 14 November 2018, Cabinet agreed to consult the public on a proposal

to introduce a new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) as the current

one is due to expire on 19 June 2019. The creation of bespoke PSPOs

provides officers and partners (Kent Police) an additional tool on top of

existing powers and legislation to help tackle specific issues of antisocial

behaviour affecting parts of the District. PSPOs were brought in as part of

a Government commitment to put victims at the centre of approaches to

tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB), focusing on the impact behaviour can

have on both communities and individuals, particularly on the most

vulnerable.

Report C/18/78 summarised the results of the public consultation which

shows that there is public support for all seven measures. The report also

provided an insight into the views of the public as well as the

Government’s recommended position when implementing PSPOs.

Members are asked to approve the new PSPO measures outlined in

section 3.

 Jyotsna Leney, Community Services Manager presented the report to members informing them the mapping of relevant measures of the PSPO will include additional parts of the Marsh area following public consultation.  

She highlighted the number of consultation responses received and work will now begin on the next stages of implementing the order.

Members asked a number of questions which were answered by both Ms Leney and Jess Harman, Community Projects Manager as follows:

·         It is recognised that anti-social behaviour is a key priority for the District and that the implementation of bespoke measures through the new PSPO gives additional tools and powers to tackle antisocial behaviour.

·         Clarification on rough sleeping – members noted that this is not targeting rough sleepers for whom additional interventions and support will be carried out, rather to address any antisocial behaviour which has a detrimental effect to the community. Councillor Meyers, in particular, was happy to hear this as it was a concern he had raised. Working protocols on the application of the PSPO will have a clear explanation of this.

·         Anti-social behaviour – it was stressed that officers were tackling the antisocial behaviour associated with the activity ie not banning the activity itself eg drinking, where anyone having a peaceful picnic could drink but any one causing anti-social behaviour whilst drinking would be who the PSPO would target.

·         Chuggers – clarification on the dictionary definition was given - “Charity Muggers”.

·         Lydd – Councillor Goddard was pleased to see that Lydd was included and the extension to the areas New Romney Town Council asked for meant the Marsh had good coverage.

·         Consultation – a request that all those who had responded as part of the public consultation be given feedback and where contact details have not been provided, officers produce a public document that summarises all the results.

·         Training/resources – members noted the partners on board and the training that staff would receive to enable them to take enforcement action but still stressed engagement and intervention was preferable.

·         Communications – members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 182.