Agenda and minutes

Proposed by Councillor McConville,

Seconded by Councillor E Martin; and

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Davison be elected as Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the municipal year 23/24.

Proposed by Councillor Jones,

Seconded by Councillor Butcher; and

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Wing be elected as Vice-Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the municipal year 2023/24.

(As there was no dissent the nomination was approved by affirmation of the meeting).

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 at the meeting.

The Sub-Committee is required to be politically balanced. The balance figures are shown below.

The following nominations have been received:

The Committee are asked to elect a Chairman of the Sub-Committee.

Proposed by Councillor Davison,

Seconded by Councillor Wing; and

RESOLVED:

1. That Councillor McConville be elected as Chair of the Finance and Performance Sub-Committee for the municipal year 23/24.
2. That the Sub-Committee Members as set out in the agenda pack be appointed for the municipal year 23/24. 

(As there was no dissent the recommendations were approved by affirmation of the meeting).

To consider and approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 25 April 2023.

The minutes of the last Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 25 April 2023 were submitted, approved as a correct record, and signed by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

A Member asked for an update on matters raised following the presentation by Southern Water at the previous meeting. It was noted that an update would be sought.

To consider and approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 07 March 2023.

The minutes of the last Finance and Performance Sub-Committee held on 07 March 2023 were submitted, approved as a correct record, and signed by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

In accordance with the Constitution Councillor Stephen Scoffham, the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Biodiversity will be attending the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to provide a general update on decisions made within his portfolio.

In accordance with the Constitution Councillor Stephen Scoffham, the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Biodiversity attended the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to give an update.

He started by informing the committee that he was delighted to talk about the district-wide carbon reduction plan. He referred to the plan as important but difficult to write. He mentioned that 99.6% of carbon emissions that affect the district are not in-direct control of the council. So, the Council were looking at a policy that requires public cooperation, public behavioural change and cooperation with businesses, local groups.

Councillor Scoffham made the committee aware of two main initiatives that were underway, the Carbon Innovation Lab and the Sustainable Futures and noted the recommendations set out within the report.

Councillor Scoffham added that carbon reduction is an open agenda that involves setting viable targets, that are achievable, working with local communities to maximise gains, and made reference to sustainability hubs across the district where communities could come together.

Members made comments on the following points:

·       How can community engagement be initiated?

·       The Councils plans to achieve EPC C by 2030 and EPC A by 2050 within the constraints of the Housing Revenue Account.

Councillor Stephen Scoffham, the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Biodiversity responded to the comments, and made the following points:

·       It was still early days, but options on initiating community engagement included ward members attending events, signposting people to funding, and supporting the public.

·       Social wellbeing was part of a bigger agenda, but creating a flourishing community would lead to flourishing environments.

FHDC were successful in late January 2023 in their bid to secure a £20m levelling up bid to regenerate Folkstone Town centre called ‘Folkestone - a Brighter Future’.

The presentation will give an overview of the Folkestone a Brighter future project and will include:

·       Background to how the £22m projects evolved.

·       A run through the overall project area and the 3 distinct project zones, Station Arrival and town centre connections, Improved Town centre gateway  and Folca, Sandgate Rd and town centre public realm https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/folkestone-place-plan/levelling-up-project

·       Progress to date on the project.

·       Engagement Plans

·       Programme schedule.

Members received a presentation on the Council’s successful bid to secure a £20m levelling up bid to regenerate Folkstone Town centre called ‘Folkestone - a Brighter Future’.  

The presentation gave an overview of the Folkestone a Brighter future project and is appended to these minutes.

Members commented on various issues and made points including the following:

o   With the project moving at such quick pace, how do the council ensure a diverse community engagement?

o   Are there any plans for using disused shops in the high street?

o   Are the council engaging with bus companies as there is talks of service cuts?

o   The high street is a wind tunnel, are there any thoughts on how to mitigate this?

o   Due to the short time frames until the phase one events, will more dates be introduced?

o   Are the council looking to reconstitute the Folkestone Town Working Group?

o   Are there any penalties if the project could not be delivered by March 2025?

o   In the current financial climate, is there a risk of being unable to deliver aspects of the project?

o   Is a KCC specialist assigned to the project?

o   How many artist partners applied, and will they be focussing on the town or the whole project?

o   Are the council looking at any change of road layout around Middleburg Square?

o   Are there going to be more pedestrian crossings?

The Chief Officer – Place and Growth responded to the comments, and made point including:

o   There are no direct plans for using disused shops, but in-directly it is hoped this will encourage investment and development while raising the profile of Folkestone.

o   The Council is engaging with Stagecoach to future proof, so no opportunities are lost. They are looking to work on bus connections with the new linear layout. 

o   The council will be looking to tackle the wind tunnel with trees, but may have issues with services underground, so are looking at interventions to resolve these issues.

o   The council is running the events two weeks longer then KCC’s recommendations and will be distributing leaflets.

o   Consideration was being given to whether working groups were effective and adding value, but reconstituting the Town Centre Working Group would be considered.

o   It was hoped there would be no penalties for not delivering by March 2025. FHDC were ahead of a lot of other authorities.

o   A dedicated KCC officer had been assigned to the project, which has been considered in the costing. They will see the project through to the end. A delivery agreement between KCC and FHDC was being finalised which details the roles and responsibilities.

o   The Council had five applications from artists for the artistic commission with Creative Folkestone winning the commission. 

o   There will be changes to the road layout and the project team were looking to minimise traffic speeds and make the scheme pedestrian and cycling friendly with safer crossings.

The council purchased the old Debenhams (now called Folca) in Folkestone town centre in 2020, the aim was to secure control on a key anchor site within the town centre to ensure the future use had a positive outcome for the town centre. The building was also used as a key outlet for the vaccination delivery during the pandemic.

The presentation will give an overview of the background and progress to date which will include:

·       Overview of the Folca building

·       Background on the feasibility work carried out to date

·       Funding that is in place

·       Phase one works progress to date and next steps

·       Phase two works progress to date and next steps

Members received a presentation on the council’s purchase of the old Debenhams (now called Folca) in Folkestone town centre in 2020, the aim was to secure control on a key anchor site within the town centre to ensure the future use had a positive outcome for the town centre. The building was also used as a key outlet for the vaccination delivery during the pandemic.

The presentation gave an overview of the background and progress to date and is appended to these minutes.

Members commented on various issues and made points including the following:

·       There needs to be quite a lot of work done with community engagement.

·       Is the full potential of the building being maximised?

·       Is the mixed space approach the correct approach?

·       Phase two doesn’t need to be as rushed, it was more important to take time and ask the community what they want.

·       How much scope is there in the phase one budget with future proofing, sustainability, and energy?

·       Could the change place toilets be prioritised?

·       It would be nice to see the building have uses to benefit the community,

·       A mixed council/community space would be positive and become more accessible with the bus connections.

·       Can you confirm the time scales for Folca 1?

The Chief Officer – Place and Growth responded to the comments, and made point including:

·       The Council is aiming to partially renovate the building as part of the LUF works this includes improvements to the windows, walls and roof creating a watertight shell ready for the next phase of works.

·       The Council will be looking at the carbon reduction potential during the partial refurbishment for LUF and also the phase 2 works post LUF 

·       With regards to the Changing Places Toilet (CPT), there is a deadline for installation as part of the grant allocation. The CPT will therefore be but not necessarily open due to the health and safety issues as part of the wider refurbishment works this will, result in delays to opening the facilities.

·       The Council is in dialogue with two GP practices; however this has to t go through a process with Integrated Care Board (ICB) which is part of the NHS. ICB are currently looking at the spatial arrangements proposed. The project will also have to go through a council planning process.

Resolved:

·       That a further report come back to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee before phase 2 begins.

(The recommendations were agreed by affirmation of the meeting).

The council has been preparing a draft District-wide Carbon Plan for the council “to play a leadership role in promoting partnerships for a carbon neutral 2030 commitment throughout the district”.

This report presents the draft District-wide Carbon Plan to Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Following the comments of Overview and Scrutiny Committee, it is intended to take the draft plan to Cabinet in July to seek approval to hold a public consultation on the plan.

The Strategy, Policy & Performance Lead Specialist introduced the report which presented the draft District-wide Carbon Plan. Following the comments of the Committee, it is intended to take the draft plan to Cabinet in July to seek approval to hold a public consultation on the plan.

Members commented on various issues and made points including the following:

·       Behaviour change was an important factor. What are the outlined plans to work with schools and young people?

·       What are the plans for coordinating those actions that are outside of the council’s control?

·       What is the role of the Carbon Innovation Lab going forward?

·       What does the leadership role work in practice?

·       Going forward are the council going to do more work in promoting plans, grants, and schemes via social media?

·       Members want to increase the number of people using public transport. What influence did the council have in respect of Stagecoach?

·       The committee would like to see more events.

·       Can schools be more involved? The TEDx-style event was a good idea and could be rolled out to schools. More effort was needed in order to target schools in deprived areas. There were benefits in upskilling, and creating roles such as youth champions could be empowering for young people.

• Available grants and funds needed to be made more accessible and engaging on the council’s website.

The Strategy, Policy and Performance Lead Specialist, and the Low Carbon Senior Specialist responded to some of the comments, and made point including the following:

·       The Council have contacted a number of schools, and are looking to expand this further.

·       Previously, the Climate Working Group had received presentations from school children.

·       If members have contacts with schools and are happy to pass them on, the team will follow through with making contact.

·       The plan has not developed enough to confirm the plans for coordination actions outside of the council control, but a working group would need oversee and review any plan in the future. It’s possible that the Climate change working group could fulfil that function.

·       The Carbon Innovation Lab is an informal group that has met regularly to provide input into the plan. The team are looking to continue this input going forward.

·       The results of the consultation would be reported back to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and at that stage it was hoped there would be more information available.

·       The team would work with the council’s communications team to see what further communications can be sent out via social media.

·       The Council could look at more themed events in the future.

·       The Council are currently working with five schools but are looking to expand on this.

RESOLVED:

• To receive and note report OS/23/01
• To note the work on the Carbon Innovation Lab and Sustainable Futures Forum already underway (Sections 2 and 3)
• To comment on the draft District-wide Carbon Plan and proposed approach to public engagement (Section 4)

(The recommendations were agreed by affirmation of the meeting).