Venue: THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, PATHFINDER HOUSE, ST MARYS STREET, HUNTINGDON PE29 3TN
Contact: Mr A Roberts Democratic Services Officer, Tel 01480 388009 /email Anthony.Roberts@huntsdc.gov.uk
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To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 6th June 2006. Contact: A Roberts 388009 Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 6th June 2006 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. |
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MEMBERS' INTERESTS To receive from Members declarations as to personal and/or prejudicial interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any Agenda item. Please see Notes 1 and 2 below. Minutes: Councillor Mrs M Banerjee declared a personal interest in Minute No. 20 by virtue of her membership of the Board of Luminus. |
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EMPLOYEE OPINION SURVEY ACTION PLAN As previously requested by the Panel the Employee Opinion Survey Action Plan is attached for consideration. Contact: P Duerden 388043 Minutes: Pursuant to Minute No.45/05 of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Delivery and Resources), the Panel gave consideration to the Employee Liaison Advisory Group (ELAG) Action Plan – Employee Opinion Survey 2005. By way of introduction the Head of Personnel Services reminded Members that the Employee Opinion Survey was carried out every two years, the first was in 2003. The Action Plan identified areas for improvement and had been subject to consultation with ELAG representatives. The Head of Personnel Services concluded by outlining progress against various items in the Action Plan.
In response to a question by the Vice-Chairman, the Head of Personnel Services informed the Panel that work was being undertaken to improve communication with employees, that difficulties existed in reaching those based at the leisure centres and at the Operation Division as they did not have normal ‘office’ work patterns and did not tend to have access to email and the Intranet. Having noted that these difficulties were being addressed and following discussion on the logistics of arranging team meetings as a way of improving communications, the Panel
RESOLVED
that the Employee Liasion Advisory Group (ELAG) Action Plan – Employee Opinion Survey 2005 be received and noted. |
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PARKING ENFORCEMENT To discuss the scope of the study on parking enforcement. The Head of Technical Services will be in attendance for this item. Contact: A Roberts 388009 Minutes: Further to Minute No.11, the Panel received a presentation by the Head of Technical Services on parking enforcement. Such enforcement currently was the responsibility of the Police and would remain so unless it was decriminalised. The Government encouraged the transfer of responsibility from the Police to local authorities, which currently was voluntary. Decriminalisation had taken place in Cambridge City and, while it was intended to be self financing, in practice, there were significant set up costs and it was being subsidised by the County Council. The Head of Technical Services went on to discuss the possible division of areas for parking enforcement purposes. The current legislation made no provision for parish level enforcement but it would be possible to create an agency agreement. It also would be possible to designate the whole of the District as a ‘special parking area’ but it was more likely that the County Council would appoint a contractor to undertake enforcement throughout the County. In discussing practical aspects of decriminalised parking enforcement the Head of Technical Services referred to the need for a County-wide body to process tickets and administer the appeals mechanism.
In the ensuing discussion Members referred to local enforcement schemes, funding Traffic Wardens, off street parking and using Neighbourhood Panels to influence Police priorities in favour of the parking enforcement. Having noted that discussion already was ongoing with the County Council on this subject, the Panel
RESOLVED
that a report be submitted to the Panel in six months time detailing progress with the decriminalisation of parking enforcement. |
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HOUSING STRATEGY 2006-11 To consider and comment on the Housing Strategy 2006-11 and supporting Empty Homes Strategy 2006-11 and Homelessness Strategy 2006-08 prior to their submission to the Cabinet. Contact: J Barrett 388203 S Plant 388242 Minutes: The Panel reviewed a report by the Head of Housing Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to which was appended the Housing Strategy 2006-11 and various supporting strategies, prior to their submission to the Cabinet. By way of introduction, Members were informed that the District Council had a statutory duty to produce a Housing Strategy every five years. The Strategy was an umbrella document which set out issues facing the District. The content had been informed by the Council’s corporate priorities and contained an action plan detailing how the Council and it's partners would balance need and supply, together with improving housing and community facilities. The documents had been the subject of consultation and would be submitted to Go-East for assessment as to whether it was “fit for purpose”.
In response to a question on the money allocated under the Empty Homes Strategy, Members were informed that, in addition to the funding being used to find empty homes, it also was used to provide loans for repairs. The Panel also discussed alternative ways of providing more houses in the District and the benefit produced for the Council in terms of nomination rights.
Following a question on houses for people with disabilities, the Panel was informed that this was dealt with elsewhere and that Disabled Facilities Grants contributed towards this as part of Supporting People Partnership. Having been informed, in response to a further question, that the Council had a statutory duty towards young people from the age of 16 years, the Panel
RESOLVED
that the Housing Strategy 2006-11, Empty Homes Strategy 2006-11 and Homelessness Strategy 2006-08 be approved for submission to the Cabinet. |
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PROMOTING BETTER HEALTH IN OLDER PEOPLE THROUGH PHYSICAL EXERCISE To consider the report of the Older Persons Working Group. Contact: A Roberts 388009 Additional documents:
Minutes: (In attendance for consideration of this item was Councillor Mrs J Chandler, Executive Councillor for Leisure).
Pursuant to Minute No.94/05 of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Delivery and Resources), the Panel considered the final report by the Older Persons Working Group. In introducing the report the Vice-Chairman drew Members’ attention to the changing demographics in Huntingdonshire, the benefits of falls prevention through exercise in terms of enabling older people to live independently and the low cost of the Working Group’s proposals.
Councillor Mrs Chandler commended the report, in particular, the recommendation relating to exercise classes for those aged over 65 years. She also outlined the opportunities to work with other registered social landlords in the area. Mr S Bell, Leisure Centres’ Co-ordinator, informed Members that there was an opportunity to spread capacity at the Leisure Centres to develop the pilot scheme referred to in the report and that he already had held discussions with a representative of Luminus on this subject.
Having discussed the definition of ‘older’ people, possible outreach work in villages and the involvement of general practitioners, the Panel
RESOLVED
(a) that the Cabinet be recommended to -
(1) appoint a representative to the Out and About Steering Group;
(2) promote Out and About through the Leisure Service and Districtwide;
(3) subject to the progress of Out and About, establish a programme of exercise for older people at ‘hub’ villages and Luminus Sheltered Housing to commence in 2007/08;
(4) make the necessary budgetary provision to enable the programme referred to above to take place, although overall it will be at little cost to the Council;
(5) subject to the programme of development referred to in recommendation 3 and the outcome of the pilot referred to in recommendation 8, train sufficient leisure staff to National Register for Exercise Professional level three as required to allow the programme referred to above to proceed;
(6) provide facilities at the Leisure Centres for external trainers to provide their own classes for those aged over 65 years on a pilot basis;
(7) introduce measures to ensure continuity of existing classes provided by the voluntary sector;
(8) compile and maintain a comprehensive and up to date database of exercise services and facilities for older people;
(9) produce marketing materials designed to encourage those aged over 65 years to use all of the Council’s existing leisure facilities and classes as appropriate; and
(10) request the Huntingdonshire Strategic Partnerships Health, Housing and Social Care Thematic Group to consider adopting the promotion of physical exercise amongst older people as one of its objectives.
(b) that progress of the study be reviewed by the Panel at a future meeting.
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 2000 - FORWARD PLAN A copy of the current Forward Plan, which was published on 16th June 2006, is attached. Members are invited to note the Plan and to comment as appropriate on any items contained therein. Contact: R Reeves 388003 Minutes: The Panel considered the current Forward Plan of Key Decisions (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which had been prepared by the Leader for the period 1st July – 31st October 2006.
An update was requested at the next meeting on the Choice Based Lettings scheme. |
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OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY PANEL (SERVICE DELIVERY) - PROGRESS To consider a report by the Head of Administration on decisions taken by the Panel. Contact: A Roberts 388009 Minutes: The Panel received and noted a report by the Head of Administration (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) detailing actions taken in response to recent discussions and decisions by the Panel and reviewing the programme of studies. With regard to the study on Twinning, Members agreed to hold the next meeting at 12.30pm on 27th September 2006. Councillor R W D Bailey reported that he would be submitting his conclusions of the study on the rural economy and services to the next meeting.
The Panel discussed a suggested study on cycling provision. It was agreed that the Central Services Manager should liaise with Councillor J S Watt to ascertain within which of the Overview and Scrutiny Panels’ remits it fell. With regard to a suggested study on highways maintenance and in the context of the general agreement with the County Council that the two authorities would not scrutinise each others’ services, it was suggested that the matter could be raised at the County Council’s Environment and Transport Scrutiny Panel.
Following a suggestion by Councillor P G Mitchell that a study on how Section 106 money was spent and in view of the fact that this subject generally fell within the remit of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Support), it was agreed that the subject be discussed at the next joint Chairmen’s meeting whether it was possible for the Panel to look at the reallocation of Section 106 money between areas.
In response to a suggestion by Councillor J M Sadler that the Panel received a presentation on a planned retirement community, the Central Services Manager undertook to consider the implications of this suggestion. |
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SCRUTINY To scrutinise decisions taken since the last meeting as set out in the Decision Digest (TO FOLLOW) and to raise any other matters for scrutiny that fall within the remit of the Panel. Contact: A Roberts 388009 Minutes: The Panel received and noted the 64th edition of the Decision Digest. |