Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 2nd July 2013.

2 Minutes.

Subject to the deletion of the words “for each year” from the seventh line of the first paragraph of Minute No. 13/23, the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 2nd July 2013 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members declarations as to disclosable pecuniary or other interests in relation to any Agenda Item. Please see Notes below.

2 Minutes.

No declarations were received.

A copy of the current Notice of Executive Decisions, which was published on 21st August 2013 is attached. Members are invited to note the Decisions and to comment as appropriate on any items contained therein.

5 Minutes.

The Panel considered and noted the current Notice of Executive Decisions (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which had been prepared by the Executive Leader of the Council for the period 1st September to 31st December 2013. The Panel was reminded that they would have sight of the Consultation and Engagement Strategy in October 2013 prior to its consideration by the Cabinet.

To consider a report by the Head of Environmental and Community Services summarising the changes to Huntingdonshire Health & Well-Being Group in the last year and the activities of the Partnership.

Mrs S Smith, Chairman of the Group will be in attendance for consideration of this item.

20 Minutes.

(Mrs S Smith, Chairman of the Huntingdonshire Strategic Partnership Health and Well-Being Group, was in attendance for consideration of this item).

With the aid of a report by the Head of Environmental and Community Health Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel was acquainted with the activities undertaken by and changes affecting the Huntingdonshire Health and Well-Being Group. Mrs S Smith informed Members that the Group had been set up in 2008 under the Huntingdonshire Strategic Partnership Board. Since then, it had evolved into a local health partnership as part of the delivery mechanism for the Cambridgeshire Health and Wellbeing Board. Referring to the Group’s Action Plan, Mrs Smith reported that the priorities for Huntingdonshire had been based on evidence of need which had been identified through the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and the Huntingdonshire Sustainable Community Strategy. Having informed Members that the Group had adopted an open membership policy, she outlined its strategic links to key partners such as the local Clinical Commissioning Groups, voluntary sector, Healthwatch and Age UK. In her concluding remarks, Mrs Smith reported that the Group now had responsibility for the Older Peoples Theme of the Huntingdonshire Strategic Partnership Board’s work.

In noting that the Group’s membership had changed considerably over the last year, the Panel was informed that this had enabled closer working practices to be employed with the Local Clinical Commissioning Group. Joint work had been undertaken on common areas of concern such as falls prevention. Furthermore, this new connection had meant the Group could keep informed of the current procurement process being undertaken on older people’s services.

The Panel questioned how the work of the Group would filter down to local communities. Dr S Lammin, Head of Environmental and Community Health Services, stated that the forthcoming proposals to establish Local Joint Committees in Huntingdonshire could act as a mechanism by which this could be achieved. In noting that the Environmental Well-Being Panel had expressed concern about occupational therapy waiting times, Members requested an update on the latest position. Other matters that were discussed included the work being undertaken by the Group in respect of the rate of teenage conceptions in Huntingdon North Ward and the thresholds established for the release of individuals diagnosed with mental health problems into the community.

RESOLVED

  that the contents of the report now submitted be received and noted.

To consider a report by the Head of Environmental and Community Health Services on the activities and outcomes of the Huntingdonshire Community Safety Partnership in the year 2012-13.

30 Minutes.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Environmental and Community Health Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the activities of and outcomes achieved by the Huntingdonshire Community Safety Partnership in 2012/13. In introducing the report, Dr S Lammin, Head of Environmental and Community Health Services, reported that 2012/13 had been a period of significant change. The Partnership previously had been awarded funding by the Home Office to assist with a number of different initiatives aimed at addressing its priorities. The Police and Crime Commissioner was now responsible for devolving any funding down to each of the Cambridgeshire Partnerships, but it was not anticipated that any funding would be forthcoming in 2014/15.

Members’ attention was drawn to the Partnership’s Action Plan for 2013/14, performance information for the previous 12 months, details of the projects undertaken by the Partnership and crime trends in Huntingdonshire since 2006 to date. They noted the downward trend in crime levels in the District but were informed that there had been an increase in the number of metal thefts over the last year. It was however, reported that changes to the way in which scrap metal dealers were licensed would be taking effect from October 2013 which was hoped would help to address this trend.

Having questioned the future sustainability of the service, the Panel was advised that opportunities to generate income in the private sector through collaboration and partnership working were currently being explored by the service. In addition, a recent investment into the ECINs database would enable a communication base to be established with participating partner agencies which would help to achieve this aim. Other matters discussed by the Panel included anti-social behaviour caused by nuisance drivers in Riverside Park, St Neots and the successes of the Dodgems project in the prevention of crime amongst individuals identified as being at risk of offending.

RESOLVED

  that the contents of the report now submitted be received and noted.

To receive a report from the Head of Environmental and Community Health Services seeking comments on the Huntingdonshire Town & Parish Charter prior to its consideration by the Cabinet.

20 Minutes.

(Councillor R Howe, Executive Councillor for Healthy and Active Communities, was in attendance for consideration of this item).

Pursuant to Minute No. 13/09, and with the aid of a report by the Head of Environmental and Community Health Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Panel were provided with a further opportunity to comment on the Huntingdonshire Town and Parish Charter prior to its submission to the Cabinet. In introducing the report, Mr D Smith, Healthy Communities Manager, reported that the document had been circulated to all Town and Parish Councils for comment but that only a few minor suggestions for changes had been received. Members acknowledged that the Charter would be an evolving document which would take into account any future changes such as the forthcoming proposals for Local Joint Committees in Huntingdonshire, the Parish planning process and any changes announced by the Department of Communities and Local Government in respect of the Localism Act.

The Panel recommended that, in view of the extension of homeowners’ and businesses’ rights, the District Council should inform Town and Parish Councils of extensions that are taking place through permitted development. Provision to this effect should be made in Appendix C of the Charter document. Members then questioned how robust the procedure would be for pass-porting the meaningful proportion of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding to local communities. There was some concern that such funding would not be utilised for infrastructure works and instead would be used for other purposes such as administration. In response, Mr Smith confirmed that the Government had set clear guidelines on how much funding local authorities would receive and indicated that the Council was required to produce an annual report on CIL spending.

RESOLVED

  that, subject to the inclusion in Appendix C of provision for the District Council to inform Town and Parish Councils of developments which are taking place through permitted developments, the Cabinet is recommended to adopt the Charter document as a living document.

To receive a report from the Head of Environmental and Community Health Services reviewing the progress of ‘Shape Your Place’ after its first year of operation.

15 Minutes.

(Councillor R Howe, Executive Councillor for Healthy and Active Communities, was in attendance for consideration of this item).

By way of a report by the Head of Environmental and Community Health Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel was apprised of the first year’s performance of the Huntingdonshire Shape Your Place website for the period to 30th June 2013 together with the first quarter’s performance for 2013/14.

In introducing the report, Mr D Smith, Healthy Communities Manager reported that the site had attracted 15,707 individuals, 33,930 visits and 82,891 page views in its first full year of operation, which had exceeded expectations. In total 127 issues had been raised, of which 46 related to District Council matters, largely in respect of planning, parking and the maintenance of grass verges and hedges. A target for improvement of 3% above current performance levels had been set for the current year. It was likely that this would be achieved.

Having expressed their satisfaction with the performance of the website to date, the Panel accepted that Members could do more to raise their own profiles through Shape Your Place and utilise it as an effective tool for engaging with their constituents. It was confirmed that all Ward Members were notified of any ward issues once they had been published on the website. In addition, the County Council had allocated 0.5 FTE of a post to Huntingdonshire which would be responsible for raising the profile of and developing the Huntingdonshire Shape Your Place website across local communities. Recent successes in doing this had been achieved in the Ramsey area.

With regard to a suggestion that the West-Huntingdonshire area might be merged with neighbouring areas, the Panel was of the view that initiatives to promote Shape Your Place should first be given chance to have an effect and that Ward Councillors should be consulted before any such change was made. Furthermore, bearing in mind developments relating to the establishment of Local Joint Committees (LJC) in Huntingdonshire, the Panel requested that, where possible, LJC boundaries should be wholly contained within the Shape Your Place areas. In noting that a further report on the performance of Shape Your Place would be submitted to the Panel in a year’s time, it was

RESOLVED

  that the contents of the report now submitted be received and noted.

To receive an update from Councillor J W G Pethard on the outcome of recent meetings of the Cambridgeshire Adults, Well-Being and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

(The Minutes of the Meeting held on 18^th July 2013 are attached for information).

5 Minutes.

Councillor J W G Pethard reported on matters currently being considered by the Cambridgeshire Adults, Wellbeing and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee. These included the future commissioning of older people’s services, the delayed discharges review and the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust – Performance and Plans. With the latter in mind, the Panel agreed to remove Ambulance Service Provision from its work plan.

To consider, with the aid of a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, the current programme of Overview and Scrutiny studies.

10 Minutes.

The Panel received and noted a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which contained details of studies being undertaken by the Overview and Scrutiny Panels for Economic Well-Being and Environmental Well-Being.

To consider a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services on the Panel’s programme of studies.

15 Minutes.

The Panel received and noted a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which contained details of actions taken in response to recent discussions and decisions. The Chairman reported that he would be meeting with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Cambridgeshire Adults, Wellbeing and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to discuss their respective work plans and opportunities for joint working. Brief updates were also delivered on each of the Panel’s working groups. The Chairman then indicated that he would be presenting the final report on Local Joint Committees to the Cabinet at its September 2013 meeting.

To scrutinise decisions as set out in the Decision Digest and to raise any other matters for scrutiny that fall within the remit of the Panel.

5 Minutes.

The 136th Edition of the Decision Digest was received and noted.