Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 6th December 2016.

The Minutes for the meeting of the Panel held on 6th December 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members declarations as to disclosable pecuniary and other interests in relation to any Agenda item.

No declarations of interest were received.

To appoint a Vice-Chairman of the Panel for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

RESOLVED

that Councillor J Tavener be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Panel for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

To appoint a Member to the Cambridgeshire County Council Health Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

RESOLVED

that Councillor J Tavener be appointed to the Cambridgeshire County Council Health Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year.

The Chairman thanked Councillor A Dickinson on behalf of the Panel for her roles as Vice Chairman of the Panel and as the Panel’s representative on the Cambridgeshire County Council Health Committee.

A copy of the current Notice of Key Executive Decisions is attached. Members are invited to note the Plan and to comment as appropriate on any items contained therein.

The Panel received and noted the current Notice of Key Executive Decisions (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which has been prepared by the Executive Leader for the period 1st January 2017 to 30th April 2017.

Following a request, the Head of Operations and the Executive Councillor for Operations updated Members on the Review of Street Markets which was presented to the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economy and Growth) at its meeting on 8th December 2016.

The Panel was informed that the Huntingdon Street Market will be moved to the high street. The Council have had a meeting with Cambridgeshire County Council and Huntingdon Town Council on 10th January 2017 and the move has been approved by them but is subject to an amendment of the traffic regulation order. In addition Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service have also given their approval to the new location of the market.

The Council is aiming to ‘go live’ with the new position of the market on 31st March 2017 but that is subject to objections during the consultation process. Members were informed that all but one shop keeper was in favour moving the market. Proposals are to be brought forward in the autumn for St Ives Market.

The Panel are to receive the Waste Round Reconfiguration Update.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Waste Round Reconfiguration Update was presented to the Panel. The Executive Councillor for Operations introduced the report and reminded Members that currently the focus of the Operations service is to effectively communicate the round changes to residents before they ‘go live’.

The Panel was informed that the implementation date has been re-profiled to 27th February 2017 and that this has given Operations time to communicate to residents that their collection day is changing. Members were informed that 80% of collections will change and in all cases the collections will remain in the same week but will be on different days.

The re-profiled date will also give the refuse collection officers more time to study their new rounds before implementation. Members were informed that the refuse collection officers will remain on the same waste stream (i.e. officers collecting waste will always collect waste and officers collecting recycling will always collect recycling) in order to maximise efficiency.

Additional information (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the communications timetable, communications information and a briefing note was presented to the Panel. Members were informed that the online collection calendar will be up to date and will ‘go live’ on the week commencing 16th January 2017. The Panel was informed that the rounds will be reviewed in 2020.

The Chairman asked the Panel to consider the addition recommendation of inviting the Head of Operations and the Executive Councillor for Operations to attend the Panel meeting on 7th March 2017 to verbally update Members on the implementation of the reconfigured rounds.

A Member noted that the report states two different figures as the potential savings of the round reconfiguration however the Panel were informed that the figure of £270k is the correct amount.

In response to a question on how the reconfigured rounds will affect particular areas and vulnerable residents, the Panel were informed that if there are areas in which vulnerable residents would be affected then Members and Officers should exchange information so that both parties can effectively communicate the change to vulnerable residents.

Following a question on how long would it take the refuse collection officers to become accustomed to the new rounds, Members were informed about 4 to 6 weeks. The refuse collection officers will receive maps of the new rounds the week commencing 16th January and will therefore have time become accustomed to the reconfigured rounds before going live.

The Head of Operations informed Members that the Christmas period went well for the service and that only ten complaints have been received. The Panel would like to thank the waste collection officers for their hard work.

A Member suggested putting information on the waste round reconfiguration in doctors surgeries, as some residents will read the information available whilst waiting for their appointment.

Members were informed that the service can’t reduce the amount of recycling rounds  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69.

The Open Spaces Water Safety Policy Implementation Report is to be presented to the Panel.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Open Spaces Water Safety Policy – Implementation Report was presented to the Panel.

Members were informed that establishing the fact that the Council requires an Open Spaces Water Safety Policy, a draft Policy was developed based on advice from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) were engaged to review the draft after a competitive tender.

In response to a question regarding the sites listed in section five of the Policy, Members were informed that they are all owned by the Council and that the Policy only covers static bodies of water owned by the Council.

Following a question could the Council assist parish councils with their static bodies of water, the Panel was informed that the Council are able to assist with risk assessment however the Council have no obligation to assist parish councils.

Concerns were raised in relation to all Operations Policies as well as Health and Safety Policies. A Member stated that there was little oversight from Members to ensure that Policies are working well and that officers are adequately trained to implement the Policies. The Head of Operations informed the Panel that officers’ health and safety training is kept up to date.

The Panel recommended that the Cabinet endorse the Policy.

(At 7.44pm, during the consideration of this item, Councillor G J Bull left the meeting and did not return.)

The Panel are to discuss and agree the terms of reference for the CCTV Task and Finish Group and appoint Members to the Group.

With the aid of a scoping document (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Panel discussed the terms of reference for the CCTV Task and Finish Group.

The Chairman updated the Panel on the membership of the Task and Finish Group and informed them that he is working with Officers and the Members of the Group towards setting the dates of the meetings.

(At 7.58pm, during the consideration of this item, Councillor J White left the meeting and did not return.)

To consider the work programmes of the Economy and Growth and Performance and Customers Overview and Scrutiny Panels.

The Panel received and noted a report by the Democratic Services Officer (Scrutiny) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which contained details of studies being undertaken by the Overview and Scrutiny Panels Economy and Growth and Performance and Customers.

Following a query the Democratic Services Officer (Scrutiny) will review the allocation of the topic ‘Community Resilience Plan’ on the work programme of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economy and Growth).

To consider a report on the Panel’s activities.

With the aid of a report by the Democratic Services Officer (Scrutiny) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel reviewed the progress of its activities since the last meeting.

The Panel have requested that a representative of the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) attends a future Panel meeting.