Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Customers and Partnerships) meeting held on 10th September 2020.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 10th September 2020 was approved as a correct record by the Panel.

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

No declarations of interest were received.

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 has been appended in the Minute Book) which has been prepared by the Executive Leader for the period 1st October 2020 to 31st January 2021.

The Panel are to receive the Healthy Open Spaces Strategy.

Consideration was given to a report by the Development Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) to which was appended the Healthy Open Spaces Strategy.

The Executive Councillor for Operations and Environment introduced the report and explained to the Panel that the Strategy set out the Council’s plan for open spaces for the next 10 years. The Development Manager added that the Strategy was needed in order to protect the District’s open spaces in the future, manage the environment and local ecosystems and fully utilise the open spaces within the District. Members’ attention was drawn to how important open spaces were to residents, as a survey conducted during the development of the Strategy highlighted that 68% of respondents visited greenspaces on a regular basis (at least once a fortnight) and that 90% of respondents thought that greenspaces improved mental health and wellbeing. Also, respondents highlighted nature and wildlife as the most important aspect of greenspaces.

Overview and Scrutiny Members were recognised for their involvement in the development of the Strategy and Councillors Mrs A Dickinson, K P Gulson, Mrs S Smith, Mrs J Tavener and Mrs S R Wilson were thanked for their contributions.

When questions and comments were invited from the Panel, Councillor Wilson commented that she thought the enthusiasm of the team was infectious and that the community engagement undertaken was highly effective. Councillor Alban added that he regularly visits Hinchingbrooke Country Park and was very impressed with the commitment of the staff and volunteers.

Following a question of clarification from Councillor Giles, the Panel was informed that Huntingdonshire has 87 square metres of green space per person, compared to 35 square metres per person in Great Britain and 42 square metres per person in the East of England.

Councillor Davies asked how the Strategy would help in balancing the accommodation of wildlife in green spaces within the District with their use by the public. He added that the Council should be mindful of looking after the various habitats that existed throughout the green spaces. In response, the Panel was reassured that wildlife habitats would be protected and actively managed. Councillor Alban stated that the wildflower meadows were an excellent addition to the open spaces.

Councillor Alban then questioned why Officers had not visited children from rural schools in the same way that they had visited children in larger more urban primary schools. The Development Manager explained that the schools visited had taken up the offer of a visit from the team. It was suggested that many Members were school governors or had links to schools in other ways and these avenues could be used to achieve greater coverage of communication between Council Officers and pupils.

Clarification was sought from Councillor Wilson that the Strategy would be well used and that it had buy-in from the Executive Councillors and Senior Officers. Members were reassured that there was buy-in and there was a recognition that the green open spaces were important to residents and that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

The Executive Councillor for Corporate Services and the Assistant Director – Transformation will be in attendance for a discussion on the Digital Strategy. Members will receive a presentation prior to the discussion.

Having noted that the Digital Strategy would not be ready to discuss at the meeting, the Panel

RESOLVED

that the item be deferred to the meeting in November 2020.

The Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme is to be presented to the Panel.

A report by the Democratic Services Officer (Scrutiny) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) containing the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme was received and noted.