Place Select Committee Minutes

Date:
Monday, 20th July, 2020
Time:
2.00pm
Place:
Remote Meeting Via Microsoft Teams
 
Please note: all Minutes are subject to approval at the next Meeting

Attendance Details

Present:
Cllr Chris Barlow(Chairman), Cllr Louise Baldock(Vice-Chair), Cllr Pauline Beall, Cllr Julia Cherrett, Cllr Luke Frost, Cllr Mohammed Javed, Cllr Hilary Vickers, Cllr Alan Watson and Cllr Bill Woodhead MBE.
Officers:
Andy Corcoran, John Angus, Tony Wrigglesworth (EGDS); Craig Willows, Dale Rowbotham, Ed Tannahill, Ally Buckton, Dale Metcalfe (CS); Gareth Aungiers (Xentrall); Rebecca Saunders-Thompson, Gary Woods, Peter Bell (MD).
In Attendance:
None.
Apologies for absence:
None.
Item Description Decision
Public
PLA
1/20		 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
 There were no declarations of interest.
PLA
2/20		 MINUTES
Preamble
AGREED that the minutes of the meeting held on 24 February 2020 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
PLA
3/20		 SCRUTINY REVIEW OF PLANTERS IN RESIDENTIAL STREETS (TASK & FINISH)
Preamble
AGREED that the scope and project plan be approved.
PLA
4/20		 ACTION PLAN FOR AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS - REVIEW OF AREA TRANSPORT STRATEGY
Preamble
AGREED that:

1) the Action Plan be approved.
2) a list of stakeholders be distributed to the Committee to allow them to add any missing residents groups.
3) a progress update will be provided to the Committee in approximately 12 months.
PLA
5/20		 MONITORING THE IMPACT OF PREVIOUSLY AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS
Preamble
AGREED that:

1) the Progress Update be noted and the assessments for progress be confirmed.
2) a further progress update will be provided to the Committee within 3-6 months.
PLA
6/20		 MONITORING THE IMPACT OF PREVIOUSLY AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS
Preamble
AGREED that:

1) the Progress Updates be noted and the assessments for progress be confirmed.
2) the Action Plan be signed off as complete.
PLA
7/20		 MONITORING THE IMPACT OF PREVIOUSLY AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS
Preamble
AGREED that:

1) the Progress Update be noted and the assessments for progress be confirmed.
2) the Action Plan be signed off as complete.
PLA
8/20		 SCRUTINY REVIEW OF BUSINESS SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT
Preamble
AGREED that updates to the scope and plan for the review be noted.
PLA
9/20		 WORK PROGRAMME 2020-2021
Preamble
AGREED that the Work Programme be noted.
PLA
10/20		 CHAIRS UPDATE
 The Chair had no further update.
2.00 pm to 4.00 pm

Preamble

ItemPreamble
PLA
2/20		Consideration was given to the minutes from the meeting held on 24 February 2020.
PLA
3/20		The Scrutiny Officer presented a revised scope and project plan for the review which reflected issues arising from COVID-19 and revised timescales.
PLA
4/20		Members were presented with the Action Plan setting out how the agreed recommendations from the Scrutiny Review of Area Transport Strategy will be implemented and target dates for completion.

Members were informed that the budget allocations were based on the last census in 2011, because this was the most accurate information. However, officers are aware that there has been housebuilding since this time and members will be informed if the budget is recalculated.

Members highlighted potential cross boundary issues. Officers discussed the process of raising and managing issues, as included in the Ward Transport Budget Guidance (Appendix 1a), with members.

Members were informed of possible delays to the proposed actions because of the impact of Covid-19. The beginning of the school holiday period also meant traffic surveys would be delayed until traffic levels returned to their usual level.

The Committee queried if Parish Councils were able to contribute towards an identified transport-related project. Officers stated that they could assist, but that any proposals would have to be fully investigated to ensure a scheme was relevant and safe to implement.
PLA
5/20		Consideration was given to the assessments of progress on the implementation of the recommendations from the Scrutiny Review of Parking on Grass Verges (Task & Finish).

Members noted the positive impact that warning letters had on reducing the number of car parking offences.

Members raised the issue that in certain roads/areas parking on grass verges is still a problem and warning notices have been discarded as litter. Officers responded to specific concerns and informed members that these would be followed up.

The Committee expressed concerns regarding incidents of Council and Thirteen Housing Group branded vehicles parking on grass verges - reducing this problem is not helped by such behaviour, and these organisations must set the example.
PLA
6/20		Consideration was given to the assessments of progress on the implementation of the recommendations from the Scrutiny Review of Bring Sites (Recycling).

All actions in relation to the agreed recommendations had now been fully achieved. It was highlighted that the service is now running much more efficiently than previously and still collecting over 80% of the recyclable material. Parallel to that has been an overall increase in material recycled using the kerbside collection service.
PLA
7/20		Consideration was given to the assessments of progress on the implementation of the recommendations from the Scrutiny Review of Management of Memorials.

Members were informed that the grave collars were designed to make the maintenance of graves more manageable. If problems with grave collars arose in the future, SBC staff would always liaise with grave owners to resolve them.

Members were informed that as part of this review it was highlighted that cemeteries are now divided into sections for graves with collars and graves without collars. This was to ensure better maintenance of cemeteries and to avoid common problems which might arise.

All actions in relation to the agreed recommendations had now been fully achieved.
PLA
8/20		The Committee was presented with a revised scope and project plan for the review which, due to Covid-19, reflected changes to the original timescales.

Members questioned what types of support the Business Support and Enterprise/Engagement Team have provided to businesses or people with protected characteristics. It was also noted that it is often necessary to provide distinct support for different groups.
It was agreed that future evidence gathering for this review would include information from the Business Support and Enterprise Team on whether they have any special services targeted at specific groups, for example BAME, women, young people, and disabled people.
It was also agreed that details on the proposed changes to the Business Support and Enterprise Team should be brought to the next Committee meeting in September 2020.

To aid in establishing future priorities, the Committee would be asked to submit its thoughts on the key features of the existing Team to take forward, and any new elements to embrace/develop. Views will then be sent to Officers in preparation for the September 2020 meeting.

Members were also informed that information had been received from two of the scheduled contributors to the March 2020 Committee meeting (focusing on businesses who had received support from the Council) shortly before it was cancelled due to the escalating Covid-19 situation. These submissions would be circulated to Members following this meeting, and any comments / questions could be relayed back to those businesses.
PLA
9/20		Consideration was given to the Work Programme. The next Place Select
Committee Meeting will take place on 21 September 2020.

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