Agenda and minutes

Venue: The Jeffrey Room, St. Giles Square, Northampton, NN1 1DE.

Contact: Tracy Tiff, Scrutiny Officer, telephone 01604 837408 (direct dial), email  ttiff@northampton.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Aziz, Flavell, Smith, G Eales (T Eales - substitute) and Graystone.

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 70 KB

Members to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 2018.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting held on 12 November 2018 were signed by the Chair as a true and accurate record.

 

3.

Deputations/Public Addresses

The Chair to note public address requests.

 

The public can speak on any agenda item for a maximum of three minutes per speaker per item.  You are not required to register your intention to speak in advance but should arrive at the meeting a few minutes early, complete a Public Address Protocol and notify the Scrutiny Officer of your intention to speak.

Minutes:

Councillor Beardsworth addressed the Committee on agenda items 5 and 7c.

4.

Declarations of Interest (Including Whipping)

Members to state any interests.

Minutes:

Councillor Terrie Eales declared an interest as she works full time in recruitment in agenda item 5.

 

5.

Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Reporting and Monitoring Working Group - General Fund MTFP 2019/2020 and Draft Budget Proposals pdf icon PDF 84 KB

The Committee to receive a progress report from the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Reporting and Monitoring Working Group.

Minutes:

Councillor Beardsworth addressed the Committee commenting that she had asked the S151 Officer about the budget as there was little information available on the Internet.  She was concerned about the proposed Council Tax increases from the Police and NCC; she conveyed concern about how some people would manage to pay this increase.  She commented on Government funding cuts to Local Authorities.  She urged the Committee to write to Central Government in this respect.  Councillor Beardsworth added that she felt that austerity measures were having an impact, and they often had to make a choice between heating their home or food. 

 

Councillor Beardsworth was thanked for her address.

The Chair advised that the O&S Working Group had met recently and considered the draft budget in detail and had proposed four items from the draft budget for the Committee to budget-scrutinise:

 

HRA Delivery Programme

 

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Wellbeing advised that there is a 10 year plan for the HRA Delivery Programme through NPH; it is based on a minimum of 1,000 more homes in that period.  NPH had commented that they could provide more than this target.  NPH has submitted a bid to seek an increase in the cap, but the Government has now removed this cap.  The Council is working to the original 10 year plan.  

 

The Committee heard that Capita, independent verificators, had undertaken verification of the 10-30 plan. NPH is due to complete 75 new homes this year then 150 further homes every year from 2020.

 

The Committee made comment, asked questions and heard:

 

·         It was commented that the Committee was very pleased with this progress, it is step in the right direction.  

·         The Committee welcomed the new homes to be built. 

·         In response to a query regarding the types of houses to be built, it was reported that NPH and NBC have devised the pipeline and the bid specifies where and what type of housing, subject to planning.

 

Restructure of Housing Options and Advice Team

 

The Head of Housing and Welling advised that he had not yet consulted with staff on the proposed restructure of Housing Options and Advice Team.  The proposed growth is to enable expansion of Team, providing extra management capacity.  It was added that it would expand homelessness prevention Team and create a single homeless pathway team, an additional 10 posts are proposed to be created.  The Head of Housing and Wellbeing advised that every job description in the department had changed to ensure the service can perform as efficiently and effectively as possible.

 

The Committee made comment, asked questions and heard:

 

 

·         Concerns were conveyed that this a specialised area of knowledge and expertise.  It was realised that this is a big challenge. The Head of Housing and Wellbeing advised that he has spent a lot of time re-writing job descriptions.  Good quality job descriptions raise performance by 25%.  It is expected that the Authority can attract people who want a job that can make a difference to these Posts

 

Central  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Cleanliness of the Town Centre pdf icon PDF 117 KB

The Committee to receive a briefing around the cleanliness of the town, including littering.

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Environment and the Environmental Health and Licensing Manager went over action plan highlighting salient points.

 

The Committee made comment, asked questions and heard:

 

·         The main environmental services contract had made a number of improvements. Enforcement has made a huge difference - enforcement is across the board.

·         The Chair commented that previously leaves were an issue  but not this year

·         The Committee commented that there was a notable difference around certain parts of the town

·         It was suggested that Community Warden could take on traffic warden responsibilities

·         In response to a query regarding enforcement of cycling of pavements, the Cabinet Member for Environment commented that the Community Wardens do not have these powers but it is being investigated but they do speak to people informally.

 

AGREED:      That monitoring is complete on “Keep Northampton Tidy”

7.

Monitoring of the accepted recommendations contained within Overview and Scrutiny Reports

8a

Dementia Friendly Town pdf icon PDF 101 KB

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Safety and the Head of Customers and Culture ran over the Action Plan highlighting the salient points.

 

The Committee emphasised the need for Taxi and Private Hire Drivers to be trained on Dementia Friends.

 

AGREED:      That further monitoring takes places at the April 2019 meeting of this Committee.

8b

Healthcheck of the Local Economy pdf icon PDF 780 KB

Minutes:

 

The Head of Economy, Assets and Culture and the Economic Development Consultant introduced the briefing note highlighting the salient points.

 

The Committee made comment, asked questions and heard:

 

In response to a query regarding the University, the Committee heard that Officers are in discussions with the University how links can be strengthened.

There is a national profound skills shortage in most areas.

 

AGREED:      The update is noted and that monitoring is complete.

8c

Effectiveness of the Enforcement of Taxi and Private Hire Licensing pdf icon PDF 101 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Sally Beardsworth addressed the Committee advising that she is a member of the Licensing Committee. She highlighted the importance of  safeguarding and that CSE training is essential for taxi and private hire drivers.  She commented on the need for more electric taxis. Councillor Beardsworth closed her address by advising that there is a need to ensure all drivers have good command of English language.

 

Councillor Beardsworth was thanked for her address.

 

The Environmental Health and Licensing Manager and Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Safety addressed the Committee.  The ran over the action plan that detailed the implemented recommendations of the Committee’s report on the effectiveness of the Enforcement of Taxi and Private Hire Licensing.

 

The Committee heard:

 

·         CSE training  -  is included in the induction training for all new drivers – rolling out a package for existing drivers.

·         Electric vehicle charging point  - A bid has been submitted, if  successful -   two chargers would be installed in surface car parks

·         There are four electric hackneys operating in town.

·         The Committee asked for awareness raising of drivers in respect of a dementia friendly town

 

The Chair advised that further monitoring was not required.

 

AGREED:      That monitoring of the implementation of the accepted recommendations contained into the Action Plan is complete.

9.

Cabinet Response to Overview and Scrutiny Reports pdf icon PDF 99 KB

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee to receive Cabinet’s response to the following reports:

 

·         Environmental Services Contract

·         Culture and Tourism

·         Cemeteries

 

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received Cabinet’s responses to the following O&S Reports:

 

·         Environmental Services

·         Culture and Tourism

·         Cemeteries

 

AGREED:      That monitoring of the accepted recommendations contained in the above reports takes place at the April 2019 meeting of the Committee.

10.

Scrutiny Panels

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee to receive a progress report from the three Scrutiny Panels.

 

In accordance with the Scrutiny Panel Protocol this item is for the Committee’s information with no discussion.

11.

Scrutiny Panel 1 pdf icon PDF 92 KB

Minutes:

The update from the Chair of Scrutiny Panel 1 was noted.

12.

Scrutiny Panel 2 pdf icon PDF 64 KB

Minutes:

The update from the Chair of Scrutiny Panel 2 was noted.

 

13.

Scrutiny Panel 3 pdf icon PDF 64 KB

Minutes:

The update from the Chair of Scrutiny Panel 3 was noted.

 

13a

Scrutiny Panel 4 pdf icon PDF 65 KB

Minutes:

The update from the Chair of Scrutiny Panel 4 was noted.

 

14.

Evaluation of O&S Reports Working Group pdf icon PDF 66 KB

Minutes:

The update from the Chair of the Working Group was noted.

 

15.

Potential future pre decision scrutiny

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consider any potential issues for future pre decision scrutiny.

 

Minutes:

There were none.

16.

Urgent Items

This issue is for business that by reasons of the special circumstances to be specified, the Chair is of the opinion is of sufficient urgency to consider.  Members or Officers that wish to raise urgent items are to inform the Chair in advance.

Minutes:

There were none.

 

At this point the Chair reminded the Committee of the date of the O&S Work Programme event.