Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, The Arc, Clowne

Contact: Alison Bluff  Governance Officer

Items
No. Item

441.

Apologies For Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Liz Smyth,

Peter Roberts and Mary Dooley.

 

442.

Urgent Items of Business

To note any urgent items of business which the Chairman has consented to being considered under the provisions of Section 100(B) 4(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Minutes:

There were no urgent items of business to consider.

 

443.

Declarations of Interest

Members should declare the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and Non Statutory Interest as defined by the Members’ Code of Conduct in respect of:

 

a)  any business on the agenda

b)  any urgent additional items to be considered

c)  any matters arising out of those items

and if appropriate, withdraw from the meeting at the relevant time.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

 

444.

Minutes - 16th October 2019 pdf icon PDF 198 KB

To consider the minutes of the last meeting held on 16th October 2019

Minutes:

Moved by Councillor Tom Munro and seconded by Councillor Chris Kane

RESOLVED that the Minutes of a Growth Scrutiny Committee held on 16th October 2019 be approved as a correct record.

 

445.

List of Key Decisions and Items to be Considered in Private pdf icon PDF 508 KB

(Members should contact the officer whose name appears on the List of Key Decisions for any further information.  NB: If Members wish to discuss an exempt report under this item, the meeting will need to move into exempt business and exclude the public in accordance with the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and Local Government Act 1972, Part 1, Schedule 12a for that part of the meeting only).

 

Minutes:

Committee considered the List of Key Decisions and items to be considered in private document.

 

The Scrutiny & Elections Officer circulated an updated version of the List and informed Members that the items originally listed in November 2019 for a Housing Repairs Establishment Review and a Payment Card Industry Data Security Update had been removed from the list as these issues had now been addressed.  The item in relation to a Roofing Repair Contract had also been moved from the November 2019 Executive meeting to the December 2019 meeting.

 

Moved by Councillor Tom Munro and seconded by Councillor Chris Kane

RESOLVED that the List of Key Decisions and items to be considered in private document be noted.

 

446.

CHANGE TO ORDER OF BUSINESS ON AGENDA

Minutes:

The Chair proposed a change to the order of business to that stated on the agenda.  Agenda item 7, Corporate Plan Targets would be considered before agenda item 6, D2N2 Briefing.  

 

447.

Corporate Plan Targets Performance Update - July to September 2019 (Q2 - 2019/20) pdf icon PDF 282 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Committee considered a report with regard to Corporate Plan Targets Performance Update for Quarter 2 (July to September 2019) presented by the Information, Engagement & Performance Manager.

 

The report contained outturns for the Corporate Plan 2019-2020 targets which sat beneath the ‘unlocking our growth potential’ corporate aim as of 30th September 2019.  There were 7 targets in total, with 6 on track and 1 on alert.

 

The Information, Engagement & Performance Manager explained that the target ‘G11 - Through a programme of targeted refurbishment bring 10 empty private sector properties back into use per annum’ was on alert because no properties had been brought back into use this quarter. However, 7 properties were currently in the process of being brought back into use and when completed, would create 12 units of accommodation.

 

A Member referred to the old Co-op in Whitwell which had been purchased by Action Housing to be converted into 5 apartments.  Work had now started on the building and it was hoped to complete within 6 months.

 

Another Member raised concerns around Action Housing’s involvement in the work at Whitwell as Action Housing had previously refurbished the Station Hotel in Creswell.  He reported how a number of locals had sought assurances from Action Housing about the clientele the refurbished Station Hotel could attract because of its close proximity to a school, and that Action Housing had pledged to vet whoever they rented the apartments to with this concern in mind.  However, the Member added that there had been recent reports at the Hotel of drug use, raising serious concerns about how thorough Action Housing’s vetting process was.

 

The Member responded by explaining that he was aware of the issues at the Station Hotel and had organised a meeting between Action Housing and Bolsover District Council officers to raise concerns about Action Housing renting their properties to unsuitable tenants.  The Member believed it was worrying that the reports of drug use at the Station Hotel had come after that meeting had taken place, and he felt a letter needed to capture these concerns and be sent from the Chair of this Committee to Action Housing.

 

A Member enquired if the issue with Action Housing was how they vetted potential tenants.  The Member informed Committee that in the aforementioned meeting with Action Housing, their officers had stated they carried out vetting processes and had total control over the final decision to let a property.  The Member felt that Action Housing outsourcing some areas of work could have led to some properties not being vetted as well as others.

 

A Member believed the Committee should be informed of exactly what Action Housing’s rental vetting processes were, and the specific criteria they used.

 

Members agreed that the Chair should send a letter, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, to Action Housing asking about their vetting processes and criteria when choosing tenants for their properties, as well as the concerns raised at this meeting regarding the Station Hotel.  The Chair agreed this would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 447.

448.

Briefing from D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership - Presentation pdf icon PDF 596 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed the D2N2 Chief Executive Officer to the meeting.

 

The Chair advised Committee that the D2N2 Chief Executive Officer would deliver a presentation on progress with the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership betweenDerby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

 

The presentation updated Members on the following areas:

 

·         Our Place (data on the area in relation to other nearby areas)

·         D2N2 Update (investment, funds, timetable and strategy)

·         Vision 2030 (“By 2030, D2N2 will have a transformed high-value economy, prosperous, healthy and inclusive, and one of the most productive in Europe. The spark in the UK’s growth engine.”)

·         Capital Programme (Local Growth Fund)

·         LGF Projects (former Coalite site and Seymour Link Road)

·         European Structural & Investment Funds (projects for funding via the European Union that meet the D2N2 strategic objectives)

·         D2N2 Growth Hub (Hubs are a portal for business support enquiries and a knowledgeable and impartial source for advice. D2N2 Growth Hub has 14 Business Adviser posts)

·         D2N2 Enterprise Adviser Network (programme for schools, co-ordinated by the LEPs)

·         North Derbyshire Careers Hub (additional support for the North Derbyshire Area to provide more focused support)

·         North Derbyshire Manufacturing Zone (D2N2 co-ordinated a joint partnership bid and secured additional funding)

 

A Member enquired why Bolsover School was not listed in the Enterprise Adviser Network section.  The D2N2 Chief Executive Officer explained how every local school was invited to join the network, but not all of them wanted to.  The D2N2 Chief Executive Officer invited Members to inform her after the meeting of any schools they wanted D2N2 to liaise with.

 

A Member referenced the mention of how “over 218 Businesses from Bolsover had accessed support [from the Growth Hub]” and enquired how the outcomes of this support were measured.  The D2N2 Chief Executive Officer replied that it was difficult to measure in general terms because the support was bespoke and depended entirely upon what each business asked for.  However, every business was tracked to investigate the value of the support given and this information was held by D2N2.  The D2N2 Chief Executive Officer advised that she would investigate this information and present it to a future meeting of Committee.

 

A Member referred to the mentions of the European Union funding the D2N2 ESIF (European Structural & Investment Funds) at£196.5 million for 2014-2020.  He asked what Britain’s exit from the European Union would mean for this fund in the long-term, and if the Government would cover it if the fund ended.  The D2N2 Chief Executive Officer explained how the Government hadnot offered any concrete information on a replacement fund, but if the current Government stayed in power, they’d be likely to continue the fundbecause they’d already committed to it.  She added that she would consult with Committee when future funds and investment were considered.

 

The Member enquired how the value for money of D2N2 was measured.  The D2N2 Chief Executive Officer replied that the money spent on every project was evaluated in great detail.

 

The Member referred to the mention  ...  view the full minutes text for item 448.

449.

Growth Report Update - April 2019 to September 2019 pdf icon PDF 576 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Information, Engagement & Performance Manager presented a report which provided half year performance outturns for the Growth Strategy during the period April 2019 to September 2019.

 

The Information, Engagement & Performance Manager explained that 4 performance indicators were at ‘exception’ with a full explanation provided within the appendix attached to the report.

 

A Member referred to the pages in the appendix regarding ‘earnings by place of residence’, ‘average house prices’ and ‘adult skill levels in Bolsover’, and felt it was a sad indictment of where Bolsover District was at the moment.

A Member referred to the 2 indicators in the appendix for the Tangent Business Hub on Brook Park and Pleasley Vale Mills, which were both quoted as being over budget for the April 2019 to September 2019 period, and requested that Committee be sent in-depth detail on the budgets of both for the period.  The Information, Engagement & Performance Manager agreed to provide this.

Moved by Councillor Tom Munro and seconded by Councillor Chris Kane

RESOLVED that (1) the report be noted,

 

(2) the Information, Engagement & Performance Manager provides the requested budget detail

 

(Information, Engagement & Performance Manager)

 

 

450.

Development of new Performance Framework to support the vision for 2019-2023

Minutes:

The Information, Engagement & Performance Manager circulated a draft version of the 2019/2023 vision produced by the Leader of the Council.

 

The key concepts and ideas in the vision were:

 

·         A flexible and adaptable approach, reflected by a vision for 2019 – 2023 instead of a Corporate Plan;

·         Invest in staff, services and our District;

·         Become a dynamic, self-sufficient and flexible Council that delivers excellent services;

·         Adapting to local aspirations and acting as the economic and environmental driver for Bolsover District;

·         Deliver the services promised and not hide behind legislation;

·         Use the Transformation Programme to look at how the Council provides services and if they can be better managed;

·         A dedicated team of officers whose sole aim is income generation

·         Become more business friendly;

·         Increase the number of visitors who travel to see Bolsover District’s tourist attractions;

·         Diversifying services and working collaboratively to build upon the Council’s excellent partnership working;

·         Protect the quality of life for residents and businesses from environmental changes.

 

The Information, Engagement & Performance Manager explained how the Leader would consult with Scrutiny Committees in February 2020 on the details of a performance framework that would measure the targets supporting the vision. She stressed the importance of keeping Scrutiny fully informed if performance management changed as a result of the vision and the framework, and explained that the framework in support of the vision would allow Members to monitor the aims and priorities, and Scrutiny Committees would be able to choose how the framework operated.

 

A Member raised concern with regard to ‘income generation’ in the vision (“A dedicated team of officers whose sole aim is income generation”), and felt that a whole team of officers should not just have one single aim when there were other issues they could address at the same time, like poverty or vulnerable people.

 

A Member stressed the importance of making sure projects were ready to progress as soon as funding was awarded, and he felt there was not a place for this in the vision.

 

Councillor Tom Munro left the meeting.

 

A Member felt that because the funding landscape was constantly changing, new targets should reflect this.  The Information, Engagement & Performance Manager explained that the framework would reflect this, and the Leader of the Council was very keen to involve Scrutiny in the development and monitoring of the performance framework and vision.

 

Moved by Councillor Jen Wilson and seconded by Councillor Tricia Clough.

RESOLVED that the new Performance Framework to support the vision for 2019-2023 be noted.

 

 

The Chief Executive Officer and the Information, Engagement & Performance Manager left the meeting.

 

 

451.

Scrutiny Work Programme 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 576 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Committee considered their Work Programme for 2019/20.

 

The Scrutiny & Elections Officer reminded Members that a provisional meeting had been arranged for 22nd January 2020.  Members agreed that this be a formal extraordinary meeting of Committee, to give Members the opportunity to receive information on the various issues raised at this meeting (private landlords, tenants and Action Housing).

 

A Member raised concerns that reports and presentations were being sent to Members on the day of the meeting with little notice. The Scrutiny & Elections Officer apologised for the late delivery of the presentation notes for this meeting, and assured Members that she circulated documents as soon as she received them.  With this in mind, she assured Members she would re-emphasise to officers the need to comply with the standard timescales for Committee paperwork.

 

Councillor Graham Parkin left the meeting.

 

A Member suggested that as well as discussing the private rental sector at the 22nd January 2020 meeting, the Scrutiny & Elections Officer could research what other authorities did about the issue and present this to the meeting.  The Scrutiny & Elections Officer agreed to discuss the issue with relevant officers, and investigate the Derbyshire Forum and also research the powers local authorities had in dealing with private landlords.

 

Moved by Councillor Jen Wilson and seconded by Councillor Tricia Clough.

RESOLVED that (1) the Work Programme 2019/20 be noted,

 

(2) the provisional scheduled meeting for 22nd January 2020 be a formal meeting of Committee,

(3) the Scrutiny & Elections Officer investigates the issue of regulation of private landlords by liaising with Council officers and the Derbyshire Forum and by researching the powers local authorities had in dealing with private landlords.

 (Scrutiny & Elections Officer)

 

 

 

 

The formal meeting concluded at 1217 hours and Members then met as a working party to continue their review work.  The working party concluded at 1230 hours.