Minutes

Apologies for absences were received on behalf of Councillors Janet Tait and Carol Wood.

There were no urgent items of business to consider.

There were no declarations of interest.

Moved by Councillor Rob Hiney-Saunders and seconded by Councillor Emma Stevenson

RESOLVED that the Minutes of a Climate Change & Communities Scrutiny Committee held on 5th December 2023 be approved as a true and correct record.

Committee considered a detailed report which provided an update on the Council’s progress in promoting and engaging Health and Wellbeing for employees.

The Health and Wellbeing Framework had been agreed in 2017 and described how employees would be supported to ensure a healthy, motivated, and high performing workforce to achieve the Council’s aims and priorities.  A copy of the updated Framework (2023) was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

A key feature of the Framework was the action plan, which detailed the three key aims, namely:

•          Create a Healthy Work Environment

•          Develop a supportive Workplace Culture

•          Encourage employee engagement in healthy lifestyles

Work continued with the Council’s Senior Leadership Team, Service Managers, and employees to ensure steps were being taken to achieve the above aims and a number of significant activities had taken place, which were outlined in the report.

In relation to employee sickness absence, the report noted that in the last financial year the sickness absence out-turn figure was 9.4 days lost per employee.  This was an increase on the previous year and was over the target of 8.5 days per employee.  Due to the Covid 19 Pandemic, many additional sickness days were taken whilst requirements were in place for employees to self-isolate with some employees not able to work from home (1.6 days per employee).

The actions currently being taken to address sickness absence were set out in the report.  However, it was recognised there was still further work to be done.  The importance of Health and Wellbeing for employees at BDC was very much recognised by the HR and Payroll Manager and HR Business Partner, both of whom had a responsibility to deliver continuing progress in supporting the wellbeing of others.

A Member noted that for the past three quarters, stress and depression were the main issues for sickness absence and he felt that a richer data set was needed to better explore why this was; i.e., employee surveys.  He also queried if the new Employee Engagement Officer would carry out any investigations.

The HR Business Partner agreed that more information was needed and noted that stress and depression had been in the top three issues for sickness absence over the last four years.  When the newly appointed Employee Engagement Officer was in post, this was something they could look at. 

A Member queried the number of staff who had taken up physio examinations.  He also expressed his concern on the low number of take up for flu vaccinations (67) and queried if this had been extended to all staff.

The HR Business Partner confirmed that the offer of flu vaccinations was intended for staff over the age of 60.  HR staff carried out promotional work in relation to the offer and 67 was an increase in take up on previous years.  Free eye tests were available for staff including discounts on new eyewear for display screen equipment (DSE) purposes.

In response to another Member’s query, the HR Business Partner advised that  ...  view the full minutes text for item CLI521/22

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

Moved by Councillor Rob Hiney-Saunders and seconded by Councillor Emma Stevenson.

RESOLVED that the List of Key Decisions and Items to be Considered in Private document be noted.

Committee’s views were sought in relation to the Council’s revised Fire Safety Policy before submission to Executive on 4th March. 

The Government had published new guidance on the enhanced duties of responsible persons under amendments of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and Building Safety Act 2022 (S156) applying to all non-domestic premises where people worked, visited, or resided, including parts of multi-occupied residential buildings, communal corridors, stairs, and plant rooms.

It was a legal requirement to have a Fire Safety Policy and to monitor compliance with its implementation.  Failure to approve and adopt the Fire Safety Policy would place the Council in a position of non-compliance, presenting risk of enforcement action by the Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service (Fire Safety Officer) for failure to comply with and\or breaching requirements of the Fire Safety Order.

In response to a Member’s query, the Strategic Director of Services advised that the policy did not apply to individual properties, i.e. Council houses.

In response to a Member’s query, the Strategic Director of Services advised that the Health and Safety Team were creating an information and training pack, and this would also be made available to Parish/Town Councils.

An error in the Housing Group Dwelling Premise Locations was noted in that Mill Lane, Clowne should read Mill lane, Whitwell.

Members were advised that when adopted, the policy would be reviewed periodically thereafter.

Moved by Councillor Rob Hiney-Saunders and seconded by Councillor Emma Stevenson

RESOLVED the revised Fire Safety Policy be noted.

Committee considered their Work Programme 2023/24.

Moved by Councillor Rob Hiney-Saunders and seconded by Councillor Emma Stevenson

RESOLVED that the Work Programme 2023/24 be noted.

Climate Change and Communities Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday 20^th February 2024

Councillors Ashley Taylor, Rob Hiney-Saunders, Cathy Jeffery, and Emma Stevenson.

Officers:- Thomas Dunne-Wragg (Scrutiny Officer), Jim Fieldsend (Monitoring Officer), Joanne Wilson (Housing Strategy and Development Officer), Matthew Kerry (Governance and Civic Officer).

The Chair opened the Informal part of the Committee meeting and the Housing Strategy and Development Officer confirmed that preparations for the Annual Review of the Community Safety Partnership were underway.

The Housing Strategy and Development Officer noted the Community Safety Officer wanted a representative of the Fire Service in the March 2024 Committee meeting to provide insight.

The Housing Strategy and Development Officer highlighted that the statutory duty of BDC was to scrutinise all local safety partnerships.  There would be one-off large-scale meetings to facilitate this, as well as other more regular meetings in the interim.  As many Members were new to the Council, it was important to invest more time and increase their knowledge of these partnerships.

A Member noted they were more confident on the Fire Safety Policy than the Community Safety Partnerships.

The Housing Strategy and Development Officer informed that the Fire Safety Policy came under the Community Safety Partnership, so the Member’s knowledge was more than initially realised.  The Partnership would be to ensure the general safety of neighbours.

The Housing Strategy and Development Officer explained that the purpose of the Bolsover Partnership was to encourage cross-government working and promote an increase in health, skills and social cohesion.  There would also be some Community Safety scrutiny, but this would not be in-depth.

The proposal was a general introduction into the Partnerships based on local statistics to identify trends.  This would include contributions from the Community Safety Officer and a member of the Police Force (and how the police link with the Community Safety Partnership).  The trends identified could be on Domestic Violence (DV); the Licensing Team had noted, in old data, that there had been a decrease in DV, but actually DV was an issue to investigate further, as the Police had changed their methods of research.  The Housing Strategy and Development Officer added that Members would also have their own information to highlight from their Wards.

One Member was thankful for some explanation, but felt the Committee was still unsure of what they would be scrutinising.

The Scrutiny Officer explained they would be researching everything that BDC did, which they would then bring to the Committee’s attention.

The Housing Strategy and Development Officer added that the Climate Change and Communities Scrutiny Committee was unique at BDC as it had a wide remit.  The Committee would have Reports to scrutinise as Officers submit them, and the Committee itself would ensure that Reports are correctly delivered to other Committees if they felt them relevant to do so.  This would also be on an ad hoc basis, as some Reports, like the Health and Wellbeing Framework Update earlier in the Committee meeting, would only be once a year.

A Member asked, in terms of Safety, flooding was an issue experienced recently by Clowne and Pinxton, so should the Committee be involved.

The Housing Strategy and Development Officer explained flooding was a Derbyshire County Council issue, so the Community Safety Partnership would not deal with this.

A Member  ...  view the full minutes text for item CLI921/22

The Chair opened Item 10 of the Agenda and invited the Scrutiny Officer to present their Report.

The Scrutiny Officer began by stating they had been picking up where the previous Chair had finished.  They referred to the left-hand side table on Page 2 of the Evidence Summary which stated the objectives, and on the right was the evidence gathered.  They reiterated this was only a draft and a snapshot of the data on BDC’s current Energy Policy.

The Scrutiny Officer highlighted Page 12 of BDC’s Carbon Reduction 2019-2030 Plan, which stated a need for a:

·       Reduction in fuel poverty and improved energy affordability through energy efficiency improvements in the residential sector; and for,

·       Cost savings and environmental improvement through energy efficiency and sustainable buildings and workplaces.

The Scrutiny Officer referred the Committee to the Private Sector Housing Strategy mentioned on Page 2 of the Evidence Summary, which stated the need for insulated homes and how previously BDC have undertaken a project to promote the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards by contacting Landlords with non-compliant EPCs rated on their properties.

The Scrutiny Officer then referred the Committee to 7.4 of the Evidence Summary, which stated:

Improving domestic energy efficiency would help BDC meet the zero carbon 2050 commitments made, reduce carbon emissions, and protect residents from harmful effects of climate change.

The Scrutiny Officer highlighted the Page 4 of the Evidence Summary for the Potential Recommendations.

The Housing Strategy and Development Officer noted that these scopes may have changed, as the UK National Government were currently bringing in new legislation.  However, pressing Landlords to ensure their properties had EPC-C ratings had been shelved, resulting in BDC losing power to push for the intended measure.

The Housing Strategy and Development Officer informed the Committee that BDC was in the process of conducting a full survey of owned properties, and nationally there will be new consumer standards.

Nearly half of the properties BDC own were of EPC-C rating, with the slight majority not having EPC-C due to them expiring or being rated EPC-D and below.  EPCs only lasted 10 years, and an EPC would not necessarily need to be done after this unless work was needed to be carried out on the property.

The Chair stated the likely need for a Landlord Liaison position, as well as grants for energy efficiency improvements.

The Housing Strategy and Development Officer pointed out this was their task, but it was wide-ranging.  There were policies aimed at Landlords; i.e., allow them to apply for Accreditation status.  However, BDC had many privately rented properties, and the intent was to not deter Landlords from staying in the sector.  A typical tenant is on a low income and/or benefits, and ultimately it would be the tenant eligible for most grants, and not the Landlord.

The Scrutiny Officer highlighted that on Page 9 of the Evidence Summary for more information, but what could be done was publish energy grant information on the BDC website and show on Bolsover TV.

The Housing  ...  view the full minutes text for item CLI1021/22