Agenda item

Committee considered the Work Programme for 2021/22.

The Scrutiny & Elections Officer explained that the report included two attached suggested Scrutiny Review topics and Members must decide whether or not to undertake them for 2021/22:

1) To undertake a review of the Council’s Grant to Voluntary Organisations Budget allocations.

2) To consider where health and leisure activities have brought positive, best value

outcomes for customers.

The Scrutiny & Elections Officer added that there were two incomplete reviews that were being undertaken by the now defunct Healthy Safe Clean and Green Communities Scrutiny Committee, and this Committee could pick them up for 2021/22 if they wished:

1) A review of the Council’s Policy on Sky Lanterns and Helium Balloons

2) A review of the Council’s Policy on Fireworks

Councillor David Downes explained some of the work that had been undertaken for these existing reviews as the former Chair of Healthy Safe Clean and Green Communities Scrutiny Committee.

Members agreed to undertake the two suggested review topics and carry on with the two review topics left by Healthy Safe Clean and Green Communities Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor David Dixon asked what kinds of powers were available in terms of dealing with the misuse of fireworks. The Scrutiny & Elections Officer explained that North East Derbyshire District Council had recently done a review on the same subject and that review had looked more towards enforcement.

Councillor David Downes asked if light displays instead of fireworks was possible, and also asked what the requirements from Licensing were for fireworks used at home. The Scrutiny & Elections Officer agreed she would investigate these questions.

Members agreed that the need for the review of fireworks should take priority with bonfire night coming up soon.

The Scrutiny & Elections Officer suggested the Committee could begin at the scheduled meeting on 7^th September 2021 by discussing Fireworks as part of a formal item and discussing Sky Lanterns/Helium Balloons and Grants to Voluntary Organisations as part of the informal item, and then discuss health and leisure activities at the next meeting on 12^th October 2021 to allow some research to be done for it. Members agreed with this approach.

The Scrutiny & Elections Officer explained that prior to the 7^th September 2021 meeting, she would:

1) Find out the answer to the Licensing question asked by Councillor David Downes

2) Circulate all of the information Healthy Safe Clean and Green Communities Scrutiny Committee looked at in terms of Fireworks and Sky Lanterns/Helium Balloons so it could be discussed at the 7^th September meeting

3) Ask officers from Legal and Environmental Health to attend the 7^th September meeting so they can explain precisely the powers the Council has in terms of Fireworks and Sky Lanterns/Helium Balloons.

It was moved by Councillor David Dixon and seconded by Councillor Janet Tait to note the Work Programme for 2021/22, accept the two suggested review topics and take on the two old review topics.

RESOLVED that the Committee:

(i) Notes the report and the Work Programme attached at Appendix 1 for approval.

(ii) Takes forward the two suggested review topics in Appendices 2 and 3 (‘A review of the Council’s Grant to Voluntary Organisations Budget allocations’ and ‘consider where health and leisure activities have brought positive, best value outcomes for customers’) as part of the 2021/22 Work Programme.

(iii) Takes forward the two review topics left by Healthy Safe Clean and Green Communities Scrutiny Committee (Fireworks and Sky Lanterns/Helium Balloons) as part of the 2021/22 Work Programme.

(Scrutiny & Elections Officer)

Meeting concluded at 1055 hours.