Agenda and minutes

to approve as a correct record the minutes of the Committee held on 13 October 2021;

O&S.29/21       

The minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 13 October 2021 were confirmed as a correct record.

brought forward at the discretion of the Chairman;

Call-In of Executive Minute E.56/21: Garden Waste Service

O&S.30/21       

The Chairman introduced the agenda item and advised that, in accordance with Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 12.5, the resolution arising from Minute E.56/21: ‘Garden Waste Service’ had been formally called-in for further consideration by the Committee.  The process of call-in was then outlined. 

Following a question from a Member, it was clarified that the decision was a key decision because the issue, ie garden waste service, related to the whole District.

The Chairman advised that there would be three options available to the Committee when considering the call-in. These were that the Committee:

1.     was content with the original Executive resolution and that decision would therefore take immediate effect;

2.     could refer the decision back to the next Executive meeting (on 2 December 2021) for further consideration; and

3.     could opt to refer the decision to the next full Council meeting (on 25 November 2021).

The Chairman then explained his reasoning behind the decision to invoke a call-in.  In so doing, the Chairman made specific reference to:-

1.    Failure to adequately consult with Members prior to the Executive meeting of 14 October 2021 at which the decision was taken;

2.    Late delivery of the report in support of the recommendation. The report was only made available to Members on the morning of the meeting and, as such, many Members were not made aware of the serious nature of the recommendation until the last minute, if at all, prior to the decision being made; and

3.    Lack of openness in respect of the content of the report and the reaching of the decision. For example, it was not made clear as to whether or not FCC (the Council’s Waste Contractor) had requested a continued suspension.

Following questions put to the lead Executive Member with responsibility for Waste, it was clarified that:

·           The report had been published late because Officers and the Executive Member had been working on the report right to the last minute in a desperate attempt to get a one off garden waste collection carried out before the decision had to be taken to suspend the service until Spring.

·           The lead Executive Member confirmed that it had been his decision to recommend to his Executive colleagues that the suspension be extended so that residents were given some certainty and not waiting month to month to be told about the service.

·           Other neighbouring Local Authorities had been approached to see if there was an opportunity for a one-off collection with their service, but all were suffering from the national HGV driver shortage and no one had any spare capacity within their own service.

·           It was confirmed that the Council’s contractor, FCC Environment (FCC), were unable to give any idea when they would be able to restart the service.

·           Members were asked to give any alternative suggestions to the Executive Member or Officers who would explore any potential avenue.

·           One Member stated that a resident in her local Ward had turned this into a business opportunity and was  ...  view the full minutes text for item O&S.30/21

Members are invited to declare any personal or disclosable pecuniary interests, including the nature and extent of such interests they may have in any items to be considered at this meeting;

O&S.31/21       

Members and officers were invited to declare any interests in the items of business to be considered during the course of the meeting but there were none made. 

A period of up to 15 minutes is available to deal with issues raised by the public;

O&S.32/21     

In accordance with the Public Forum Procedure Rules, the Chairman informed that no questions had been received for consideration.

(Executive Minute E.51/21 refers)

O&S.33/21     

Following the Executive meeting held on 14 October 2021, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had been tasked to review the attendant report (Minute E.51/21 refers).

The Leader of the Council informed the Committee that the housing crisis action programme was in its infancy and, as the decision had only been taken recently, officers had not yet had the time to discuss with Members any proposed actions.  It was acknowledged that there may be need for extra resources to support the programme, but that officers would review this and a report, including budget proposals, would be brought to the Executive meeting on 2 December 2021.

The Leader confirmed that the Executive wished to progress this at pace and that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee could help speed the process by forming two Task and Finish Groups, rather than the Working Group that the recommendation was proposing.  One Task and Finish Group could explore what other rural districts have done to provide affordable housing, with the suggestion to review Staffordshire as they had provided affordable housing for the last 15 years.  The second Task and Finish Group could then look at successful Community Land Trusts (CLTs) and report their conclusions back to the Executive.  The Chairman responded by stating that these requests should be added to the Committee’s recommendations when they were placed before the Executive.  The Chairman recommended the Cornwall CLT as a successful model to study.

One Member felt that there were sufficient housing numbers already, and the figure of houses required had only been a broad estimate.  The types of houses that were being built were also not of the stock that were required.  The overriding need was for affordable housing.  Another Member stated that the definition of affordable should be reviewed.

A Member commented on Empty Dwelling Management Orders which could now only be invoked after two years instead of six months as had been originally stated.  The Member felt this was an area that the Council could lobby on to return the time empty to the previous six months.

It was then:

RESOLVED

That the O&S Committee welcomed and supported the Executive's response in addressing the housing crisis and commented on the report as follows:

O&S.34/21

The Committee was presented with a report that provided Members with the opportunity to scrutinise the work of the South Devon and Dartmoor Community Safety Partnership (CSP).  During the presentation, attention was drawn to an increase in hate crime and racist graffiti, with increased work on prevention.  Targeted intervention had been aimed at drug abuse.  Following a question from a Member, it was confirmed that there would be more police officers employed in Devon but it was not known when they would begin their work.  Various work with partner organisations was outlined, including working closely with the Dartmoor National Park Authority on increased instances of anti-social behaviour on the Moor.

The Chair then thanked the officers on behalf of the Committee

It was then:

 RESOLVED

That the Committee thank the officers and note the contents of the published agenda report.

O&S.35/21       

The Executive Member with responsibility for service delivery presented the report outlining the outcome of the changes that had been made to the Localities Service, following the report presented to the Executive at its meeting held on 28 January 2021 (Minute E.57/20 refers). The Deputy Chief Executive stated that Cornwall Council had asked for a presentation on the Council’s Localities Service, with a view to bringing in a similar service themselves.

Following questions from Members, it was clarified that:

·           clearance of fly tipping was primarily the responsibility of FCC Environment, the Council’s contracted waste operator.  If addresses were found within the fly tip which identified the perpetrator, they would be vigorously pursued. 

·           not all planning site notices were laminated and therefore were susceptible to wet weather destroying the notice and potential for littering.  The lead Executive Member confirmed that she would ensure this was remedied and that all site notices would be laminated in the future.

·           Reorganisation of the service had streamlined contact with Members which had resulted in a slight dip in local knowledge but that this would now be regained as the team was now at full staffing capacity.

·           Waste contract and performance issues had been divided in order that Waste and Localities were no longer part of a single team of officers.

An addition was PROPOSED and SECONDED to the published agenda report recommendation to add congratulations to the service for its excellent work during the high summer season.  When put to the vote, this was then declared CARRIED.

It was then:

 RESOLVED

That the Committee:

1.     continue to support the current Locality working arrangements, pending on-going monitoring and a further report in 12 months.

2.    note and acknowledge the work of the Locality service and the success of the seasonal working, and congratulate the service on the success of its seasonal working.

O&S.36/21       

The Committee considered a report that provided a high level overview on the current performance of the Contact Centre since April 2021.  A formal review of the Contact Centre, and its performance in its entirety, had not been carried out in upwards of five years.

It was PROPOSED and SECONDED that an additional recommendation be added that requested a report be presented back to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in six months times.  This was then declared CARRIED when put to the vote.

It was then:

RESOLVED

That the Committee: 

1.    note the work of the contact centre over this financial year, and continue to support the work that will be undertaken to improve the contact centre and its performance;

2.    note and endorse a comprehensive review of the contact centre to be carried out, to assess its performance and ability to meet customer demand, and

3.    update its annual work programme to include a further report in six months’ time.

a)    Climate Change & Biodiversity Action Plan – Concluding Report

O&S.37/21       

a)     Climate Change & Biodiversity Action Plan

The Committee reviewed the concluding report from the Task and Finish Group.

Thanks were made to the Working Group, the Chairman of the Working Group, and to the officers for their time and guidance.

It was then:

RECOMMENDED

O&S.38/21     

The Committee reviewed its work programme and agreed its content with the addition of an extra meeting to be added into the Member Meeting Calendar for January 2022.  The Chairman and Vice Chairman would meet with officers to agree a date in January 2022, and to review the work programme for the 16December 2021 meeting, with a view to moving some agenda items to the new January 2022 date. 

It was also agreed that the two Housing Crisis related Task and Finish Group proposals suggested by the Leader (Minute O&S.33/21 above) would be discussed under the item of Task and Finish Group updates at the next Committee meeting to be held on 16 December 2021.