Agenda and minutes

*O&S 66/22         

Apologies for absence for this meeting were received from Cllrs T Pearce and D Sellis

Minutes from meeting held on 14 February 2023

*O&S 67/22         

The minutes of the Meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 14 February 2023 were confirmed as a true and correct record. 

In accordance with the Code of Conduct, Members are invited to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Other Registerable Interests and Non-Registerable Interests including the nature and extent of such interests they may have in any items to be considered at this meeting;

*O&S 68/22         

Members and officers were invited to declare any interests in the items of business to be considered during the course of this 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 69/22         

The Chairman confirmed that no formal requests had been received in accordance with the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules.

*O&S 70/22         

Cllr Leech introduced the Fusion Annual Report to Committee.

•          Participation continued to grow month on month.

•          WD sites completed Quest between July and November 2022

•          Staycation Membership launched to target holiday makers. 130 tickets sold    during the summer period.

•          Young adult membership launched for 16 and 17 years olds in education -120 subscriptions sold.

•          Strong social media – c6,000 followers on Facebook and 1,000 on Instagram.

•          Increased opening hours and staffing levels to match customer demand.

•          Improved concessionary rate.

•          220,000 participants entered the centres throughout 2022 for activities including racket sports, soft play, swimming, group exercise classes and parties.

•          Meadowlands launched a new ballet group.

•          Approximately fifteen schools are welcomed to the facilities.

•          Total membership: 1,708 -89.5% of pre-covid. Increase of 224 compared to 2021 figures. Meadowlands are ahead of pre covid figures.

•          Quest service quality showed Parklands as Good and Meadowlands as Very Good.

•          NPS service quality score showed positive comments with staff, group exercise, the pool and exercise equipment. Cleanliness and changing rooms showed a lower score. These will become the focus areas for management.

•          Investments continued into the facilities with £245k on repair, renewal and reactive maintenance in 2022 by Fusion.

•          Fusion employed 314 staff 314, 116 in West Devon.

•          SEN swimming lesson launch

Fusion is working with West Devon to install solar panels in late spring.

Money from the low carbon skills fund has enabled progress with heat

                     plans for all centres. A catering provision will be launched in

                     2023, starting with Meadowlands. They will also be running community

                     activities and events for Fusion.

                     Fusion agreed to ensure costings will be included in future presentations to

                     Overview and Scrutiny. Contact made with a company in regard to cloud

                     data storage to heat water.

                     Café launching date is 30 April for Meadowlands and working towards

                     summer holidays for Parklands. Condensation issued were raised and the

                     it was confirmed that some of the damage commented on was pre repairs.

                       Tiles have been ordered to replace the damaged ones. OCRA contract is

                       up for renewal in July and part of the renewal process would be to clarify 

                       what provision be coming to Meadowlands.

                       The ballet classes were noted as being a huge success and more classes

                       have been called for.

                     It was then RESOLVED that the contents and progress of the Fusion

                     Annual Report for 2022 and proposals for 2023 were NOTED.

*O&S 71/22         

                     The Lead Member for Economy introduced the report to the Committee. He

                     stated that progress on Broadband engagement was moving at a good pace. Visit Devon website is well populated with a good piece on Dartmoor.

•     Broadband issues in more rural areas is being addressed by the Community Digital Connectivity Officer who is trying to obtain funding and assistant. A request for Members in the new Council to report issues back to the Community Digital Connectivity Officer.

•     Work to start on the cycling and walking infrastructure plan which will include horse-riding.

•      A need for central government to recognise the urgency in rural areas for broadband issues to be addressed as part of a thriving community.

•      An integrated travel plan was called for by a Member and the Climate Change   Officer stated that this is included in the cycling and walking infrastructure plan.

                      It was then RESOLVED that the West Devon Thematic Update for Thriving Economy was NOTED.

*O&S 7/22           

                     The Head of Housing introduced the update to Members. A draft crib sheet for community lead housing projects would be circulated to Members. Parishes would be asked if they would be interested in setting up a community land trust. Prefabricated accommodation for rough sleepers was raised. The Head of Housing stated the last count of rough sleepers had come back at zero. She did comment that modular building could be seen in West Devon in the future.

                     It was then RESOLVED that the West Devon Thematic Update for Improving Homes was NOTED

(a)  Draft Member Induction Programme

*O&S 73/22         

                     The Head of Democratic Services introduced the draft Member Induction Programme. The calendar of meetings has been approved so would be populated into the programme. Inductions would take place between the election day and the Annual Council meeting on 30 May. A tour of West Devon was asked for particularly for the benefit of new members.

*O&S 74/22         

          There were no learning opportunities arising from the meeting.