Agenda and minutes

Venue: The Jeffrey Room, The Guildhall, St. Giles Square, Northampton, NN1 1DE. View directions

Contact: Tracy Tiff, Scrutiny Officer, telephone 01604 837408 (direct dial), email  ttiff@northampton.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies pdf icon PDF 158 KB

Members to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 16 November 2017.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Brian Sargeant and Councillor Christopher Malpas.

2.

Deputations/Public Addresses

The Chair to note public address requests.

 

The public can speak on any agenda item for a maximum of three minutes per speaker per item.  You are not required to register your intention to speak in advance but should arrive at the meeting a few minutes early, complete a Public Address Protocol and notify the Scrutiny Officer of your intention to speak.

Minutes:

There were none.

3.

Minutes

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 November 2017 were signed by the Chair as a true and accurate record.

4.

Declarations of Interest (Including Whipping)

Members to state any interests.

Minutes:

There were none.

5.

Report of the Overview and Scrutiny Reporting and Monitoring Working Group - General Fund MTFP 2018/2019 - 2023 and 2018/2019 Draft Budget Proposals pdf icon PDF 84 KB

The Committee to under budget scrutiny items as recommended by the Reporting and Monitoring Working Group.

Minutes:

The Chair introduced the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Reporting and Monitoring Working Group - General Fund MTFP 2018/2019 - 2023 and 2018/2019 Draft Budget Proposals, advising that the Working Group had considered the budget proposals in detail and had decided that the following required budget scrutiny:

 

·         Increased income – Car parking

·         Reduction in events programme

·         Environmental Services Contract – Net budget stream for the Environmental Services vehicles

·         Challenges on temporary accommodation and homelessness budgets

·         HRA stock loss and mitigation through a new build programme

 

 

Councillor Mike Hallam, Cabinet Member for Environment and Councillor Anna King, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Engagement together with Paul Hymers, Strategic Finance Business Partner, Paul Loveday, Senior Finance Business Partner, Phil Harris, Head of Housing and Wellbeing and Derrick Simpson, Town Centre Manager provided further details:

 

Paul Hymers set the scene for the draft General Fund, (GF) MTFP 2018/2019 to 2022/2023 and 2018/2019 Draft Budget Proposals from both the national position and then the local perspective.  He highlighted the key elements contained within the report and emphasised that the reduction in Government funding and pressures on budgets, in particular the Environmental Services contract impacted upon the funding gap. 

It was confirmed that the Council had a draft balanced budget for 2018/2019 and 2019/20 but gaps beyond this are the best estimates at this stage but become increasingly uncertain into the future.

 

The Chair advised that the Committee was very pleased that a draft balance budget for 2018/2019 had been arrived at.

 

Increased income – Car parking

·         Derrick Simpson apprised that parking in the multi storey carparks within the town are monitored and weekly figures provided.  Over the last three years, the £2 charge would have very little change on Saturdays, as this is a busy period.  Free, two hours parking, will remain Monday to Friday.

·         Parking statistics in relation to service car parks are not available.  However, 7 years ago, around 100,000 vehicles used the service car parks.

·         On street parking on Sundays is currently free, however, as part of NCC’s draft budget proposals are included to introduce on street parking charges for Sundays.

·         Blue badge holders and motorcycles will still be able to park for free

 

The Committee asked questions, made comment and heard:

 

·         In response to a query regarding the effect the proposed increase could have on commuters; the Committee heard that the charges were proposed to increase from £7 to £8 per day.

·         £2 parking charge would apply for all day Saturday

 

Reduction in events programme

Derrick Simpson advised that the proposed reduction in events budget was over a number of budget heads, for example it is proposed to charge for all commercial activities, reduction in the music festival by providing £10000 of funding rather than £15000, and not providing any support to the town festival, a reduction in the Christmas budget.  The Council has enough artificial Christmas trees to last for the next 4-5 years.

 

The Committee asked questions, made comment and heard:

 

·         The performance of bands in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Monitoring of the recommendations contained within Overview and Scrutiny Reports

Effectiveness of the enforcement of Taxi and Private Hire Licensing

Impact of Anti Social Behaviour on the Town

6a

Museum Trust pdf icon PDF 127 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Anna King, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Engagement, presented the briefing note on the update on the Museum Trust.

 

In noting the report, the Chair asked that an update is provided in one year to the Committee; January/February 2019.

 

6b

Anti Social Behaviour pdf icon PDF 124 KB

Minutes:

Ruth Austen, Environmental Health and Licensing Manager, presented the monitoring action to the Committee, highlighting key points.

 

The Committee asked questions, made comment and heard:

 

·         The Chair expressed his concern that recommendation 19 had not been actioned.  He was an advocate of the green book and its benefits.  The Committee heard that due to the dynamic changing nature it was difficult to produce a book that might continually go out of date; but web resources are being investigated.

·         The Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Engagement suggested that it would be useful for the Council’s Community Forums to produce within the packs that it is currently working on, a useful list, with contacts of relevant partners.

 

The update was noted and a further update would be presented to the June 2018 meeting of the Committee.

6c

EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ENFORCEMENT OF TAXI AND PRIVATE HIRE LICENSING pdf icon PDF 96 KB

Minutes:

Ruth Austen, Environmental Health and Licensing Manager, presented the monitoring action to the Committee, highlighting key points.

 

The Committee asked questions, made comment and heard:

 

·         The proposed new bracket for the Taxi and Private Hire Plates was circulated.

·         Investigations are underway regarding a sign for the inside of the windscreen for Taxis and Private Hires to display.

·         Detailed discussions are underway with the Trade regarding roof bubbles

·         Regarding safety of students it was confirmed that Officers were working with Highways and the University

·         In response to a query about door signs, Ruth Austen advised that discussions are underway with the Trade.

·         Potential options for roof bubbles are also under discussion

·         The Licensing Committee recently received a report on the Emissions and Age Policy for Taxis and Private Hire; it was broadly supported but more detail was required.  A further report will be presented to the Licensing Committee in the Spring 2018.

·         “Night out Northampton” is a community safety initiative.

·         Training around awareness of hate crime will be introduced for drivers.

 

The update was noted and a further update would be presented to the June 2018 meeting of the Committee.

 

7.

Scrutiny Panels

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee to receive a progress report from the three Scrutiny Panels.

 

In accordance with the Scrutiny Panel Protocol this item is for the Committee’s information with no discussion.

8.

Scrutiny Panel 1 pdf icon PDF 64 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Culbard, Deputy Chair of Scrutiny Panel 1, advised of the work of the Panel so far.  It was envisaged that the final report would be presented to the Committee at its April 2018 meeting.

9.

Scrutiny Panel 2 pdf icon PDF 66 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Lane, Chair of Scrutiny Panel2, advised of the work of the Panel so far.   An additional meeting had been scheduled for further evidence gathering. It was envisaged that the final report would be presented to the Committee at its April 2018 meeting.

 

10.

Scrutiny Panel 3 pdf icon PDF 65 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Russell, Chair of Scrutiny Panel 3, advised of the work of the Panel so far.   An additional meeting had been scheduled for further evidence gathering.  The value of the UTube videos that have been shown to the Panel around work and research regarding dementia were highlighted.  It was envisaged that the final report would be presented to the Committee at its April 2018 meeting.

 

11.

O&S Reprovision of the Environmental Services Contract Working Group pdf icon PDF 98 KB

The Chair of the Working Group to give a progress report to the Committee.

Minutes:

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee advised that the next meeting of the Working Group would be held shortly; prior to it a question and answer session with the Cabinet Member for Environment would be held.  The question and answer session was open to all Councillors.

12.

Potential future pre decision scrutiny

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consider any potential issues for future pre decision scrutiny.

 

Minutes:

There was none.

13.

Urgent Items

This issue is for business that by reasons of the special circumstances to be specified, the Chair is of the opinion is of sufficient urgency to consider.  Members or Officers that wish to raise urgent items are to inform the Chair in advance.

Minutes:

At this point, the Chair reminded the Committee of the date of the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme event.