Agenda and minutes

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

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

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ashraf, Graystone, Kilby-Shaw and Smith.

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 127 KB

Members to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 4 February 2019.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 4 February 2019 were signed by the Chair as a true and accurate record.

3.

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.

4.

Declarations of Interest (Including Whipping)

Members to state any interests.

Minutes:

There were none.

5.

CSP Performance pdf icon PDF 152 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Anna King, Chair, Community Safety Partnership, and Vicki Rockall, Community Engagement and Community Safety Manager presented the report – CSP Performance highlighting the salient points.

 

AGREED:      That the report is noted.

 

 

6.

Monitoring Of O&S Reports pdf icon PDF 113 KB

Dementia Friendly Town

6a

Dementia Friendly Town

Minutes:

Councillor King, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Safety, presented the action plan that detailed work to date on the accepted recommendations contained within the Overview and Scrutiny report – Dementia Friendly Town. She put on record her thanks to the Call Care Manager who had gone over and beyond her role in implementing these recommendations.  The actions to date were highlighted.

 

Councillor Russell, as Chair of the Scrutiny Panel that undertook the Review gave a short precis of the importance of the Panel’s work to the town.

 

AGREED:  That the action plan is noted and a further update is presented to the Committee at its meeting in September 2019.

6b

Homelessness (Pre Decision Scrutiny)

Minutes:

Consideration of this item was deferred to the next meeting.

6c

Child Sexual Exploitation

Minutes:

Consideration of this item was deferred to the next meeting.

7.

Cemeteries pdf icon PDF 112 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Hallam, Cabinet Member for Environment, presented the action plan that detailed work to date on the accepted recommendations contained within the Overview and Scrutiny report – Cemeteries.  The actions to date were highlighted.

 

The Committee asked questions, made comment and heard:

 

·         It was confirmed that a seven day a week service is offered for cemeteries and burials within 24 hours have been offered where required.

·         In answer to a question about green burials, it was commented that this could be investigated as part of the working being undertaken by the Strategic Working Group that will be looking at a potential new larger crematorium and cemetery for the town.

·         In response to a comment regarding the proposed extension of Dallington Cemetery and whether the allotment holders had been notified; the Committee heard they would be communicated with.  Two Cemetery Working Group have been established ; one of which that is looking  at issues that include future burial requirements and space.

 

 

AGREED:  That the action plan is noted and a further update is presented to the Committee at its meeting in September 2019.

 

 

8.

Culture and Tourism pdf icon PDF 159 KB

Minutes:

Councillor King, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Safety, and Marion Goodman, Head of Customers and Cultural Services, presented the action plan that detailed work to date on the accepted recommendations contained within the Overview and Scrutiny report – Culture and Tourism.  The actions to date were highlighted.

 

The Chair conveyed his thanks to the Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Safety, and the Head of Customers and Cultural Services for their hard work on implementing the accepted recommendations.  It was suggested the Leader of the Council is asked to attend the next meeting of the Committee in June 2019 to give an update on the work that he is leading on on Culture and Heritage; particularly regarding the aspiration for Northampton to be a City of Culture by 2025.

 

The Chair suggested a pop up Museum in empty shops in the town would be an excellent idea and there could also be a pop up Tourist Information Centre.

 

AGREED:     (1)  That the Leader of the Council is asked to attend the next meeting of the Committee in June 2019 to give an update on the work that he is leading on on Culture and Heritage; particularly regarding the aspiration for Northampton to be a City of Culture by 2025.

 

(2)That the action plan is noted and a further update is presented to the Committee at its meeting in November 2019.

 

9.

Reprovision of the Environmental Services Contract

Minutes:

Councillor Hallam, Cabinet Member for Environment,  gave the Committee an update on the Environmental Services Contract.

 

Key points:

 

·         The Contract is stable and is working well; currently going into year two.

·         Recycling is up by 4%

·         Flytipping is down by 10%

·         Positive feedback has been received from the clear sack trial

 

AGREED:      That the update is noted.

10.

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.

11.

Scrutiny Panel 1 pdf icon PDF 64 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Russell advised the Committee that this Scrutiny Panel had now concluded its evidence gathering and she would present the final report to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 10 June 2019.

 

The Committee heard that the East Midlands Scrutiny Network had received a presentation on the work of the Scrutiny Panel that had been very well received.  It was noted that South Northants Council is currently undertaking a Scrutiny Review into homelessness and the Chair confirmed a copy of the final report would be sent to South Northants when the report is approved.

 

AGREED:      That the update is noted.

12.

Scrutiny Panel 2 pdf icon PDF 45 MB

Minutes:

Councillor Walker presented the final report of the Impact of the move of the University Scrutiny Panel to the Committee.  It was highlighted that a lot of public had attended meetings of this Scrutiny Panel and a number had relayed details of their concerns. Councillor Walker thanked Members of the Panel, the co optee, Officers and members of the public for their input into the Review.

 

AGREED:      That the update is noted.

 

13.

Scrutiny Panel 3 pdf icon PDF 64 KB

Minutes:

Councillor  Sargeant advised the Committee that this Scrutiny Panel had now concluded its evidence gathering and he would present the final report to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 10 June 2019.

 

AGREED:      That the update is noted.

 

13a

Scrutiny Panel 4 pdf icon PDF 64 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Smith advised the Committee that this Scrutiny Panel had now concluded its evidence gathering and she would present the final report to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 10 June 2019.

 

AGREED:      That the update is noted.

 

14.

O&S Evaluation of Reports Working Group pdf icon PDF 77 KB

The Committee to receive a progress report from the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Evaluation of Reports Working Group

Minutes:

Councillor Lane advised the Committee that the Working had now concluded its evidence gathering and he would present the final report to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 10 June 2019.

 

AGREED:      That the update is noted.

 

15.

Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme 2019/2020 pdf icon PDF 87 KB

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee to approve the Work Programme 2019/2020 and set up the Scrutiny Panels.

Minutes:

The Chair confirmed that as a result of the Work Programme event a number of topics had been identified for Scrutiny review in 2019/2020.   He reminded the Committee of the priority order of these reviews.

 

The Committee was asked to prioritise the reviews and also indicate whether they wished to serve on the Scrutiny Panels. The Chair advised the Committee that other non-Executive Members would then be asked if they wished to serve on any of the Panels.

 

AGREED :-

 

That two Scrutiny reviews for 2019/2020 be as follows:

  

Scrutiny Panel 1     -  Food Poverty

 

Membership of the Panel would comprise:

 

Chair                Councillor Dennis Meredith 

 

Deputy Chair   Councillor Cathrine Russell

 

Further members would be invited to join the Panel.

 

Working Group –  Gangs and Knife Crime

 

Membership of the Working Group would comprise:

 

Chair               Councillor Graham Walker 

 

Deputy Chair  Councillor Jane Birch

 

Further members would be invited to join the Working Group.  The Chair clarified that only Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee can be members of the Working Group.

 

 The Chair advised that he would ask for reports and briefing papers regarding:

 

·         Facilities for students

·         How Northampton Borough Council promotes information to the public

·         Public Transport  usage – including buses, trains and parking

·         Protecting the wildlife in the borough (parks and building focus)

·         Effectiveness of the transfer of Community Centres

·         Monitoring of the Environmental Services Contract

 

 

The Chair referred to the motion that had been carried at full Council of 11 March 2019:

 

 

 “In preparation for the transition to Unitary we call upon NBC to produce a Sports Strategy for the people of Northampton that draws on the Sports Strategy for West Northamptonshire of 2009.

 

The purpose of this strategy, as well as reviewing current facilities, would be to identify gaps, reflect current user preferences and requirements.

 

Only by doing this can we protect the assets in Northampton for the people of the town.

 

It was suggested that the Leader of the Council be asked to provide an update to the next meeting of this Committee.

 

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee further AGREED: 

 

That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee agrees its Work Programme for 2019/2020 from the issues suggested by the recent Work Programming event.

 

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee invites other non-Executives, who are not a member of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, to join the membership of the Scrutiny Panel – Food Poverty.

 

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee communicates details of the Work Programme 2019/2020 with all Councillors, and Directors.

 

The Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2019/2020 is published on the Overview and Scrutiny page of the Council’s webpage.

 

The Leader is asked to provide an update on the carried motion to full Council of 11 March 2020 on a Sports Strategy.

 

 

 

16.

Potential future pre decision scrutiny.

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

 

17.

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.