Agenda and decisions

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Liz Harrington.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chair then welcomed the new Members to the meeting.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Community Select Committee held on 2 December 2020.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Community Select Committee held on 2 December 2020 be approved as a correct record subject to the following addition to Minute 3 – HCC Director of Public Health Presentation:

In response to a question from the Chair, the Director of Public Health confirmed that in the event of any future pandemic, he would recommend that the use of face coverings should be employed at a much earlier stage of the virus.

To consider the Community Select Committee’s Work Programme for 2021-22.

The Committee received a suggested Work Programme and agenda planning for the future meetings. The Work Programme is a flexible working document that is subject to change as new issues arise. Members were encouraged to suggest items to be included in the Work Programme at any time.

The Scrutiny Officer outlined the following key issues that would be discussed at the future meetings:

·         Crime and Disorder – March 2022;

·         Public Health – Autumn 2021;

·         Neighbourhood Wardens – a review would include interviews with the Wardens to identify the effectiveness of the working arrangements and the area based working model and to hear what the Wardens have been doing as Covid-19 Marshals during the Pandemic;

·         Sports and Leisure – Ongoing scrutiny of the new leisure contract options which is scheduled to be awarded in December 2022 through PHAG (Portfolio Holder Advisory Group) meetings;

·         Complaints/Your Say System – Further interviews with the Assistant Director (Digital and Transformation) on the performance of the System for a one-off update at a future CSC meeting;

·         Damp and Mould – to receive a report on the progress of the implementation of the Scrutiny Committee’s recommendations following the review for a one-off update at a future CSC meeting;

·         Cultural Strategy – to receive an update from the Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People, Leisure and Culture;

·         Third (Voluntary) Sector Review – to be delayed due to the impact of the Pandemic on the sector;

·          Leisure – all aspects of Leisure including the Ridlins Athletics Track to be brought together and considered as one issue;

·         Temporary Accommodation – members no longer require this item and it was agreed to withdraw it from the work programme;

·         Housing Allocations Policy Review – the new Interim Assistant Director (Housing and Investment) be invited to a future meeting for interview on this subject.

The Committee then considered the possibility of the new Town Heritage Centre being the substantive matter to be considered this Municipal Year. Members agreed that this should form part of the Committee’s work programme and the review should include working with local schools, visits to other similar facilities, interviews with representatives from Arts Council England and with current SBC Museum staff.

It was RESOLVED:

1.    That the Committee noted the Work Programme.

2.    That the substantive item for the year be the preparatory work for the new Town Heritage Centre.

Members are invited to consider the action tracker for the Community Select Committee and to note its content.

The Scrutiny Officer presented the Action Tracker to the Committee. The Action Tracker contained useful information to track the progress of items that the Committee had previously scrutinised.

It was RESOLVED:

That the Committee noted the Action Tracker 

To consider any Part I business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

None.

To consider the following motions:

1.      That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the ground that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in Paragraphs 1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2.      That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

Not required.

To consider any Part II business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

None.