Safer and Stronger Communities Scrutiny Panel – 3 June 2010

PRESENT: Councillor Davison in the Chair.

Councillors Waltham (vice-chair), Ali, Armitage, Clark, Ellerby and T Foster.

Councillors J Briggs and Swift attended the meeting in accordance with Procedure Rule 1.37 (b).

The panel met at Pittwood House, Scunthorpe.

270 DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS (IF ANY) – The following members declared personal interests in the following matter: –

Member

Minute

Nature of Interest

Councillor Davison 274 Husband employed by Neighbourhood and Environmental Services
Councillor Clark 274 Relative received flood grant from North Lincolnshire Council
Councillor Ellerby 274 Owner of land which suffered from flooding in June 2007
Councillor T Foster 274 Member of Ancholme Internal Drainage Board
Councillor Waltham 274 Member of Scunthorpe Internal Drainage Board

No whip was declared.

271 MINUTES – Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of this panel held on 27 April 2010, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and signed by the chair.

272 PUBLIC REQUESTS TO SPEAK – There were no requests received.

273 (1) ‘NEIGHBOURHOOD ACTION TEAMS IN NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE’ ACTION PLAN – The Chair welcomed Neil Laminman, the council’s Service Director Community Planning and Resources and Dave Hey, the council’s Head of Stronger Communities to the meeting to discuss the Executive’s action plan in response to the scrutiny panel’s review of ‘Neighbourhood Action Teams in North Lincolnshire’.

Members were informed that of the twenty-four recommendations, 17 had been implemented with the remaining seven recommendations listed as ‘not yet actioned’.

Particular attention was given to the seven recommendations which had not been actioned, namely recommendations 4, 6, 7, 9, 15, 20 and 21.

Members were guided through each recommendation and a discussion ensued on all the outstanding actions.

Resolved – (a) That the council’s Service Director Community Planning and Resources and Head of Stronger Communities be thanked for their attendance and for answering members questions, and (b) that the action plan be endorsed by this scrutiny panel with the recommendation that Cabinet too endorses the action plan.

274 (2) ‘LOCAL ACTION TAKEN TO MANAGE FLOOD RISK IN NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE’ ACTION PLAN – The Chair welcomed Geoff Popple, the council’s Service Director Highways and Planning and David Harrison, the council’s Drainage and Bridges Engineer, Highways and Planning service to the meeting to discuss the Executive’s action plan in response to the scrutiny panel’s review of the ‘local action taken to manage flood risk in North Lincolnshire’.

Members were informed that of the thirty-three recommendations, 16 had been implemented, 15 were listed as ‘ongoing’ and two recommendations were ‘not yet actioned’.

Particular attention was given to the two recommendations which had not been actioned, namely recommendations 31 and 33.

Members were guided through each recommendation and a discussion ensued on all the outstanding actions.

Resolved – (a) That the council’s Service Director Highways and Planning and Drainage and Bridges Engineer be thanked for their attendance and for answering members questions, (b) that all members of the Flood Forum be congratulated for the progress made on implementing the scrutiny panel’s recommendations, and (c) that the action plan be endorsed by this scrutiny panel with the recommendation that Cabinet too endorses the action plan.

275 (3) SCRUTINY REVIEW – ‘NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE RESIDENTS PERCEPTION OF THE FEAR OF CRIME’ – The Service Director Legal and Democratic circulated a draft copy of the proposed terms of reference, timetable and details of information sources to enable the panel to undertake their review into ‘North Lincolnshire residents perception of the fear of crime’.

Resolved – That the draft terms of reference be adopted and the draft timetable agreed.

276 (4) SAFER AND STRONGER COMMUNITIES SCRUTINY PANEL TERMS OF REFERENCE – The Service Director Legal and Democratic circulated the terms of reference for this panel, relating to services being delivered by the council and its partners for stronger and safer communities.

In addition, the amended ‘call-in’ procedure was circulated for information.

Resolved – That the position be noted.

277 (5) LEADER OF THE COUNCIL’S FORWARD PLAN – MAY TO AUGUST 2010 – The Service Director Legal and Democratic circulated the Leader of North Lincolnshire Council’s Forward Plan for May to August 2010.

The plan contained details of all matters and issues likely to be the subject of key decisions for a period of the next four months, updated on a monthly basis. Members discussed various items on the Forward Plan.

Resolved – That the Leader of the Council’s Forward Plan for May to August be noted.

278 ADDED ITEM – There was no added item for discussion at this meeting.