Places Scrutiny Panel – 13 June 2011

PRESENT: Councillor T Foster in the chair.

Councillors Davison (Vice-Chair), Armitage, Bunyan, Collinson, Marper and Ogg.

Councillors Mrs Bromby, Glover, Waltham and Whiteley attended the meeting in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 1.37 (b).

The panel met at Pittwood House, Scunthorpe.

1. DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS (IF ANY) – There were no declarations of personal or personal and prejudicial interests.

No whip was declared.

2. PUBLIC REQUESTS TO SPEAK There were no requests received.

3. (1) OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY PROCEDURE RULES – The Director of Corporate and Community Services briefed members on the changes to the overview and scrutiny procedure rules which were agreed by council at its Annual Meeting on 25 May 2011.

Resolved – That the overview and scrutiny procedure rules be noted.

(2) TERMS OF REFEENCE The Director of Corporate and Community Services briefed members on the Places Scrutiny Panel terms of reference which were agreed by council at its Annual Meeting on 25 May 2011.

In addition, to assist members’ understanding of their terms of reference, the Director had invited the relevant Directors and Cabinet Members whose service areas and portfolios mirrored the terms of reference of the scrutiny panel.

The Chairman welcomed the council’s Director of Infrastructure Services, Assistant Director Construction and Technical Services and Cabinet Member for Asset and Estate Management and Sport, Leisure and Culture to the meeting, namely Peter Williams, Pete Scott and Councillor Briggs respectively.The Director gave an oversight of his service area, paying particular attention to the future challenges and policy developments in the service. Following the presentation, the chairman invited members to question the council’s Director of Infrastructure Services, Assistant Director Construction and Technical Services and Cabinet Member for Asset and Estate Management and Sport, Leisure and Culture.

4. Resolved – (a) That the council’s Director of Infrastructure Services, Assistant Director Construction and Technical Services and Cabinet Member for Asset and Estate Management and Sport, Leisure and Culture be thanked for their attendance, presentation and for answering members’ questions; (b) that members be kept fully informed of the review into the councils adverse weather policy, and (c) that the potential work streams suggested by the stakeholders for the panel be discussed later in the meeting (minute 10 refers).

The chairman welcomed the council’s Assistant Director Operational Services, Head of Streetscene and Landscapes from Neighbourhood and Environmental Services and the Cabinet Member for Highways and Neighbourhoods to the meeting, namely Barry Hutchinson, Phil Hotchin and Councillor N Sherwood.

The Assistant Director outlined the scope of the service, including the key challenges and potential key decisions which would need to be considered over the forthcoming year.

Following the presentation, the chairman invited members to question the council’s Assistant Director Operational Services, Head of Streetscene and Landscapes and the Cabinet Member for Highways and Neighbourhoods.

5. Resolved – (a) That the council’s Assistant Director Operational Services, Head of Streetscene and Landscapes and the Cabinet Member for Highways and Neighbourhoods be thanked for their attendance, presentation and for answering members’ questions; (b) that the Assistant Director Operational Services provide members with the information requested at the meeting, and (c) that the potential work streams suggested by the stakeholders for the panel be discussed later in the meeting (minute 10 refers).

Finally the Chairman welcomed the council’s Assistant Director Communities and Customers from the Corporate and Community Services area and the Cabinet Member for Corporate and Community Services to the meeting, namely Helen Rowe and Councillor C Sherwood.

The Assistant Director Communities and Customers informed the members as to the hierarchy in the service, the service areas that form Corporate and Community Services and the key challenges that the service would need to tackle during the forthcoming year.

Following the presentation, the chairman invited members to question the council’s Assistant Director Communities and Customers and the Cabinet Member for Corporate and Community Services.

6. Resolved – That the council’s Assistant Director Communities and Customers and the Cabinet Member for Corporate and Community Services be thanked for their attendance, presentation and for answering members’ questions, and (b) that the potential work streams suggested by the stakeholders for the panel be discussed later in the meeting (minute 10 refers).

7. (3) MEETINGS OF THE SCRUTINY PANEL – The Director of Corporate and Community Services circulated dates of future scheduled meetings. The chairman explained that it was envisaged that informal meetings or sub-groups would meet in-between formal dates, reporting back to the full panel.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

8. POLICE REFORM AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY BILL – The Director of Corporate and Community Services informed the meeting that on Wednesday 11 May, a new clause to the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill was agreed by the House of Lords. This new clause created a Police Commission for each police force, instead of a directly elected Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Commission would be made up of a Police and Crime Panel and a Police and Crime Commissioner. However, the Commissioner would be appointed by the panel from amongst its members. This model was supported by the Local Government Association.

However, the Deputy Prime Minister had since confirmed that ministers would try to amend this when the Bill was again debated in Parliament. This currently meant that holding an election for a Police Commissioner in May 2012 now seemed unlikely.

Resolved – That the situation be noted, with the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill being a standard agenda item on the Places Scrutiny Panel agenda.

9. DEVELOPMENTS LOCALLY – UPDATE – The Director of Corporate and Community Services updated members on some key developments locally, focusing in particular on changes to the senior management team at Humberside Police B Division.

Resolved – That the situation be noted, with developments locally being a standard agenda item on the Places Scrutiny Panel agenda.

10. (4) CONSIDERATION OF WORK PROGRAMME – Members discussed their future work programme and priorities for the 2011/12 municipal year. .

Resolved – (a) That the members commence reviews into the ‘co-ordination of the North Lincolnshire Neighbourhood Watch Network’ and ‘the declaration and administration of the count following the district election and national referendum held on Thursday 5 May 2011’, and (b) that scrutiny briefs be drafted detailing how the reviews would be undertaken.

11. CONSIDERATION OF TRAINING REQUIREMENTS – The Director of Corporate and Community Services reminded members of an internal training session on overview and scrutiny, due to be held on 24 June 2011. All members, including co-opted members, were welcome to attend.