northlincs.gov.uk

Places Scrutiny Panel – 5 March 2012

PRESENT:  Councillor T Foster in the chair.

Councillors Davison (Vice-Chair), Armitage, Clark, Collinson, England and Ogg.

Councillors Kirk, Poole, Waltham and Whiteley attended the meeting in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 1.36 (b).

The panel met at the Civic Centre, Scunthorpe.

95  COUNCILLOR D BARKWORTH – The Chairman of the Places Scrutiny Panel invited all in attendance to stand and observe a minute’s silence, following the announcement of the death of Councillor D Barkworth earlier in the day.  Tribute was paid to Councillor Barkworth’s services to the council, and its various scrutiny panels.

96  DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS (IF ANY) – The following member declared personal interest –

No whip was declared.

97  MINUTES – Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of this panel held on 6 February 2012, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and signed by the chairman.

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

CABINET MEMBER AND SERVICE AREA PRIORITIES – The Chairman welcomed Councillor Briggs and Peter Williams to the meeting, the council’s Cabinet Member for Asset and Estate Management and Sport, Leisure and Culture and Director of Infrastructure Services respectively.  Councillor Briggs and Mr Williams had been invited to the panel meeting to update members on any key decisions, important business or key developments which had occurred during the last quarter.

Discussion centred around the following –

• Findings from the council review of Leisure Services
• The Pods
• Review of council owned assets

99  Resolved – (a) That the oral update be noted; and (b) that the council’s Director of Infrastructure Services and Cabinet Member for Asset and Estate Management and Sport, Leisure and Culture be thanked for their attendance, oral update and for answering members’ questions.

The Chairman then welcomed Councillor N Sherwood, the council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Neighbourhood Services to the meeting.

Councillor Sherwood had been invited to the panel meeting to update members on any key decisions, important business or key developments which had occurred during the last quarter.  Namely –

• Implementation and success of the council’s adverse weather policy
• Pot hole repair programme
• Findings from the review of highway speed limits
• State of North Lincolnshire’s footpaths
• Snow wardens

Following the update, the Chairman invited members to question the Cabinet Member for Highways and Neighbourhood Services.

100  Resolved – (a) That the oral update be noted, and (b) that the council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Neighbourhood Services be thanked for his attendance, presentation and for answering members’ questions.

101  (24)  EXECUTIVE ACTION PLAN IN RESPONSE TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN THE ‘DECLARATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE COUNT FOLLOWING THE DISTRICT ELECTION AND THE NATIONAL REFERENDUM HELD ON 5 MAY 2011’ OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY REPORT – Further to Minute 85, The Chairman welcomed Simon Driver, the council’s Chief Executive and Returning Officer and Mel Holmes, the council’s Head of Democratic Services to the meeting to discuss the Executive’s action plan in response to the scrutiny panel’s review of the ‘declaration and administration of the count following the district election and the national referendum held on 5 May 2011’.

The action plan was considered at a special meeting of the panel on 19 January, whereby the members agreed many of the actions in principle.  However, they wished to see additional commentary and measurable targets included in the plan so that members could monitor performance in order that progress on implementing the action plan could be scrutinised at a later date.

Consequently, the Returning Officer and Head of Democratic Services circulated a revised version of the action plan.  Members were guided through each recommendation in turn and a discussion ensued on all the outstanding actions.

Resolved – (a) That the council’s Chief Executive and Head of Democratic Services be thanked for their attendance and for answering members questions, and (b) that the action plan be referred to Cabinet at its next available meeting for consideration.

102  (25)  POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONERS – BULLETIN NUMBER FOUR AND FIVE – The Director of Corporate and Community Services circulated the Police and Crime Commissioners Policy Briefing Number 4 and 5 for members’ information.

Resolved – That the publications be noted.

103  POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER EVENT – The Chairman and Director of Corporate and Community Services updated members on a Police and Crime Commissioner Home Office sponsored event held in Leeds on 23 February 2012.

Resolved – That the oral update be noted.

104  (26)  POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER – TIMELINE – The Director of Corporate and Community Services circulated a timeline that the Home Office had produced, which identified key dates in the run up to the election of the Police and Crime Commissioner in November 2012.

Resolved – That the timeline be noted.

105  (27)  CO-ORDINATION OF THE NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NETWORK – The Director of Corporate and Community Services circulated the findings from the Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators questionnaire.

Resolved – That consideration of this item be deferred until the next scheduled meeting of the panel.

106  ADDED ITEM – There was no added item for consideration at the meeting.