northlincs.gov.uk

Places Scrutiny Panel – 3 October 2012

PRESENT:  Councillor T Foster in the chair.

Councillors Davison (vice chair), Clark, Oldfield and P Vickers.

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

The panel met at the Civic Centre, Scunthorpe.

175  DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS AND PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS (IF ANY) – The following members declared personal interests –

No whip was declared.

176  MINUTES – Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of this panel held on 3 September 2012, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and signed by the chairman.

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

178  CABINET MEMBER AND SERVICE AREA PRIORITIES – The Chairman welcomed Councillor N Sherwood to the meeting, the council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Neighbourhoods.  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 –

• Amendments to waste collection routes.
• Council’s preparations for the winter period, including ‘Winter Maintenance’.
• Officer’s attendance at Neighbourhood Action Team meetings.

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

Resolved – (a) That the oral update be noted, (b) that the Cabinet Member for Highways and Neighbourhoods be thanked for his attendance, presentation and for answering members’ questions, and (c) that the Director of Places be invited to a future meeting to update members on the council’s winter maintenance preparations.

179  (15)  EXECUTIVE ACTION PLAN IN RESPONSE TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN THE ‘NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH IN NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE’ OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY REPORT – The Chairman welcomed Trevor Laming, Assistant Director Technical and Environmental Services and Stuart Minto, Head of Safer Neighbourhoods to the meeting.  Mr Laming and Mr Minto had been invited to the meeting to discuss the Executive’s action plan in response to the scrutiny panel’s review of ‘Neighbourhood Watch in North Lincolnshire’.

The Assistant Director introduced the action plan and guided members through each recommendation and a discussion ensued on all the outstanding actions.  The Assistant Director clearly outlined how each recommendation would be implemented, within specified timescales.

Resolved – That the council’s Assistant Director Technical and Environmental Services and Head of Safer Neighbourhoods be thanked for their attendance and for answering members questions.

180  SCRUTINY REVIEW OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT – The Director of Policy and Resources updated members on the developments with regards to its forthcoming review into community engagement.

Resolved – That the update be noted.

181  (16)  LEVEL 1 BASIC DRUG AWARENESS TRAINING – The Director of Policy and Resources circulated a questionnaire for members to complete.  The questionnaire would allow the facilitator for the Level 1 Basic Drugs Awareness Training Day on 31 October 2012 to tailor the training towards members’ specific requirements.

Resolved – That the questionnaire be completed and returned to the Director of Policy and Resources as soon as possible.

182  HUMBERSIDE POLICE AND CRIME PANEL – The Director of Policy and Resources verbally updated members on the inaugural Humberside Police and Crime Panel meeting held on Monday 17 September 2012.

Resolved – That the update be noted.

183  (17)  POLICE AND CRIME PANELS – A GUIDE TO SCRUTINY – The Director of Policy and Resources circulated to members the Local Government Association and Centre for Public Scrutiny publication on ‘Police and Crime Panels – A Guide to Scrutiny’.

Resolved – That the publication be noted.

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

185  DOMESTIC VIOLENCE – SERVICE PROVISION AND AREAS OF VULNERABILITY – Members were informed that following correspondence received by the scrutiny panel, the Chairman and Vice-Chair were of the opinion that the panel should again re-visit the former Safer and Stronger Communities Scrutiny Panel review into ‘domestic violence – service provision and areas of vulnerability’.

Resolved – (a) That the scrutiny panel revisit the domestic violence – service provision and areas of vulnerability’ review as a matter of urgency, and (b) that the Chairman, on behalf of the panel, write to the Head of Safer Neighbourhoods expressing the members concern over the current refuge provision in North Lincolnshire.