Places Scrutiny Panel – 22 May 2013

MINUTES

PRESENT:  Councillor Evison in the chair.
Councillors Davison (Vice-Chair), Glover, Oldfield and T Foster.

Councillors Collinson, Wells and Whiteley attended the meeting in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 1.37 (b).

The panel met at the Civic Centre, Scunthorpe.

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

No whip was declared.

263  MINUTES – Resolved – That the minutes of the proceedings of this panel held on 3 April 2013, and the special meeting held on 3 April 2013, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and signed by the chairman.

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

265  (2)  TERMS OF REFERENCE – The Director of Policy and Resources briefed members on the Places Scrutiny Panel terms of reference and panel membership which were agreed by council at its Annual Meeting on 14 May 2013.

Resolved – That the panel’s terms of reference be noted.

266  (3)  MEETINGS OF THE SCRUTINY PANEL – The Director of Policy and Resources 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 – (a) That the report be noted, and (b) that the 1 and 24 July meetings be cancelled and replaced by a meeting on 17 July 2013 commencing at 10.00 am.

267  (4)  OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY PROCEDURE RULES – The Director of Policy and Resources briefed members on the changes to the overview and scrutiny procedure rules which were agreed by council at its Annual Meeting on 14 May 2013.

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

268  LOCAL ACTION TAKEN TO MANAGE FLOOD RISK IN NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE – The Chairman welcomed Rob Beales and Rod Chapman, the council’s Head of Better Routes and Asset Team Manager respectively to the meeting.

The officers had been invited to update members on the progress being made in implementing the recommendations of the former Safer and Stronger Communities Scrutiny Panel review into the ‘Local Action Taken to Manage Flood Risk in North Lincolnshire’.  In addition, following Sir Michael Pitt’s 2008 review into the floods of 2007 and early 2008, he made two recommendations which were  specific to council’s overview and scrutiny panels.  Recommendation 91 stated that ‘each Oversight and Scrutiny Committee should prepare an annual summary of actions taken locally to manage flood risk and implement this Review, and these reports should be public and reviewed by Government Offices and the Environment Agency.”

Consequently, the panel was guided through the progress being made on all outstanding recommendations from the scrutiny panel report, as well as discussing all the flood prevention schemes which were either in progress, completed or due to start.

Members then engaged in a discussion with the officers on a range of flood related issues.

Resolved – (a) That the officers be congratulated on the work undertaken and progress made in flood prevention in North Lincolnshire; (b) that officers be invited back to the scrutiny panel in six months time to further update members’ on flood prevention initiatives, and (c) that Rob Beales and Rod Chapman be thanked for their attendance, oral update and for answering members’ questions.

269  CONSIDERATION OF WORK PROGRAMME – Members discussed their future work programme and priorities for the 2013/14 municipal year.

Resolved – (a) That a detailed list be prepared by the Director of Policy and Resources for consideration at the next meeting, and (b) that invitations be sent to the Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside and Humberside Fire and Rescue Service Chief Fire Officer to attend future meetings of the panel.

270  CONSIDERATION OF TRAINING REQUIREMENTS – The Director of Policy and Resources enquired as to whether members had any specific training needs they wished to address.  Members engaged in a discussion as to panel specific training they would wish to participate in.

Resolved – That the Director arrange a site visit for all panel members to Safer Neighbourhoods and basic drug and alcohol awareness training as soon as practicable.

271  ADDED ITEM – The Chairman informed the meeting that the added item requested by Councillor Davison on ‘community grant aid applications’ would be consider at the panel meeting on 12 June 2013.

In addition, Councillor Davison requested an ‘added item’ be considered at a future meeting of the panel on ‘future of Area Action Teams’.

Resolved – That position be noted.