Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: the Preston Room, Woodgate Chambers, Woodgate, Loughborough. View directions

Items
No. Item

16.

Apologies

17.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 76 KB

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

 

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 10th September 2019 were confirmed as a correct record and signed.

 

It was confirmed that the minutes from the meeting held on 9th July 2019 had been confirmed as a correct record and signed at the previous meeting, although not documented as agreed in the following meeting’s minutes.

18.

Disclosures of Pecuniary and Personal Interests

Minutes:

No disclosures were made.

19.

Declarations - the Party Whip

Minutes:

No declarations were made.

20.

Questions under Scrutiny Committee Procedures 11.16

No questions were submitted.

Minutes:

No questions had been submitted.

21.

2019-20 Quarter 2 Performance Monitoring Report pdf icon PDF 439 KB

A report of the Chief Executive providing performance monitoring information and results for the second quarter of 2019-20.

Minutes:

 

Considered a report of the Chief Executive providing performance information for the second quarter of 2019/20 in respect of the Corporate Plan objectives and key performance indicators within the Committee’s remit (item 6 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

 

Prior to the consideration of this report the Chair stated that it would be assumed that committee members had read the agenda documentation before the meeting.

 

Assisting with the consideration of the report: Cabinet Lead Member for Performance of Major Contracts, Head of Cleansing and Open Spaces, Head of Leisure and Culture.

 

Summary, key points of discussion:

 

·         SLE2 - COS – (Visitor offering at the Outwoods improved by providing a Visitor Centre/Café): planning application submitted in June 2019, comments received from Highways Authority who had requested further traffic studies and visibility displays for entrances; reports had been submitted to the Authority today.  Expectation that planning application will be considered by Plans Committee in December / January. Members were satisfied with slower approach as it ensured safety of access to the Outwoods and traffic management of narrow roads leading to the woods was prioritised.

·         KI4 - Percentage of household waste sent for reuse, recycling and composting: to be discussed during item 8 on the agenda.

 

RESOLVED that the report providing performance information in respect of the Corporate Plan objectives and key performance indicators within the Committee’s remit (Quarter 2 2019/20) be noted.

 

Reason

 

The Committee’s remit included receiving regular performance monitoring reports and, having noted the discussion at this meeting and made specific resolution where it so wished, it was content to note the performance information report.

 

 

22.

Leisure Provision and Performance pdf icon PDF 236 KB

A report of the Head of Leisure and Culture regarding leisure provision in the borough.

Minutes:

Considered a report of the Head of Leisure and Culture providing information on leisure provision and performance, (item 7 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

 

Assisting with the consideration of this report: Cabinet Lead Member for Performance of Major Contracts, the Head of Leisure and Culture.

 

Summary, key points of discussion (Town Hall):

·         expectation Council subsidy will be required in future, budgeted for £302K this year, but came in at £275K.  Has performed well but continue to review reducing the subsidy through increasing income and using resources as effectively as possible.

·         reducing overheads of approx. £700k could affect generation of income, but with current financial pressures faced by the Council means of reducing the overheads could be reviewed.

·         although staffing contracts were tied into Council pay structures (paying more than average) excellent customer satisfaction indicated the Council were getting good value for money.

·         secondary income generated through footfall in the town and carparking charges was becoming more significant with depletion of retail in the town.

·         Clarity was provided regarding what ‘Shows, merchandise and sponsorship  and ‘Hires and Events’ covered.

 

Summary, key points of discussion (Leisure Centres):

·         a study was being undertaken to consider the current Fusion contract and how it operated within the market.  The report was detailed and would provide evidence-based options, including going out to tender, to be submitted to the Cabinet at a future meeting.

·         reference was made to a recent question at full Council on 4th November 2019.  The pump had been repaired and the monitoring of the maintenance requirements within the contract was thorough.  A time period was allowed for repair and in this case, it had been beyond the contractors control.

·         discussion relating to recent pool closures and that a recent study considering the current capacities of swimming pools in the Borough allowed for pool closures and filling any gaps created by this.  In addition, with respect to the projected increase in population, a proposal to add a learner swimming pool to the existing facilities at Soar Valley would enable the usage of the main pool to be managed.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.            that the Cabinet Lead Member for Loughborough be asked to inform the Committee if, in view of the current financial pressures the Council was facing, what steps the Service was taking to increase the income of the Town Hall, review its overheads and to enable the subsidy received to be reduced;

 

2.            that the Committee notes the report.

 

Reasons

 

1.            The Committee wished to understand the approach the Service was taking to manage the income of the Town Hall with respect to potentially reducing its subsidy.

 

2.         After considering the matter the Committee were satisfied with the contents of the report.

 

23.

Improving Waste and Recycling Performance pdf icon PDF 157 KB

A report of the Head of Cleansing and Open Spaces regarding options to improve the Council’s recycling performance.

Minutes:

Considered a report of the Head of Cleansing and Open Spaces providing information regarding options to improve the Council’s recycling performance (item 8 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

 

Assisting with the consideration of the report:  Cabinet Lead Member for Performance of Major Contracts, Head of Cleansing and Open Spaces.

 

It was noted that this report would explain why the Council were failing to meet the national target of 50% as shown by red indicator KI4 - Percentage of household waste sent for reuse, recycling and composting.

 

Summary, key points of discussion:

·         an increasing number of councils were collecting food waste by reducing frequency of residual waste collection and improving their overall waste collection performance.  The Borough Council considered this several years ago and it highlighted costs of £700K per annum including a three-weekly collection of residual waste, which as it was not popular it wasn’t implemented.  If the Council introduced weekly food waste collection whilst retaining fortnightly residual waste collection it would improve the Council’s performance, but the cost would be prohibitive (in excess of £1million).

·         the Government would be mandating the collection of food waste from 2023 and had indicated it would fund new commitments to this strategy.  It was possible the Council could receive capital and revenue costs to implement the scheme.

·         discussion regarding composting, noting that although the tonnage collected had not reduced since the increase in charges, the number of subscribers had remained steady. 

·         there would be a cost saving if the Council implemented food waste collection by reducing the tonnage collected in residual waste but the saving would go to the Waste Disposal Authority (County Council).

·         noted that an informal Scrutiny Panel was in progress relating to this matter.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.            that the Head of Cleansing and Open Spaces invite the members of this Committee and the relevant Scrutiny Panel to visit the Regional Materials Recycling Facility;

 

2.            that the Committee notes the contents of the report and it not be added to its work programme for further scrutiny.

 

Reasons

 

1.               The Committee considered that it would be beneficial to its understanding to visit the Facility and wished to include the relevant Scrutiny Panel members.

 

2.               The Committee considered that the Council had implemented all financially and logistically viable methods for improving the Councils current waste and recycling performance and that it was appropriate for the Scrutiny Panel to investigate the matter further.  If, after the topic had been considered by the Panel and Cabinet, further scrutiny was required the Committee would add the topic onto its work programme for future consideration.

24.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 242 KB

A report of the Head of Strategic Support to assist the Committee in determining its work programme.

Minutes:

Considered a report of the Head of Strategic Support to assist the Committee in determining its work programme, (item 9 on the agenda filed with these minutes).

 

Assisting with consideration of the report: Chief Executive, Head of Cleansing and Open Spaces, Democratic Services Officer.

 

The Chair stated that if an issue for scrutiny arose within the remit of this committee in between meetings that members wished to investigate, that members contact the Chair and Vice-chair, who having consulted with officers, could add the matter to the work programme immediately enabling swifter scrutiny.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.            that the removal of Charnwood Grants – Strategic Partners (2020/21 – 2021/22) from the Committee’s work programme be noted;

 

2.            that the Charnwood Lottery be added to the work programme for consideration at its meeting in July 2020;

 

3.            that an update regarding Bulky Waste Collection charges be added to the work programme for consideration at its meeting in July 2020;

 

4.            that the scope of the Children, Families and Wellbeing Service item for consideration at its meeting on 10th March 2020 be amended to include within the report how the service impacts Charnwood Borough Council, and its relationship with officers and the Council;

 

5.            that the position with the work programme be noted.

 

Reasons

 

1.            To fulfil the decision by the Scrutiny Commission that directorate-based committees no longer consider pre-decision scrutiny items.

 

2.            When the Committee reviewed the Charnwood Lottery at a previous meeting, the scheme was relatively early in its lifecycle and it noted that the plan was to build up to a thousand ticket holders over time.  The Committee wished to review the matter in six months’ time, but the item was missed from the work programme in error.

 

3.            As part of the decision to introduce a charge for bulky waste, the Service committed to undertaking a six-monthly review finishing March/April.  The Committee wished to scrutinise the findings of the review.

 

4.            Having noted that this item had been included on its work programme when the scrutiny structure had changed, and that it was a service provided by Leicestershire County Council, the Committee wished to receive a short paper to understand the background and familiarise itself with the service before deciding if further scrutiny was required.

 

5.            To enable the Committee to fulfil its scrutiny remit efficiently and effectively.