Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies received.

To be apprised of any changes to the membership of the Committee in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4.

Note:  No other business is permitted unless, by reason of special circumstances, which shall be specified at the meeting, the Chairman is of the opinion that the item(s) should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There were no items of urgent business.

If a member requires advice on Declarations of Interest, he/she is advised to contact the Legal and Democratic Services Manager in advance of the meeting.  (For the assistance of members a checklist for use in considering their position on any particular item is included at the end of this agenda sheet.)

There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with Overview and Scrutiny Committee Procedure Rule 16, Members must declare the existence of any Party Whip, and the nature of it, when considering any matter in the following categories:

-       The review of any decision of the Cabinet or

-       The performance of any Member of the Cabinet

N.B. The Secretary of State believes whipping is incompatible with Overview and Scrutiny.

There were no declarations of Party Whip.

To receive as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 14 September 2023.

That the Minutes of the meeting held 14 September 2023 be received as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To scrutinise the Minutes of Cabinet held on Tuesday 26 September 2023.

Consideration was given to the Minutes of Cabinet held on 26 September as contained on pages 9 to 18 of the Book of Reports.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Cabinet held 26 September 2023 be noted.

Residents of West Lancashire on giving notice, may address the meeting to make representations on any item on the agenda except where the public and press are to be excluded during consideration of the item.  The deadline for submissions is 10.00am on Friday 3 November 2023.  A copy of the public speaking protocol and form to be completed is attached.

There were no items under this heading.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing and Resources, requested at the previous meeting of the Committee.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor N Pryce-Roberts)

The Repairs and Services Manager, Housing Services, introduced the report of the Corporate Director of Transportation, Housing and Resources, as contained on pages 25 to 31 of the Book of Reports, which provided an update on the Quarter 1 and 2 Customer Feedback data received in relation to the Council's responsive contractor, Wates, and the actions being taken as a result of the data to improve the service provided.

The report included an analysis of complaints that had been received via the Customer Feedback Policy in relation to Wates and details of improvements being made to the repairs service.  Appended to the report at Appendix A, were details of Customer Feedback Data.

Comments and questions were raised in respect of:

·       Programme of work for kitchen installations

·       Responses/delays in completion of work

·       Number/types of complaints and positive feedback

·       Improvements to the repairs service

·       Voids

·       Joint working/sharing of ideas

·       Channels of communication with tenants

In addition to the Repairs and Services Manager, Mr Mark Harrison and Mr Steve Cartwright, representatives of Wates, responded to questions and comments from the Committee.

RESOLVED:

1.       That the customer feedback Q1 and Q2 2023/2024 in relation to Wates  be noted; and

2.    That a further report containing details of programme work and repair 
       figures be presented to the Committee following a period of six months.

To consider the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor R Molloy)

The Head of Finance, Procurement and Commercial Services introduced the report as contained in the Book of Reports of the supplementary agenda which provided a summary of the General Revenue Account (GRA) position for the 2023/24 financial year at quarter 2.

RESOLVED: That the 2023/2023 GRA position be noted.

To consider the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor R Molloy)

The Principal Finance Business Partner introduced the report as contained in the Book of Reports on pages 33 to 38, the purpose of which was:

1.    To agree A Revised General Revenue Account (GRA) Capital Programme  
  for  2023/24; and

2.    To provide and update on progress on capital schemes.

Appended to the report at Appendix A were details of the Funding of the Capital Programme.  Appended to the report at Appendix B were details of the 2023-2024 Revised Capital Programme Spend to date Against Budget.  Appended to the report at Appendix C were details of Capital Re-profiling and Significant Variances.

Comments and questions were raised in respect of:

·       Corporate and Customer Services

·       Planning and Regulatory Services

·       Wellbeing and Place Services

·       Review of Leisure Services

·       Capital Resources (as referred to at paragraphs 6.3 and 6.4 of the report)

·       Changing Places Facilities (as referred to at Appendix C of the report at page 46)

RESOLVED:

1.    That the reported be noted; and

2.    That clarification be sought regarding the issues raised at paragraphs 6.3   
  and 6.4; and at Appendix C, page 46 regarding Changing Places; and

3.    That points of clarification relating to paragraphs 6.3 and 6.4 and   
  Changing Places will be circulated to the Committee following the
  meeting.

To consider the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor N Pryce-Roberts)

The Principal Finance Business Partner introduced the report as contained in the Book of Reports on pages 49-56 the purpose of which was to provide a summary of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Housing Capital Programme positions for the 2023/24 financial year.

Comments and questions were raised in respect of:

·       TVDL Business Plan

RESOLVED: That the 2023/24 HRA and Housing Capital Programme positions be noted.

To consider the report of the Head of Finance, Procurement & Commercial Services.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor R Molloy)

The Head of Finance, Procurement and Commercial Services introduced the report as contained on pages 57 to 64 of the Book of Reports which set out details of

1.    Treasury Management operations for the first half of 2023/24; and

2.    Reported on the Prudential Indicators, where available.

Comments and questions were raised in respect of:

·       TVDL expenditure

·       Risks associated in relation to Investment with other Local Authorities

·       Significant changes following publication of the agenda and reports

·       Investment Plan/borrowing/subsidiaries

 RESOLVED:

1.    That the report be noted; and

2.    That Local Authorities invested in be identified and details circulated to the Committee following the meeting; and

3.    That any significant changes that have occurred since publication of the agenda and reports be circulated and reported to the Committee and to Cabinet.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing & Resources.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor G Dowling)

A Senior Planning Officer, Planning and Regulatory Services introduced the report as contained on pages 65 to 258 of the Book of Reports which:

1.    Reported on the consultation on the draft CIL Funding Programme for 2023; and

2.    Proposed final recommendations for the CIL Funding Programme 2023.

Comments and questions were raised in respect of:

·       CIL funding in relation to fund the expansion of General Practitioner infrastructure and criteria

·       Replacement of existing Bus Shelters and criteria

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing & Resources.

(Relevant Portfolio Holder: Councillor N Furey & A Yates)

The Technical Services Manager introduced the report of the Head of Environmental Services, as contained on pages 259 to 278 of the Book of Reports which sought approval of the Tree Policy as appended to the report at Appendix to be approved to progress to Cabinet.

Comments and questions were raised in respect of:

·       Maintenance of trees

·       Communication/notification of nature of works to residents/Ward and Parish Councillors in relation to work to be carried out

·       Stock surveys

·       Caselaw and expectations of the public

·       Dangers of leaves on footpaths

RESOLVED:

1.   That the report be noted; and

2.   That in relation to 5.2 of the report, the Committee recognises caselaw and requests that Cabinet/Council consider public expectations relating to Council trees; and

3.  That a frequently asked questions be drafted providing indication of the types of works conducted

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing & Resources.

(Relevant Portfolio Holders: Councillors A Yates & N Furey)

The Clean and Green Operations Manager introduced the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation, Housing and Resources as contained on pages 279 to 306 which requested that the Committee considered and endorsed approval of the introduction of Meadow Areas into the Borough to improve biodiversity, pollinators, and invertebrates and to meet the commitments of the Climate Change Strategy Action Plan.

Comments and questions were raised in respect of:

·       Involvement of local schools

·       Hiring of machinery

·       Promotion of the proposals via pop up stalls/website

·       Consultation process

RESOLVED:

1.    That the areas recommended for the potential creation of Meadow Areas be endorsed as identified in Appendix 1 as appended to the report; and

2.    That approval from Cabinet be sought to conduct a 4-week public consultation around the Meadow Areas identified in Appendix 1; and

3.    That the report be noted; and

4.    That the Committee recommend approval from Cabinet be sought, that delegated authority be given to the Head of Environmental Services in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holders, to work on the proposed Meadow Areas that receive a 50%+ positive feedback following consultation, to enable the creation of Meadow Areas at the start of the grass growing season; and;

5.    That Committee recommend that approval from Cabinet be sought that the information signage be installed at each public open spaces site accessed by members of the public that will provide information on Meadow Areas and the benefits of natural meadows as attached to the report at Appendix 5.

To consider and note the minutes of the Member Development Commission held on Thursday 19 October 2023.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Member Development Commission held on Thursday, 19 October 2023 as contained in the Book of Reports on pages 307-308 be noted.