Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillor Blane, Currie and Pryce-Roberts.

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 reasons 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 Borough Solicitor in advance of the meeting.  (For the assistance of members a checklist for use in considering their position any particular item is included at the end of this agenda sheet.) 

Councillor Hennessy declared a pecuniary interest in item 8 West Lancashire Community Leisure (WLCL) Annual Report 2017/18 as the Council’s representative on the West Lancashire Community Leisure Trust Board and left the meeting during the consideration of this item.

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 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 a Party Whip.

To receive as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 12^th July 2018.

RESOLVED:     That the Minutes of the Meeting held on the 12 July 2018 be agreed as a correct record.

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 5^th October. A copy of the public speaking protocol and form to be completed is attached.

There were no items under this heading.

To consider a presentation from the Board Chairman (WLCL).

The Committee received a presentation from representatives of West Lancashire Community Leisure Trust, which was supported by a series of slides as contained on pages 65 to 74 of the Book of Reports. 

The presentation included reference to:

• The Trust's Vision "the creation and maintenance of a first class range of healthy and recreational activities to serve all parts of the community of West Lancashire"
• Charitable Status of the Trust
• Facilities
• Community Engagement
• Partnership Working – Active West Lancs; Edge Hill (Active Schools in Skelmersdale); School Sports Partnership; Mac Millan Cancer and Cardiac Rehab post; Looked after Children and care Leavers membership; and Blossoms Legacy.
• Income generation in 2017 (Wetside; Dryside; Health & Fitness; F & B and operational)
• Increased patronage (Wetside and Dryside Visits)
• Highlights in 2017

-        Opening a new spin studio in Burscough 100% funded by WLCLT

-        More people engaging in health and fitness

-        New facilities

·       The way forward:

-        Increase patronage

-        Growth of the business

-        Diversification / further development of Beacon Park

-        Increase swimming lesson usage

-        Continuous improvement of facilities and development of staff

-        Working with partners and community groups

-        Offer more participation opportunities.

Comments and questions were raised in respect of the following:

• Beacon Golf Course – delays in re-profiling and user levels/engagement
• Swimming lessons – delivery and promotional offers to encourage user participation
• Banks Leisure contract and lease period   

On behalf of the Committee, the Vice-Chairman thanked the representatives from the Leisure Trust for their attendance, the informative presentation and contribution to the discussion.

RESOLVED:  That the performance of West Lancashire Leisure/Serco for the previous 12 months be noted and the representatives be thanked for their presentation and attendance.

(Note:  The Chairman, Councillor Hennessy, declared a pecuniary interest in this item and left the room whilst this item was being considered.  The Vice-Chairman, Councillor D Evans, in the Chair.)

For Members to receive quarter 1 2018-2019 performance indicators.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Housing & Inclusion, as contained on pages 13 to 32 of the Book of Reports which detailed performance monitoring data for the quarter ended 30 June 2018.  The report had previously been considered by Cabinet at its last meeting.

In discussion Members raised questions and comments in respect of the following performance indicators:

·       NI192 'Residual Household Waste Per Household (Kg)

·       R1 '% of Council Tax Collected'

·       WL18 'Use of Leisure and Cultural Facilities (swims and visits)'

·       WL121 'Working Days Lost Due to Sickness Absence'

·       HS13 '% LA Properties with Landlord Gas Safety Record Outstanding'

and requested that for future reports that font size of the foot notes be increased.

The Partnership and Performance Officer attended the meeting provided clarification on the points raised.

RESOLVED:   A.     That the Council’s performance against the indicator set for the quarter ended 30 June 2018 be noted.

                      B.     The in relation to WL18 'Use of Leisure and Cultural Facilities (swims and visits)', the Director of Development and Regeneration be asked to provide a general update, at the scheduled meeting of the Committee on 7 March 2019, on the benefits of the Chapel Galleryand look into the feasibility of providing separate figures on visitor numbers being included in the Performance Indicators report.

For the Committee to receive feedback on its recommendations on its review of West Lancashire Tourism.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director for Development and Regeneration, as contained on pages 33 to 40 of the Book of Reports, which provided an update on the actions taken in respect of the recommendations contained within the report of the Committee entitled 'West Lancashire Tourism - The Visitor Economy' 2017.

The Committee was informed that work had been undertaken on both on and offline promotion, including launching and promoting the Discover Ormskirk website, Facebook page, Instagram and press advertisements. Social media channels allow the Council to promote West Lancashire, reaching audiences further afield and to showcase the Borough and its wider attractions.

It was noted that officers had worked to support and enhance a number of events across West Lancashire including the Ormskirk Gingerbread Festival, the Green Fayre and MotorFest. Officers had also worked with Ormskirk Community Partnership to move Ormskirk Gingerbread Festival to a Sunday to make better use of the town centre space and allow the event to expand, it was noted that the event had been a huge success.

It was further reported that the 2018 Ormskirk Christmas lights switch-on would be moved to a Sunday with the aim of providing enhanced opportunities for retailers and others to benefit from the event.

The Committee received a presentation from Lisa Ratican, Economic Regeneration Officer, and Caroline Addison,Senior Economic Regeneration Officer, on the bid which had consequently led to the Council being awarded £10,000 towards Christmas lights in Ormskirk.

RESOLVED:     A.     That the presentation and the work of officers to date be noted.

                        B.     That officers continue to work to deliver recommendations contained within the Committee's report 'West Lancashire Tourism -The Visitor Economy'.

For the Committee to consider its final report and recommendations on its Scrutiny review 2017-2018.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Leisure and Environment (Lead Officer), as contained on pages 49 to 64 of the Book of Reports, which presented a draft report and draft recommendations following a review entitled ‘Community Involvement in Service Delivery’.

The Committee noted that Total Reuse, the bulky household waste collection service, had now ceased to operate.

RESOLVED:   That the first draft of the report on Community Involvement in Service Delivery be noted and revised final recommendations be submitted to the December meeting, following consultation with the Chairman, in respect of the following:

A.      Abbey Lane Playing Fields

B.      Provision of information on the Council's website in relation to contact/link officers

C.     External funding

D.     Bulk insurance cover feasibility

To consider the report of the Borough Solicitor.

Consideration was given to the report of the Borough Solicitor, as contained on pages 41 to 46 of the Book of Reports, that detailed the outcome of the scoring exercise held in August 2018 including the recommendation that the priority topic ‘Litter Bin Policy' be included in the Work Programme 2018/19 for in-depth review.

RESOLVED:   A.   That the results of the scoring exercise, including the topic submitted after the deadline, as detailed in Appendix A to the report, be noted and the recommendations therein be actioned and endorsed as follows:

(i)              "Weeds in West Lancashire": That a report be submitted to the December meeting of the Committee to address the questions raised by Councillor Pryce- Roberts.

(ii)             "Review of resources available for community activities in terms of venues, organisation, personnel and finance": That a report be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee on what the Council is doing.

(iii)            "Consultation" (speaking on Planning Applications at Planning Committee): That this topic be referred to the Director of Planning and Regeneration to provide a direct response.

B.      That the topic selected for review in the 2018/19 Work Programme of the Committee be: ‘Litter Bin Policy'

C.     That a presentation on the selected topic be provided at the next meeting and a draft Project Plan for the review be prepared.

D.     That the Work Programme for the Corporate and Environmental Overview and Scrutiny Committee set out in Appendix C to the report, be confirmed and the following details be included on the Council’s web site.

‘Corporate and Environmental Overview and Scrutiny Committee

The Committee conducts in-depth reviews/policy development as set out in its work programme.

The topic selected for review in 2018/19 is "Litter Bin Policy".

The Committee considers, as part of its routine work:

·       Items referred from "Members Update" at the request of a Member

·       Members items/Councillor Call for Action (CCfA)

·       Performance management

·       Acts as the Council's Crime and Disorder Committee

·       Recommendations from previously conducted reviews

The Member Development Commission will continue its work during 2018/19.

E.    That a press release be prepared and issued to inform local residents of the chosen review topic to be included in the Committee’s Work Programme 2018/19.

There are no items to consider.

There were no items under this heading.

To note items coming forward to the next meeting.

Consideration was given to items on the work programme due to the considered at future meetings of the Committee.

RESOLVED:   That the work programme be noted.