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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Cabinet & Committee Room, 52 Derby Street, Ormskirk, L39 2DF

Contact: Julia Brown 

Items
No. Item

22.

APOLOGIES

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence received.

23.

MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE

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

Minutes:

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4, Members noted the termination of Membership of the Committee of Councillors J Finch, G Hodson, S Currie and the appointment of C Dereli, R Cooper and D Westley for this meeting only, thereby giving effect to the wishes of the Political Groups.  Also, Councillor P O'Neill to replace Councillor C Cooper as a permanent change of Membership to the Committee.

 

 

24.

URGENT BUSINESS, IF ANY, INTRODUCED BY THE CHAIRMAN

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.

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.

25.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST pdf icon PDF 299 KB

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.) 

Minutes:

Councillor C Coughlan declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to Agenda Item 9 – West Lancashire Leisure Annual Report as he is a Member of the West Lancashire Leisure Trust.

 

Councillor T Blane declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to Agenda Item 9 – West Lancashire Leisure Annual Report as a Parish Councillor of North Meols.

26.

DECLARATIONS OF A PARTY WHIP

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.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of Party Whip.

27.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 322 KB

To receive as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 July 2019.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:             That the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 July 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

28.

PUBLIC SPEAKING pdf icon PDF 180 KB

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 4 October 2019. A copy of the public speaking protocol and form to be completed is attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no items under this heading.

29.

'COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN SERVICE DELIVERY - REVIEW OF RECOMMENDATIONS

To review the recommendations from the 'Community Involvement in Service Delivery'.

Minutes:

Members considered the following item as part of the 'Community Involvement in Service Delivery' - Review of Recommendations.

30.

ABBEY LANE PLAYING FIELDS - REVIEW OF FUNDING pdf icon PDF 230 KB

To consider the report of the Director of Leisure and Environment.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Leisure and Environment as contained on pages 115 to 126 of the Book of Reports which reviewed the £15,000 revenue funding given annually to Burscough Dynamo Football Club to support the maintenance of Abbey Lane Playing Fields.

 

Representatives from Burscough Dynamo Football Club attended the meeting and outlined to Members the financial position of the Club and detailed the ongoing maintenance work taking place, including the fencing of the perimeter, cutting trees back and general repairs due to neglect in previous years.   They also detailed involvement with the Community including West Lancashire School Partnership and the 'mini soccer' Cup Finals - Lancashire League.

 

The Leisure Operations Manager explained to Members that savings made by reducing this budget allocation would be used for similar greenspace and recreational usage in future.

 

The Chairman thanked representatives from the Club for attending the meeting.

 

RESOLVED: That Members note the content of this review and approve the following recommendations listed below to Cabinet.

 

            Members agree that the allocation of £15,000 revenue budget, to support the maintenance of the new drainage system at Abbey Lane Playing Fields, be continued in 2019/20, then reduced incrementally by £5,000 a year until it is phase out in 2022/23.

 

            The revenue savings made by reducing this budget allocation be used for projects to improve and develop other Council greenspace and recreational land.

 

 

 

31.

WEST LANCASHIRE LEISURE ANNUAL REPORT

To consider a presentation from the Board Chairman (WLCL) and Contracts Manager (SERCO).

Minutes:

The Committee received a presentation from representatives of West Lancashire Community Leisure Trust, which was supported by a series of slides.

 

The presentation included reference to:

 

·         Current contract concludes on 31 March 2020

·         Potential 2 year contract extension

·         Nye Bevan and Park Pool to work towards running to closure / new facilities

·         Committed to delivering clean, safe, friendly environment for customers and staff

·         Age of buildings / Risks

  • 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"
  • Commenced a re-profiling of the previous works at Beacon in April 2019 – Delays due to wet weather
  • 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, which programme delivered to over 100 participants over the summer.
  • Income Generation 2018 (Wetside; Dryside; Health & Fitness; F & B and Operational)
  • Slightly Increased patronage (mainly wetside visits) 
  • Beacon Golf Club -  Membership Statistics / Promotion, Schools Sports Partnership / Sports England funding
  • New facilities / future developments

·         The way forward:

-       Increase patronage

-       Growth of the business

-       Diversification / further development of Beacon Park

-       Increase swimming lesson usage

-       Working with partners and community groups

 

Comments and questions were raised in respect of the following:

 

  • Beacon Golf Course – User Levels / Engagement / Re- Opening of full course
  • Blossoms Legacy – Development and growth

 

 On behalf of the Committee, the Chairman thanked 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:  Councillors C Coughlan and T Blane declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item)

 

32.

'LITTER BIN REVIEW' - DRAFT FINAL REPORT pdf icon PDF 213 KB

To consider the Draft final report and recommendations of the 'Litter Bin Strategy/Policy' Review prior to submission to Cabinet (5 November 2019) and Council (11 December 2019) if appropriate.

(Appendix 2 – Draft Litter Bin Policy to follow)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Leisure and Environment as contained on pages 127 to 137 of the Book of Reports, which considered the draft final report and proposed recommendations following a review entitled ' Litter Bin Policy'.

 

The Committee received a presentation from the Operations Manager, Street Scene, which outlined the current position and aims of the draft final litter bin policy.

 

Questions and comments were raised regarding the following:-

 

·         A standardised approach for litter bins for future installs – colour etc. to improve aesthetics of street furniture across the Borough

·         A centralised management of litter bin provision - one service budget control and installation arrangement in place

·         Clean and Green Team schedules

·         Data obtained from Hartlepool Council in respect of compaction bin efficiencies and savings made

·         Educational, Nudge theories, chewing gum boards, fluorescent paint stencils on pavements, school presentations

·         Data intelligence for possible locations of compaction bins

·         Keep Britain Tidy / Hubbub / Educational campaigns / litter picking / recycling

 

RESOLVED:   A.   That the final draft report 'Litter Bin Policy Review' attached at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved, subject to updates arising from this meeting and the inclusion of the following recommendations:

 

(i)            That, subject to budget approval, a 4-6 week trial pilot of compaction bins be implemented, at a cost of £500 per station, and that delegated authority be given to the Corporate Director of Place & Community (designate), in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder, to identify the number of bins and locations.  The findings of the trial be reported to Cabinet and Council as appropriate.

 

(ii)          That following the outcome of the stock condition survey and subject to budget approval, a litter bin replacement programme be undertaken, for replacement of category C & D litter bins at a cost of £10,000 for year 1 and £5,000 for years 2 & 3.  Following this a further review should be undertaken.

 

(iii)         That, subject to budget approval, a Programme of educational campaigns and materials, provided by organisations such as Hubbub and Keep Britain Tidy be supported.

 

B.      That the 'Policy for the Provision of Litter Bins', as attached to the draft review report (Appendix 1), be approved, subject to the removal of the reference to Parish Councils in paragraph 10.1 ie. Parish Council's will not be charged for the sale and installation of litter bins.

 

C.   That the Corporate Director Place & Community (designate) submit the final review report containing the final 'Policy for the Provision of Litter Bins', to Cabinet on 5 November 2019 and Council on 11 December 2019, if appropriate, for approval.

 

 

 

 

 

33.

REVIEW TOPIC 2019/20 AND CONFIRMATION OF WORK PROGRAMME pdf icon PDF 244 KB

To consider the report of the Borough Solicitor.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Borough Solicitor as contained on pages 139 to 172 of the Book of Reports that gave details of the outcome of the Topic Scoring Exercise in relation to topics submitted by the deadline and set down the proposed Work Programme for the Committee for 2019/20.

 

The Chairman outlined information in relation to the scoring exercise. 

The Director of Leisure and Environment explained the latest position in respect of Topic 7 'Development of Wildflower Wooded Sites', Topic 9 'Implement Good Verge Guide' and Topic 12  in respect of wild flower planting and weed control, which are currently being addressed.

 

In discussion, a request for further audit information in respect of Topic 13 'Review of Public Conveniences' be circulated to Members.

 

RESOLVED: A.     That the results of the scoring exercise (Appendix A) be noted and the recommendations therein be actioned and endorsed.

 

B.      That the topic selected for review in the 2019/20 Work Programme of the Committee be ‘Review of Financial Inclusion Policy'.

 

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

 

D.      That the Work Programme for the Corporate and Environmental Overview and Scrutiny Committee as set out below, subject to any amendments agreed by the Committee, be confirmed and 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 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

 

It was agreed at Council on 10 July 2019 that the Member Development Commission will continue its work during 2019/20 reporting to the Executive Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

D.       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 2019/20.

 

E.        That the Work Programme 2019/20 attached at Appendix B be noted.

 

F.         That further audit information in respect of Topic 13 'Review of Public Conveniences' be circulated to Members.

 

(Note: Councillor D Westley left the meeting at this point).

34.

Quarterly Performance Indicators Q1 2019-20 pdf icon PDF 218 KB

To consider the report of the Director of Housing and Inclusion.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Housing and Inclusion as contained on pages 173 to 192 of the Book of Reports, which presented the performance monitoring data for the quarter ended 30 June 2019.

 

The Partnership and Performance Officer provided an update in relation to WL133 (No of visitors to Chapel Gallery), HS28 % of properties with a valid Electrical Installation Report (homes and buildings), WL143% of Direct Dial calls answered, LE03,04,05 Average Number of missed bins per fortnight for refuse, garden waste, recycling.

 

Comments and questions were raised in respect of the following:

 

·         WL108 Average answered waiting times for callers to the Contact Centre –

 

RESOLVED:  A.       That the Council's performance against the indicator set for the quarter ended 30 June 2019 be noted.

 

B.         That the Deputy Director of Housing and Inclusion be invited to the next meeting of the Committee on 5 December 2019, to provide Members with further information in respect of performance, future structure, digital agenda, resource implications and future targets in relation to WL108 (average waiting times for callers to the Contact Centre).

 

35.

MEMBER DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION - MEMBERSHIP

To consider the report of the Borough Treasurer.

(To follow)

Minutes:

The Chairman announced that this item was withdrawn and will be submitted to a future meeting of Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

36.

ITEMS FROM THE MEMBERS' UPDATED INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA AT THE REQUEST OF A MEMBER

There are no items under this heading.

Minutes:

There were no items under this heading.

37.

MEMBERS ITEMS / CCfA (COUNCILLOR CALL FOR ACTION)

There are no items under this heading.

Minutes:

There were no items under this heading.