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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Cabinet/Committee Room, 52 Derby Street, Ormskirk L39 2DF. View directions

Contact: Julia Brown 

Media

Items
No. Item

115.

APOLOGIES

Minutes:

Apologies were received on behalf of Councillor Currie.

116.

MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE

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

Minutes:

There were no changes to Membership of the Committee.

117.

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.

118.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST pdf icon PDF 299 KB

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 any particular item is included at the end of this agenda sheet.) 

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

119.

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.

120.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 326 KB

To receive as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2020.

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2020 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

121.

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 5 March 2021. A copy of the public speaking protocol and form to be completed is attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no items under this heading.

122.

ITEMS FROM THE MEMBERS' UPDATE 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.

123.

MEMBERS ITEMS / CCfA (COUNCILLOR CALL FOR ACTION)

(There are no items under this heading)

Minutes:

There were no items under this heading.

124.

CRIME AND DISORDER SCRUTINY pdf icon PDF 1 MB

To consider a presentation from a representative of West Lancashire Community Safety Partnership (CSP).

 

Minutes:

A presentation was received from the Environmental Health Manager and Community Safety Officer on behalf of the West Lancashire Community Safety Partnership (CSP).  The presentation was supported by a series of slides, the aim of which was to provide the Committee with details of the role and function of the CSP:

 

  • The CSP Vision and Overview
  • CSP Partners
  • How CSP is funded
  • What CSP delivers
  • Covid-19-Community Safety Team adapted delivery

·         An overview of crime figures

·         Work undertaken through Multi-Agency -Six Responsible Authorities and Contributions from other Partner Agencies

·         Financial Summary / Successful Bids

·         Safer Streets funding for Skelmersdale; Including CCTV and Motorbike Barriers

·         CPS Projects Delivered:

·         Community Engagement & Diversionary Activity impacted by Covid-19

·         Bright Sparx Action Plan

·         Welcome Week Action Plan

·         Community Action Days

·         Street Games-Wigan Athletic Community Trust ad hoc due to Covid-19

·         Street Games-Scheduled to re-commence from April 2021 and extended to Birch Green

·         County Lines Plays – rescheduled for 2021

·         Covid-19- Community Safety Team Adapted Delivery– Joined up approach with Police led GENGA Group to tackle Key Priorities

 

On behalf of the Committee, the Chairman thanked the Environmental Health Manager and Community Safety Officer for the presentation.

 

RESOLVED:  That the Presentation be noted.

 

125.

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY FUNCTION REVIEW pdf icon PDF 257 KB

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation and Resources as contained on pages195 to 236 of the Book of Reports, which was to consider the recommendations of the Member Development Commission following a review of the Overview & Scrutiny function at West Lancashire.

 

The Democratic Services Manager outlined the report and detailed the background and themes contained within.

 

Councillor Dowling, Portfolio Holder of Communities and Community Safety was invited to speak by the Chairman.  He commented on the key points of the recommendations of the Member Development Commission held on 17 November 2020, including details of the possible development of a scrutiny system consisting of a variation of several Scrutiny Committees.

 

The Democratic Services Manager responded to questions raised by Members in relation to the scrutiny function review.

 

The following Motion was moved and seconded:

 

RESOLVED:

 

A.        That an in-house 'Overview & Scrutiny at West Lancashire' training session be held each year following a local election with a further session on 'Best Practice Scrutiny' being arranged with an external trainer in the year that there are no local elections, as detailed in paragraph 6 below.

           

B.        That Members of Overview & Scrutiny Committees be asked to submit questions in advance of meetings.

 

C.        That scoring of topics should be scored by a Panel consisting of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Opposition Spokespersons.

 

D.        That it be noted that Council at its meeting held on 24 February 2021, approved the timetable of meetings for 2021/22, to allow for Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee to be held prior to Cabinet, to accommodate pre-scrutiny, with a Special 'Call In' Meeting of Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee being scheduled following Cabinet, to meet as and when required, as detailed in paragraph 7 of the report. 

 

E.        That no change be made to Constitution 9.2:  Members’ Update Procedure Rules and the form for submitting Members Update Items, attached at Appendix 2 to the report, and information items continue to be reported via the Corporate & Environmental Overview & Scrutiny Members Update, subject to G below.

 

 

F.         That Council be recommended to amend 'The Overview & Scrutiny Procedure Rules at Constitution 14' to read:     

           

            "Attendance by others

 

(a)       The leaders of the political groups on the Council shall be allowed to attend each Overview and Scrutiny Committee and to speak but not vote on any issue under consideration, with the consent of the Chairman."

 

G.        That it be recommended that the terms of reference of the Member Development Commission be extended to review the number and remit of Overview & Scrutiny Committees at West Lancashire, including the Members Update procedure rules, by comparing Overview & Scrutiny structures of other similar Local Authorities, and submit recommendations to Executive Overview & Scrutiny Committee, Corporate & Environmental Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Council, if appropriate, which should include any additional staff resource required, with an implementation date of May 2022.

 

 

126.

REVIEW OF A TRIAL OF COMPACTION LITTER BINS pdf icon PDF 224 KB

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Place & Community.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Place and Community as contained on pages 237 to 254 of the Book of Reports, which provided further information regarding the proposal to install compaction litter bins in designated locations within West Lancashire.

 

The Head of Environmental Services outlined the report and explained that the trial of compaction litter bins in designated locations had been deferred due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  She outlined that the decision to go ahead with the trial had been made pre-covid and that the climate has since changed due to the low level of footfall. She also explained that no contract had yet been entered into with a provider.

 

In discussion comments and questions were raised in respect of the following:-

 

·         Dual Waste Bins / Recycling facilities

·         Locations of trial bins

·         Rural area aspect (smaller bins)

·         Aesthetics

·         Financial considerations

·         Data from Hartlepool Council Compaction Bin Report 2019 (Appendix 1)

·         Timing of trial

 

A vote was taken and it was;

 

RESOLVED: That the Committee recommend to Cabinet that the trial of compaction litter bins in designated locations be postponed and further reviewed in one year's time, and that the capital funds of £10k allocated to the trial be utilised to bring forward and introduce the Borough wide single to dual bin waste upgrade replacement programme.

 

127.

QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (Q3 2020/21) pdf icon PDF 529 KB

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation and Resources.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Transformation and Resources as contained on pages 255 to 270 of the Book of Reports, which presented the performance monitoring data for the quarter ended 31 December 2020.

 

The Partnership and Performance Officer provided an update on the latest key performance indicators. She explained that there was overall good performance with 26 indicators on or above target.

 

Questions and comments were raised in respect of the following indicators;

 

B1 - Time taken to process Housing Benefit / Council Tax Support new claims and change event (days)

Appendix B1 notes continued minor improvement.

 

ES18 Flytip incidents reported – Information and data requested had previously been circulated to Members.

 

TS1a - Rent collected from current and former tenants as a % of rent owed (excluding arrears) – The Team achieved target in quarter 3.

 

HW01 - No. attending health, wellbeing and sport activities and courses

Minimal uptake due to Covid restrictions / unable to deliver centre based activities for most of the quarter.

 

ES06% - Locations inspected falling into categories A/B–Dog Fouling (Cumulative)

In discussion, it was felt that this was problematic in several areas of the Borough. A question was raised how this Performance Indicator is measured.  The Partnership and Performance Officer explained that this was done by a random selection survey.  She made an undertaking to clarify this with the Service.

 

RESOLVED: That the Council's performance against the indicator set for the quarter ended 31 December 2020 be noted.

128.

ACTION ON CLIMATE EMERGENCY REVIEW pdf icon PDF 2 MB

To receive a Presentation and to consider the next steps of the Review.

Minutes:

The Environmental Strategy Officer and Head Ranger provided the Committee with a Presentation in respect of the Climate Emergency Action Review, which provided an overview of the background of the Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan 2030, the current position, plans for the future, aims, ideas and opportunities.

 

The Presentation provided information, which included the following:

 

·         Carbon footprint baseline and targeting

·         Community Action Plan / Citizen Assembly – Identify Stakeholders / Partners and interested parties

·         Projects 2021-22; Green Homes Grant voucher Scheme; On Street Residential Charge Point Scheme

·         Potential Projects; The Rural Community Energy Fund; Solar Together

·         Waste Reduction Strategy – Current Projects

·         Potential Projects – Business Waste; Residential Recycling

·         Biodiversity – Current Position; 16 Parks and Country Parks managed by Ranger Service

·         Work with local schools to promote, protect, enhance green space

·         Programmes on site carried out by staff, volunteers, stakeholders and contractors (subject to funding)

·         Planting of in excess of 2000 trees in last 3 years

·         Focus on improving habitat connectivity

·         Green Infrastructure improvements / Sustainable Transport Plans

·         Current Biodiversity including;Improving Clough Valleys in Skelmersdale – CIL / Kickstart

·         Towpath Improvements

·         Investigating potential Beacon Eco-Park and surrounding green space (subject to funding)

·         Biodiversity opportunities; Revise mowing regimes; investigate areas to manage specifically for wildlife habitat

·         Fairy Glen Country Park

·         Water Management Strategy – Current Position and Potential Projects including; Asset Management Review; Property Flood Resilience Service; Sustainable Drainage; Provision of water butts for the public

 

Questions and comments were raised in respect of:

 

·         Green Homes Grant Funding – Types of efficiency measures / eligibility of private rented properties / homeowners

·         Current carbon output in tonnes / How we report progress against the target reduction

·         Vehicle Replacement Programme – Electric vehicle trial / Hydrogen substitute

·         Charging points for electric vehicles / costs / locations

·         Carbon Budget 2035 - 50,000 ha/year of trees must be planted.  What is our contribution and how will they be paid for?

·         Recycling contamination

·         Potential business waste pilot

·         Community Orchards

·         Bike Storage

·         Hedgehog friendly development (Local Plan)

·         Volunteer Litter Picker Risk Assessment / Pack

 

The Environmental Strategy Officer made an undertaking to respond to Members specific questions following the meeting.

 

The Chairman thanked the Environmental Strategy Officer and Head Ranger for their Presentation and asked Members to send their comments and suggestions by e-mail to the Member Services Officer for consideration as part of the future Project Plan.

 

RESOLVED: That the Presentation be noted and that Members send their comments and suggestions by e-mail to the Member Services Officer for consideration as part of the future Project Plan.

 

 

 

129.

PROJECT PLAN - Action on Climate Emergency pdf icon PDF 320 KB

To agree and review the Project Plan for the review.

 

Minutes:

The Draft Project Plan as circulated on pages 295 to 300 of the Book of Reports was considered by the Committee.

 

RESOLVED: That the Draft Project Plan be noted and updated to reflect Committee Members views and suggestions.

130.

WORK PROGRAMME OF THE COMMITTEE pdf icon PDF 196 KB

To consider the 2021/22 Work Programme of the Committee.

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That the 2021/22 Work Programme of the Committee be noted.