Agenda and minutes
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Contact: Democratic Services,
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Apologies Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies had been received from Councillors Gina Blomefield, Roly Hughes, Nigel Robbins, Nikki Ind, David Cunningham. |
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Substitute Members To note details of any substitution arrangements in place for the Meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: Substitute Members were Councillors Tony Berry, Sue Jepson, Clive Webster |
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Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations of interest from Members and Officers, relating to items to be considered at the meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Webster declared and interest as the Councils representative of the Cotswold National Landscape.
Councillor Andrews and Selwyn declared an interest as members of the Council’s Capital Investment Programme Board
There were no declarations of interest from Officers
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To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 21st June 2022 Additional documents: Minutes: “The Committee noted Councillor Layton’s (responsible Cabinet Member for the Cotswold Water Park), update on the successful partnership groups that had worked well together to deliver such important improvements within the park.
Councillor Bloomer was present at the committee meeting but not included on the attendance list.
RESOLVED: The Committee resolved that, subject to the amendments being included, it was agreed that the minutes were an accurate record of the meeting held 4 October 2022.
Voting Record - For 5, Against 0, Abstentions 3, Absent 5 |
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Chair's Announcements Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair announced that the Committee meeting was being held out of sequence (after Cabinet), due to the additional Bank Holiday for the funeral of Her Late Majesty the Queen. This had led to there being an insufficient notice period to publish agendas before the original Committee date.
The Chair stated that the Committee would be considering the part of the Recovery Investment Strategy during the Committee meeting, but moving to Closed Session for the consideration of exempt Annex. |
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Public Questions To deal with questions from the public within the open forum question and answer session of fifteen minutes in total. Questions from each member of the public should be no longer than two minutes each and relate issues under the Committee’s remit. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no Public Questions |
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Member Questions To deal with written questions by Members, relating to issues under the Committee’s remit, with the maximum length of oral supplementary questions at Committee being no longer than one minute. Responses to any supplementary questions will be dealt with in writing if they cannot be dealt with at the meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no Members questions |
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Financial, Council Priority and Service Performance Report - 2022/23 Quarter One Purpose To provide an update on progress on the Council’s priorities and service performance To provide information on the Council’s financial position
Recommendation(s) That the Committee Reviews overall progress on the Council priorities, service delivery and financial performance for 2022-23 Q1. Additional documents:
Minutes: The purpose of the report was to provide an update on progress of the Council’s priorities and service performance and to provide information on the Council’s financial position.
The Chief Executive introduced the report and summarised how the Council’s key priorities had been progressed and how the Council had performed against some of its key performance measures, and the Chief Finance Officer provided a summary of the Council’s financial performance.
The Committee noted that: · The Council’s Agile Working Policy had launched and Officers had started working from both office and home and other locations. · The Cost Of Living Crisis is starting to affect residents and their families across the Country including the Cotswolds and the and this may have a knock on affect for Council services e.g. Council Tax payments. · Homes for Ukraine had seen a drop off in sponsors possibly due to the increased challenges of the Cost of Living Crisis. · The number of flood wardens had increased to 11 across the District · The Town and Parish Council forum was now established and working well · The number of missed binned had halved, year on year. · The Digital Skills Centre had opened at Cirencester College · Share Prosperity Fund bid had delivered investment into the District
The Committee noted there was significant interest from potential tenants of the Council Offices at Trinity Road.
The Committee noted that the CDC were in regular contact through various channels sharing and learning best practices with West Oxfordshire and Forest of Dean Councils.
The Committee welcomed the improvements to the Cotswold Water Park and thanked Councillor Layton for leading on this.
The Committee noted that the 20% Housing Benefit quality checks and 10% Award Accuracy Initiative checks were conducted by the same team to avoid duplications.
RESOLVED: The Committee noted progress on the Council priorities, service delivery and financial performance for 2022-23 Q1. |
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Leisure and Culture Contracts Procurement Update Purpose To provide the Overview and Scrutiny Committee with an update on the Leisure and Culture Contract Procurements.
Recommendation(s) That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee receives the update contained within this report. Additional documents: Minutes: The purpose of this report was to provide the Overview and Scrutiny Committee with an update on the Leisure and Culture Contract Procurements.
The Business Manager for Contracts introduced the report and the Strategic Projects Lead for Leisure provided details of progress with the Leisure and Culture Contract Procurement process.
The Committed noted that: · The Project Board had been put in place to oversee the project · The timeline had been established · Score weightings had been agreed by the Project Board · Contract Notice had been issued on schedule on 02 September 2022 · No clarification had been sought by potential bidders during the clarification period · Standard Selection Questionnaires had been issued and received by the 03 October 2022 deadline · Evaluation of bids had started and for both the Leisure Contract and/or the Culture Contract Next Steps · Successfully evaluated bidders would be invited to submit an Initial Tender on 17 October 2022 with a return deadline 03 January 2023.
The Committee noted that more Standard Selection Questionnaires had been received for the Leisure Contract than for the Cultural Contract, although there had been good competition for both, including from those considered ‘big players’
RESOLVED: The Committee received, considered and noted the timely on schedule progress of the Leisure and Culture Contracts Procurements. |
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Annual Report of the Community Safety Partnership to the Crime and Disorder Committee Purpose To provide an overview of the ‘Cotswold Community Safety Partnership’ work and achievements against its Action Plan over the period of July 2021 to June 2022.
Recommendation(s) To note the report. Additional documents:
Minutes: The purpose of the report was to provide an overview of the Cotswold Community Safety Partnership (CCSP) work and achievements against its Action Plan over the period of July 2021 to June 2022.
The Community Wellbeing Manager introduced the report and an infographic that provided an overview of the work and priorities of the CCSP and what it had achieved.
The Committee noted that the CCSP was a statutory partnership set out by the 1988 Crime and Disorder Act, that met quarterly with local organisations with the goal of reducing crime, fear of crime, anti-social behaviour, alcohol and drug misuse and re-offending.
The Committee noted that the CCSP met more regularly (bi-weekly)with CDC officers and police to work on more immediate issues.
The Committee noted that the CCSP had been dedicated to assisting the delivery of the priorities of the Gloucestershire Police and Crime Commissioner (GPPC) since it was created in 2011. Prior to this the CCSP had worked (and continues to work) closely with the police.
The Committee noted that although the report provided details of violent abuse against women and girls, the CCSP recognised the increased incidences of abuse against men and boys.
The Committee noted that the although there were no young people in the CCSP, the partnership engaged with young people through the Cotswold Youth Network
The Committee noted that the Covid 19 Support Officers roles (initially created with Covid funding), had broadened into Community Safety Officers when restrictions were lifted in 2021, and were finally removed 30 September 2022.
RESOLVED: The Committee reviewed and noted overall progress of the Cotswold Community Safety Partnership. |
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Planning and Development update Purpose To note the presentation given by officers for an update on Planning and Development performance. Additional documents: Minutes: The purpose of this report was to update the Committee on the Planning and Development service and progress with various initiatives to bring the service back to full capacity.
The Group Manager for Residential Services provided a verbal update on the Planning and Development Service and summarised the 5 areas of a new Action Plan to improve the service area.
The Committee noted that: Enforcement · Plans were in place to bring service to full strength by December and report to O&S in the new year Validation · This had been 19 days to validate, but had improved to 7 days Communication With Customers · Recognition that the Applicant was the primary customer but other stakeholders (e.g. Town Councillors, Objectors, ‘Landscape and Streetscape’, ‘Wildlife Diversity’) were recognised and kept informed. Pre-Application · Service is improving. Invalidation · Still running at 40% of applications needing input from CDC Planning Officers.
The Committee noted the Planning Advisory Report findings had validated much of what the Planning and Development Service had already recognised and recommendations from the report would be incorporated into the Action Plan.
RESOLVED: The Committee noted the current update of the Planning and Development service and that further updates would be made.
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CDC questions for the Flood Forum on 21st October Purpose For the Committee to consider the questions to be posed to the Flood Forum on 21st October 2022 Additional documents: Minutes: The purpose of the report was for the Committee to consider the questions to be posed to the Flood Forum on 21st October 2022
The Committee noted the questions should be limited to those aimed at Thames Water covering wards in South Cerney, Cirencester Cerney Wick, Siddington and Lechlade.
· Has the new pipe servicing the Steadings development improved water and sewerage and flooding issues in Cirencester? · Could the Minutes from the Flood Forum be made available in a timely manner (or have the meeting recorded)? · Could the Flood Forum coordinate the various organisations who can prevent floods e.g. Utility companies, DEA, Councils etc Could more imaginative flood management measures be considered e.g. flood meadows, tree planting, beavers balancing ponds etc. rather than just a big concrete pipe.
RESOLVED: The Committee suggested a number of questions that should be raised at the Flood Form to be held on the 21 October 2022
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Quarterly Digest (including County Matters) Purpose To consider any issues arising out of the Quarterly Digest for future debate and/or action by the Committee.
Additional documents: Minutes: The purpose of the report was to consider any issues arising out of the Quarterly Digest for future debate and/or action by the Committee.
No minutes had been received from Quarterly Digest.
NHS services were working closer with Adult Social Care to improve services. |
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Forward Plan and Work Plan Purpose To receive the current Forward Plan and work plan of the Committee.
Recommendation(s) To note both plans and provide feedback if required to officers. Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee noted that the Council’s HR processes would be reviewed by an Overview and Scrutiny Task and Finish group with Councillor Cunningham as the Chair.
Bromford Housing Association was presenting at the November O&S Committee meeting and other Housing Associations would also be invited.
RESOLVED: The Committee considered the Forward Plan and the Work Plan. |
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Agreement to move into private session If the Committee wishes to exclude the press and the public from the meeting during consideration of any of the items on the exempt from publication part of the agenda, it will be necessary for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to pass a resolution in accordance with the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that their presence could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in specific paragraphs of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.
Additional documents: Minutes: To consider and if so agree to resolve that under section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in schedule 12A of the said Act
RESOLVED: Council agreed to exclude the public and press from the meeting on the grounds that consideration of the following items would likely disclose information that is exempt as defined in schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972
Voting Record - For 8, Against 0, Abstentions 0, Absent 5, |
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Recovery Investment Strategy Purpose The purpose of this report is to give an update on the implementation of the Recovery and Investment Strategy approved by Council on 20 July 2022.
Recommendation(s) To note the update on the Recovery and Investment Strategy. Additional documents: Minutes: The purpose of the report was to provide an update on the implementation of the Recovery and Investment Strategy approved by Council on 20 July 2022.
The Cabinet Member For the Economy and Transformation introduced the report and provided an overview of two Recovery and Investment Strategy initiatives that had been progressed.
The Committee noted that investment had been made in access to affordable housing.
The Committee noted that the development of the Trinity Road Council Offices would make the building more energy efficient and enable part of the building to be rented out to other organisations.
The Committee noted that the new Prime Minister and Chancellor of The Exchequer’s recent financial initiatives had had a material impact on the bond market and interest rates, and this would materially affect the business cases of potential Recovery and Investment Strategy initiatives.
The remainder of the report was considered by Overview and Scrutiny Committee in Closed Session
RESOLVED: The committee noted the update of Recovery and Investment Strategy |