Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 26 January 2015.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 January 2015 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

There were no questions from members of the public.

To receive any petitions and deputations provided that no such petition or deputation is in relation to:

·         Matters relating to individual Council Officers, or

·         Matters relating to current or pending legal proceedings

There were no petitions or deputations.

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources which asks Cabinet to note the financial monitoring report details including budget variances, year-end forecasts, and progress made against agreed savings targets for the 3rd quarter ended 31^st December 2014.  The report also highlights some key performance indicators.

The Chair welcomed Councillor Norman, Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources and Mr Andrew Cummings, Financial Management Accountant, to the meeting.

Councillor Norman presented Members with a financial monitoring report which set out budget variances, year end forecasts, and progress made against agreed savings targets for the third quarter ended 31 December 2014.  The document also highlighted some key performance indicators. 

Overview and Scrutiny Committee was asked to note the report, subject to any comments Members wished to make to Cabinet.

Members discussed the following matters:-

1.         A Member queried the reason for the overspend of £58K (paragraph 6.1 of the report).  Mr Cummings responded that this figure represented the worst case scenario and that the position would become clearer at the end of the financial year.

2.         A Member asked how the estimated reserve of £150K arising from surpluses generated from the transfer of assets (paragraph 2.2(3)) would be allocated to regeneration projects.  Mr Cummings advised the Member that full details would be reported back at the end of the financial year.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Housing, Health and Leisure which updates Members following consultation on the draft housing strategy and presents the final version for adoption and implementation.

The Chair welcomed Councillor Organ, Cabinet Member for Housing, Health and Leisure, and Ms Helen Chard, Housing Strategy and Enabling Service Manager, to the meeting.

Councillor Organ presented Members with a report which sought adoption and implementation of the final draft of the Council’s Housing Strategy following consultation with the relevant stakeholders.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee was asked to note the report, subject to any comments Members wished to make to Cabinet.

Members discussed the following matters:-

1.         A Member commented that the document was detailed, and that although a number of objectives were set out, that there was no clear ‘direction of travel’ and questioned how the needs identified in the report would be met in the future.  Councillor Organ replied that the strategy linked in with assumptions made in the Joint Core Strategy and the City Plan and that it was difficult to make exact predictions on population growth and the types of housing that would be required in the future.  Ms Chard added that it was the intention to produce a summary document which would crystallise the key objectives of the strategy.  The Member responded that a summary would be helpful and added that it was important to get the right kind of housing supply to meet the demands of the population.

2.         A Member acknowledged that the strategy in its existing format would provide a comprehensive guide to anyone living outside the City.

3.         A Member remarked on the low levels of homeless people who attended drop in sessions at the Cathedral.  Another Member pointed out that  the definition of ‘homeless’ extended beyond those living on the street and included anyone who had moved out of a home into cramped or unsuitable accommodation.  Councillor Organ acknowledged both these points.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Culture which provides  Members with the details of the work undertaken by Michael + Partners in relation to the City and Folk Museums and the Guildhall and which recommends to Members elements of the report to be taken forward.

The Chair welcomed Councillor James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Culture, Councillor Chatterton, representative from the cross party Member and Officer working group on the Cultural Services review, and Mr Martin Shields, Corporate Director of Services and Neighbourhoods, to the meeting.

Councillor James presented a report detailing the findings of Michael + Partners (consultants) relating to the City and Folk Museums and the Guildhall which had been produced in conjunction with a cross party Member and Officer working group.  The report sought approval for various recommendations for implementation and for permission to appoint a project manager.  As part of the introduction, Councillor James explained that one of the recommendations relating to the Guildhall ‘Creation of a new frontage with box office and cafe bar’ would not be pursued as the option was deemed to be unaffordable.  Councillor James clarified the reason for this decision.  Councillor James thanked the other two City Council Members who had assisted on the cross party working group for the project.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee was asked to note the report, subject to any comments Members wished to make to Cabinet.

Members discussed the following matters:-

1.         A Member asked Councillor Chatterton for his opinion on the report.  Councillor Chatterton commended the report for its high level of detail and remarked that there were several initiatives which could be implemented fairly quickly to help maximise revenue opportunities at each of the sites.

2.         A Member acknowledged the Cabinet’s dilemma regarding the decision not to create a new frontage at the Guildhall whilst highlighting the fact that the Guildhall’s current entrance was often overlooked by passers-by and asked how the Guildhall could be made more visible.  During the discussion the Chair referred to the Committee’s recent interaction with students concerning the night-time economy when it had become apparent that none of the students were aware of the existence of the Guildhall. Councillor James referred to Section 3.7 of the report ‘Key Recommendations and Opportunities’ which listed other initiatives for marketing and promoting the Guildhall and reminded Members that the building was listed which constrained the Council from being able to install neon signs.  Councillor James added that plans to improve lighting and the illumination of the tree outside the building would help to signpost the entrance.

3.         A Member speculated whether another form of signage outside the Guildhall could be considered which was not detrimental to the streetscene and commented that if the offer was attractive that the public would find the venue, irrespective of its location.  The Member added that the right kind of cafe bar was a key part of an evening out experience.  Mr Shields remarked that as part of the project the location of the cafe bar at the Guildhall would be reviewed with the possibility of moving it closer to the front of the building being explored.  This would be a separate piece of work.

4.         A Member asked if the County Council’s Highways Department was being lobbied to improve street  ...  view the full minutes text for item 89.

Members are asked to note that there will be a private training session at 6.15 pm on Monday 23 March 2015 in Meeting Room 1 on the subject ‘Making Task and Finish Groups Effective’.  All Members are asked to attend this training. 

The main Committee meeting will then commence at 7 pm in the Civic Suite. 

The Chair reminded the Committee of the Member Training session scheduled for 23 March 2015 and the agenda items which would be discussed at the main Committee meeting which would start at the later time of 19.00 hours.

To receive verbal updates, as appropriate, from Members of the Committee who sit as City Council representatives on any of the outside bodies.

There were no updates on this occasion.

Monday 23 March 2015.

PLEASE NOTE – There will be a private Member Training Session from 6.15 pm which is not open to the public.  The public meeting will start at 7 pm.

Monday 23 March 2015 at 19.00 hours.