Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 5 September 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 September 2016 were approved 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 latest version of the Committee’s work programme and the Council’s Forward Plan.

Members examined the latest version of the Cabinet Forward Plan and the latest version of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee work programme.

The Chair raised interest in looking at the proposed establishment of a Council managed Housing Development Company, what was due to be considered by Cabinet on 7 December 2016. As such, the Chair suggested removing the monitoring of Aspire’s Annual Performance from the 28 November agenda and scrutinising the Housing Development Company in its place.

Councillor Wilson expressed the view that due to the importance of the Aspire contract it was important that performance was monitored by the Committee. Councillor Haigh suggested that the performance report be circulated to the Committee and then discussed at Committee if appropriate at a later date.

The Chair agreed to move the matter of monitoring Aspire’s performance to a future agenda, following further discussion with the Lead Members of the committee.

RESOLVED –

1.    That the Cabinet Forward Plan be noted

2.    That the Scrutiny Committee Work Programme be finalised by the Lead Members of the Committee.

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Environment concerning an update on the delivery on the Gloucester Playing Pitch Strategy and Artificial Grass Pitch Strategy.

The Chair welcomed Councillor David Norman MBE, Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources, who was attending on behalf of the Cabinet Member for Environment and David Pritchett, Neighbourhood Manager to the meeting.

Members were presented with a report which set out the key issues relating to the Gloucester Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS). Councillor Norman outlined the background and details of the report and opened up the matter to Members for debate.

Members discussed the following matters:-

1.    Councillor Haigh queried that the people impact assessment (PIA) in the report did not make clear how to make pitches accessible to disabled users. David Pritchett responded that through working with Active Gloucestershire, there was an aim to open school facilities up to the community and that those facilities would be of easier access for disabled users. Councillor Haigh welcomed the plan to work alongside schools, but questioned the quality of disabled access at school facilities. She also wished to raise the matter of access to single sex schools facilities.

2.    Councillor Haigh questioned the demand and necessity for new pitches, based on usage of current pitches. David Pritchett stated they expected high competition from clubs for any new pitches, but that sites would not be adapted to pitches if there was uncertainty regarding their future use.

3.    Councillor Haigh asked about existing pitches, some of which required improvement, and enquired whether they would be easier to upgrade and improve, as community consultation pointed towards improvements not only new pitches. David Pritchett said he would take this back to the delivery group, but that there had been consultation with all clubs and all were given the chance to comment on plans, however there was a small take up of this. He stated that both the FA and RFU had funding available for pitch improvements and this would be highlighted to clubs.

4.    Councillor Ryall  asked how poor quality pitches were defined. David Pritchett explained that an  assessment was made by an independent expert looking at a number of factors. He reiterated  that overplay meant that new facilities were needed and made Multi Use Games areas (MUGA) desirable. In response to a follow up question he confirmed that the quality of the pitches could be improved solely through a reduction in use..

5.    Members discussed the benefits of artificial pitches and the need to explore that option and the potential funding available to improve provision in the City. Councillor Dee highlighted the importance of investing in environmental protection to ensure that artificial pitches were viable.

6.    Councillor Hampson asked whether the MUGA at Linden Primary School could be added to the strategy as it had been built for community use but had never been used for this and was rarely used at all. David Pritchett stated he was already working with Active Gloucester to open up the use of this MUGA to a wider section of the community.

7.    Councillor Hampson asked for details of the stakeholder workshop. David Pritchett said it was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

To receive the report of the Corporate Director concerning the Council’s approach to Performance Management and Reporting.

The Chair welcomed Jonathan Lund, Corporate Director to the meeting.

Members were presented with an update on the Council’s approach to Performance Management. He explained that a Performance Management system would be purchased that was capable of capturing relevant performance data from within services and presented the information so that it would be of more value to both Members and Officers. He also explained that a new Corporate Plan was being developed, which would inform the Together Gloucester project and that a Talent Matrix would be developed, to identify staff who wished to grow and develop and provide ease of relocating human resources to necessary areas of the Council as required.

Jonathan Lund then opened up the topic to Members for debate.

Members discussed the following matters:-

1.    Councillor Haigh stated that the committee had been critical of the previous approach as it had offered lots of data but little analysis. She stated that a new system should enable the Council to be able to see what it is good at, what it is bad at, the health of the organisation and to benchmark it against similar Councils. It would also need to provide context to any information given, so it could be meaningfully interpreted. Jonathan Lund advised that the intention was to provide valuable information that was not resource intensive and he agreed that data needed context.

2.    Councillor Wilson raised the matter of a system which could report on individual projects in cabinet portfolios. Jonathan Lund stated that such systems were available and allowed for the nesting of data, which could be drilled down through different levels of an organisation. If the system was web based, then it may be possible to give councillors anytime real-time access to the data.

3.    Councillor Melvin stated that she had been impressed with the drive and commitment of the Together Gloucester team when they met with the Committee.

The Chair thanked Jonathan Lund for his presentation.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Note: Councillor Melvin left the meeting to attend to other Council business.

Discussion item.

The Chair welcomed Emily Jones, Lead Officer on the Safe and Attractive Streets Policy,to the meeting.

Emily Jones explained that a Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) could be placed on any piece of land and related to any behaviour which had been shown to be detrimental to the community. The sanctions for breaching a PSPO could be a fine or it could be taken to magistrate’s court depending on the PSPO details. Currently there was a DPPO (Designated Public Place Order) in place in the city centre regarding street drinking as well as gating orders and dog control orders in parts of the City. She explained that the 2014 Police and Crime Act superseded those orders and from September 2017 they would be replaced with PSPOs. As such it will be necessary to evaluate them prior to that date and carry out consultation. Emily Jones made the Committee aware there had been suggestions that a PSPO could also tackle the issue of begging in the City centre.

Emily Jones then opened up the matter to the Committee for debate.

Member discussed the following matters:-

1.    The Chair raised concerns that a PSPO could negatively impact young people’s interactions with the police, if the PSPO related to unusual or undesirable activity that was not actually causing a nuisance. Emily Jones stated this was unlikely, as to implement an PSPO it was necessary to evidence a detrimental impact on the community and that a PSPO would focus on behaviour rather than a specific demographic.

2.    Councillor Morgan raised the matter of motorbikes, mini-motos and mopeds being driven around parks in the area, particularly Randwick Park and asked how the consultation would be undertaken. Other Members agreed that use of motorised vehicles in parks was of concern. Emily Jones stated that a 12 week consultation was required, and that it was necessary to engage with those who would be affected by a potential. It would be necessary to prove it is more than reasonable to put a PSPO in place and there would also be a need to evaluate the feasibility of enforcement. She stated that it was unlikely that a PSPO relating to the use of motorised vehicles in parks would be able to be enforced and that PSPOs would be of most use in City centre, as the City Centre policing team could enforce the order. Councillor Finnegan added to the comments regarding motorised bike users that some residents were intimidated into not commenting on this due to fear of reprisals. Emily Jones stated there was a case open regarding this with “Project Solace”, a multi-agency team working to deal with Anti-Social Behaviour and asked Councillor Finnegan to email her with further details.

3.    Councillor Haigh raised concerns that a PSPO would drive anti-social behaviour to other areas rather than eliminating the behaviour and highlighted the importance of working in partnership with the Police. Emily Jones advised that the Police had indicated that they would support a PSPO as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

To consider suggestions put forward for future Task and Finish Groups and agree ONE topic for scoping prior to final agreement.

The Chair raised the topic of future Task and Finish Groups (TFGs) to be overseen by the committee, following a public consultation. He expressed that public responses had not been high and that a number of issues were related to highways, over which the Council held no jurisdiction. The Chair expressed a preference for looking at Hate Crime and Homelessness as potential focuses for TFGs.

Councillor Haigh expressed an interest in convening a TFG to look at Homelessness. Due to the interest from the committee, Councillor Haigh suggested that two Members from each political group be invited to sit on the TFG.

Councillor Hawthorne raised the issue of the lack of responses to the consultation and how widely it had been publicised. The Chair informed the Committee that it had been published in the local press and agreed with Councillor Hawthorne’s concerns.

Councillor Haigh stated that she saw merit in approaching the County Council about highways issue to explore the possibility of some joint scrutiny. Councillor Hampson agreed with this, as scrutiny of highways matters was well overdue. The Chair advised that he and the Lead Members of the Committee would discuss the potential of joint scrutiny and look into the possibility of arranging this.

RESOLVED –

1.  That alongside the preliminary scoping of the Task and Finish Group to investigate the sale of high strength alcohol a six Member Task and Finish Group be convened to look into homelessness and the lack of overnight shelters in the City.

2.  That Councillors Smith, Hampson and Finnegan sit on the TFG and the Leaders of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Groups be asked to nominate one and two Members respectively.

Monday 28 November 2016 at 6.30pm.

Monday 28 November 2016 at 18.30 hours.