Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.  Councillor Swansborough asked for it to be noted that he needed to leave the meeting at 8.00 pm.

To invite Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in items on the agenda, and to confirm the nature of those interests, and any Party Whip.

There were no declarations of interest nor pf any party whip.

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting held on 14th February 2017 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider the Mental Health Services for Young People Task Group’s final report and to determine whether to endorse the group’s recommendations.

(Report attached, presentation to follow)

Councillor Nina Wood-Ford, Chair of the Mental Health Services for Young People Task Group, gave a presentation on the findings of the Group and its recommendations.   This included information in respect of the background to the setting up of the Task Group and how it linked to the Council’s Strategic Purposes.  As it was such a broad subject it had been agreed that the group would concentrate on services for children and young people.  Information was provided in respect of those at higher risk of mental health and wellbeing problems together with details of the situation in Redditch.  Councillor Wood-Ford also highlighted that there were a number of changes which were underway including actions delivered in line with the Worcestershire Transformation Plan for Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing, the West Midlands Combined Authority Mental Health Commission’s Thrive West Midlands Action Plan and the Suicide Prevention Plan for Redditch.

Councillor Wood-Ford explained that the group had put forward seven recommendations which were designed to help young people and the people who worked with them.  All these proposals were based on the evidence gathered and had unanimous, cross-party consensus.  Whilst the group were aware that recommendations to partner organisations did not have to be accepted, it was hoped that they would be supported.  Details of each recommendation were then given together with the thinking behind them and brief details of the supporting evidence.

Following the presentation Members thanked the group for their detailed and comprehensive report.  A number of points were made in respect of the Transformation Plan and the work that it contained, due to concerns that this would be expensive and questions were raised as to whether funding for this was available.  Officers confirmed that the plan was already in place and was being delivered on a rolling basis; a number of the actions had been carried out, some were on going and a number remained to be addressed.  The plan had also been refreshed in recent months.

Members subsequently discussed a number of areas of the report in more detail, including the following:

·                The work of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) team and the allocation process for their services.

·                Difficulties in engaging with young people. 

·                It was confirmed that although the group had sent a questionnaire to all local schools only four had responded.

·                The data that had been considered by the group.  Officers agreed to provide Members with the data from the Redditch Health Profile for 2016 and the Redditch Health and Wellbeing Profile for 2013 for information.

·                The group agreed that there was some very good work going on and that mental health was an issue which was now openly spoken about.  This had helped raise the profile of mental ill health and the need for support.

·                The need for support and training to be made available for those who had contact with the young people at an early stage, for example within schools.

·                It was confirmed that the funding available  ...  view the full minutes text for item 82.

To consider any scoping documents provided for possible Overview and Scrutiny review and to determine whether to launch that review.

A completed scoping document has been submitted in relation to the following subject:

·                Homelessness

(Scoping document attached)

The Chair invited Councillor Joe Baker to present a scoping document detailing the draft terms of reference for a proposed review of homelessness in the Borough.

Councillor Baker explained that there appeared to have been an increase in the number of homeless people on the streets of Redditch.  This had led to an increase in the number of residents raising their own concerns with him.  He suggested it would be appropriate to hold a scrutiny Task Group into the issue to look at all aspects of it, as there were a variety of causes and it was important to ensure that preventative work was being carried out.  Councillor Baker believed that there were a lot of myths around the problems homeless people caused and he suggested that recent publicity which had been issued on this subject locally was not helpful.  A review would provide an opportunity to get a clear view of the support available and preventative work that was carried out by both the Council and other agencies.

It was highlighted that the Council had carried out an investigation into Homelessness in 2006 and that Bromsgrove District Council had more recently investigated the issue in 2016.  Whilst it was acknowledged that Bromsgrove District Council’s report would be useful background information, Councillor Baker commented that the demographics were different so this would not be a sufficient reason for this Committee not to carry out a review.   He also suggested that enough time had passed since the previous review of this subject in Redditch to ensure that a fresh investigation of homelessness would not result in duplication.

The Committee subsequently discussed the recent work of the Redditch Town Centre Partnership in respect of homelessness.  Members noted that a local church was carrying out work to support a number of homeless people.  It was suggested that there was a need to get a balance between those that chose to make this a lifestyle choice and those that found they were homeless and wanted support to change their circumstances.  A review would help to provide a clearer picture of the whole situation and to ensure that work was not being duplicated.

Members discussed and raised some concerns that whilst this was an important issue worthy of scrutiny it was also complicated and wide reaching.  Questions were raised as to whether the scoping document was too broad to allow for successful scrutiny to be carried out.  There were also a number of legislative changes in respect of homelessness due to be implemented later in the year which would impact on the situation and it was suggested that it might be more appropriate to carry out the investigation once these had been implemented.  Whilst this was accepted Members believed that as it was a current issue time was of the essence and carrying out a review would show that the Council was listening to residents and taking action to resolve the situation.  The option of a Short Sharp Review being carried out over a three  ...  view the full minutes text for item 83.

To receive an update from the Chair, Councillor Matthew Dormer, on the outcomes of the latest meeting of the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Panel, held on Wednesday 22nd March.

(Verbal report)

Councillor Matthew Dormer, Chair of the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Panel, provided an update on the Panel meeting which had been held on 22nd March 2017.  He advised that Officers had provided a comprehensive update of the work of the North Worcestershire Community Safety Partnership including details of grant funding available and specific projects which were being undertaken.  Data was also provided in respect of a number of areas which were broken down to cover the three Councils within the Partnership; Redditch Borough, Bromsgrove District and Wyre Forest District.

It had been highlighted that shop lifting within Redditch was particularly prevalent and this was being addressed by a special project.  In addition funding of £10,000 had been identified to tackle anti-social behaviour, which would be available to use where needed.

To receive updates on the latest activities of the following working groups and to determine whether these groups should continue to form part of the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny process:

1)        Budget Scrutiny Working Group – Chair, Councillor Jane Potter; and

2)        Performance Scrutiny Working Group – Chair, Councillor Tom Baker-Price.

(Report attached)

Budget Scrutiny Working Group – Chair, Councillor Jane Potter

Councillor Potter noted that, as agreed by the Committee in June 2016, a review needed to be carried out to establish whether the working group’s activities had been useful and if it should continue to exist.  Members discussed the group's activities during the year and agreed that it had been helpful and had provided Members with a better understanding of the working of the Council, in particular the impact of the difficult financial times ahead and how these would be faced in the future.  For these reasons there was general consensus that the group should continue to exist in 2017/18.

Details of the work the group had carried out at its latest meeting were discussed and it was noted that this had included investigating the work of the Place Partnership.  Members were advised that at a future meeting the group was intending to investigate the Council’s contract procedure rules further. 

Performance Scrutiny Working Group – Chair, Councillor Tom Baker-Price

Councillor Baker-Price advised Members that there were a number or recommendations in respect of the work of this group within the additional papers.  At its last meeting the group had discussed its activities during the year.  There had been general agreement that the group could work more productively in the coming year by bringing its work in line with the work of the Council.  The Group therefore proposed to primarily focus on the Council Plan and the measures arising from that plan in 2017/18.

RESOLVED that

1)        the Budget Scrutiny Working Group should continue to exist in 2017/18 and in future years;

2)        the Performance Scrutiny Working Group continue to exist in 2017/18 and in future years;

3)        a member of the Performance Scrutiny Working Group sit on the Budget Scrutiny Working Group, subject to its continuing existence, to help reduce the potential for duplication in the activities of the two groups;

4)        in 2017/18 the Performance Scrutiny Working Group should primarily focus on the Council Plan and the measures arising from that plan, when selecting items for scrutiny;

5)        subject to the agreement of Bromsgrove District Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Board, in 2017/18 informal meetings should be arranged between the Performance Scrutiny Working Group and Bromsgrove District Council’s Measures Dashboard (scrutiny) Working Group to share ideas and understanding of best practice in performance scrutiny; and

6)        subject to the agreement of Bromsgrove District Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Board, where both the Performance Scrutiny Working Group and the Measures Dashboard Working Group identify the same item from the dashboard as being suitable for further investigation this should be reviewed at a joint scrutiny meeting.

To consider the draft contents of the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2016/17 and to identify any changes to make to this report prior to its presentation at the meeting of Council due to take place on 24th April 2017.

(Draft report attached)

The Chair introduced the Committee’s Annual Report and said she felt the Committee had had another successful year.  In particular the activities of the two Working Groups had been proved extremely useful.  Throughout the year the Committee had received a number of presentations and reports including on such topics as the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Sustainability and Transformation Plan and Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities.  The Committee had also commenced its first piece of joint scrutiny work with Bromsgrove District Council in response to the Staff Survey and it was hoped that joint working would continue between the two Councils in the future where appropriate. 

The Joint Increasing Physical Activity Task Group, hosted by Worcestershire County Council, had been completed at the start of the year followed by the Committee’s own Mental Health Services for Young People Task Group in March 2017.  Progress on all the recommendations from the Committee’s work had, as usual, been monitored through the Recommendation Tracker and the Crime and Disorder Panel had received an update on the work of the North Worcestershire Crime and Disorder Partnership.  Regular updates had also been received by the Committee from the Council’s representatives on both the West Midlands Combined Authority Scrutiny Committee and the Worcestershire County Council Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Chair highlighted the work of the Provision of Support Networks for the LGB&T Community Task Group and the community awards received by Members and Officers in recognition of this work.  Members noted that this had been a much appreciated and well received report and had made a real difference to the community.  The Committee also acknowledged that it had been a privilege to receive nominations for these awards from the local Redditch LGB&T Community Group and for a representative of Stonewall to attend a meeting of Council to help present the awards.

Members were given an opportunity to comment on the report and Councillor Gay Hopkins suggested that an update be provided on the work of the Improving Disabled People’s Access to Redditch’s Taxi Fleet Short, Sharp Review.  It was agreed that this would be included within the Annual Report.

Following consideration of the Annual Report the Chair invited Councillor Jenny Wheeler, the Council’s representative on the West Midlands Combined Authority’s (WMCA) Overview and Scrutiny Committee, to provide a brief update of its work for inclusion in the annual report.  As part of this Councillor Wheeler provided background information in respect of the establishment of the WMCA Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the meetings which had been held over the year. 

Councillor Wheeler also provided details about the Draft Order which would come into effect on 8th May 2017.  This highlighted that the Chair must be an appropriate person and could not of the same political party as the Mayor.  It was noted that non-constituent members did not have an automatic vote but could be given one by resolution of the WMCA Board.  Members were encouraged to lobby the Leader, who sat on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86.

To consider the minutes of the latest meeting(s) of the Executive Committee and also to consider whether any items on the Executive Committee’s Work Programme are suitable for scrutiny.

Members are asked to note that no meetings of the Executive Committee have taken place since 7th February 2017.  The minutes from that meeting were considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 14th February 2017.

(Executive Committee Work Programme attached).

Officers highlighted that there were no Minutes on this occasion.  The latest edition of the Executive Committee’s Work Programme had been attached for Members’ consideration to provide an opportunity for the Committee to identify any items considered suitable for pre-decision scrutiny.

RESOLVED that

the Executive Committee Work Programme 3rd April to 31st July 2017 be noted.

Officers confirmed that the dates of future meetings would be updated in line with discussions held earlier in the meeting.  As requested at the previous meeting the Engagement Strategy had been added to the Committee’s Work Programme, however this had now been put back on the Executive Committee Work Programme and would therefore not be pre-scrutinised until the first meeting of the new municipal year.  The item requested at the previous meeting in respect of Economic Development Strategy would be considered in December 2017.

To consider progress to date on the current reviews against the terms agreed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The current reviews in progress are:

a)        Staff Survey Joint Scrutiny Task Group – Redditch Borough Council lead Member, Councillor Jane Potter.

 (Verbal report)

Staff Survey Joint Scrutiny Task Group – Vice Chair, Councillor Jane Potter

Councillor Potter explained that the group had requested sickness absence data at a meeting in February and after consideration of this had requested further information.  The additional information was presented at the group’s meeting on 22nd March by relevant Officers.  Information had also been provided in respect of a new staff leave system which had been introduced, which had shown a gap in the data and concerns had been raised that sickness absence was not being reported correctly. Officers assured Members that this had been raised at Corporate Management level and Heads of Service had been tasked with ensuring that all responsible officers were updating the new system in a timely manner.

It was explained that from the additional data the group had been able to see that in some areas where there appeared to be significant absences this was in fact due to long-term sickness and this could quite quickly have an adverse impact on data for a particular team.  It was therefore important to look at the whole picture and not at one particular area in isolation.

The group had also discussed the potential for joint working in a number of ways and this was something which the group would give further consideration to at future meetings.

Councillor Nina Wood-Ford, the Council’s representative on the Worcestershire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC), advised that there had not been a meeting of the Committee since her last update.  The Committee was due to meet the following week, on 5th April 2017.