Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence and details of any Councillor (or co-optee substitute) nominated to attend this meeting in place of a member of this Committee.

There were no apologies for absence.

To invite Councillors to declare any interest they may have in items on the Agenda and any Party Whip.

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

To confirm the minutes of the most recent meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee as a correct record.

(Minutes attached)

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on Tuesday 17th July be approved as a true and correct record of the meeting and signed by the Chair.

To consider the final report of the Access for Disabled People Task Group and to determine which, if any, of the group’s draft recommendations to refer to the Executive Committee.

(Executive Summary attached, main report circulated separately presentation to follow).

On behalf of the review group, Councillors Andrew Fry and Alan Mason provided the Committee with a presentation which summarised the additional work that had been undertaken since initial report on the subject was considered by Members on 17th April 2012.

Members and Officers raised a number of points about the content of the review.

Parking in the Former Covered Market Area:

Concern was expressed that there was a potential for pedestrian and vehicle conflict if the former covered market area was used for disabled parking and as a collection and delivery point by Dial-a-Ride vehicles.

To minimise the risks to pedestrians to the group had suggested that Fountain’s Passage could be closed.   However, the Committee was advised that Fountain’s Passage was used by staff in the Kingfisher Centre as a fire exit route.   Closure of Fountain’s Passage could, therefore, potentially create a fire safety hazard.

Members noted that there was the potential to develop commercial operations in the former covered market area, which was designated in existing planning policies for retail development.  As part of this process it was noted that a portion of the £100,000 allocated by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to the Redditch Town Centre Partnership could be used to support small business initiatives.

The group had considered the proposal and potential barriers in detail.  However, Members were advised that additional consultation with representatives of the Fire Authority and local businesses would be useful prior to any decision being taken on the matter. Members therefore concluded that further review work should be undertaken on this subject by Officers.

Collection and Delivery Points – Dial a Ride

Members expressed concern that Dial-a-Ride vehicles were not permitted to stop in disabled parking bays unless a Blue Badge could be displayed at the front of the vehicle.  The general purpose of Dial-a-Ride vehicles, it was suggested, in terms of providing a service for people with mobility problems should be sufficient for a short stay car parking permit. However, Officers explained that a consistent approach had to be applied to the application of the parking rules in areas subject to the civil parking enforcement scheme and unfortunately Dial a Ride vehicles were not considered to be eligible.

Taxis

Having heard that the Council’s Taxi Licensing Committee had recently agreed that three inspection tests should be required for licensed taxi vehicles the group accepted that the relevant requirement within the recommendation should be increased from two tests to three.

Tactile Signage

Officers suggested that funding for the installation of tactile signage in the town centre should be limited to Section 106 funding.  The suggestion had been made that funding could also be derived from a new Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Levy.  However, as the arrangements for this levy remained to be clarified Members agreed to remove references to this fund from the final report.

Changing Places Toilet

The Committee was advised that following publication of the group’s draft report Members had learned that evidence provided by an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

To consider an update on the subject of young people employed by Redditch Borough Council.

(Report attached).

Officers presented a report which updated Members on the number of staff aged under thirty years employed by Redditch Borough Council.  The Committee was also advised about the current initiatives in place to increase and improve youth employment.

A Member suggested that the Council explore with local schools the possibility of covering a proportion of travelling costs for students undertaking a work experience placement at the Council. This could provide useful assistance as the Council did not currently possess a specific funding stream to cover these costs itself.

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

To receive and consider the Capital Outturn Report 2011/12.

(Report attached).

Members received a report which outlined the Council’s actual expenditure and funding of the capital programme for 2011/12.

The report was considered in detail.  In particular, Members noted that information about the costs for the new telephone system referred to completed installation arrangements. It was expected that additional funding would be required to resolve any remaining functionality issues.

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

To receive and consider the Revenue Outturn Report 2011/12.

(Report attached).

Officers presented a report which outlined the Council’s overall revenue outturn for the 2011/12 financial year.

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

To consider the content of a written report outlining the performance of services within the remit of the Corporate Management portfolio and to propose questions for the consideration of the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Management.

(Report attached).

The Committee proposed the following list of questions for the consideration of the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Management, Councillor Phil Mould, ahead of his appearance before the Committee in September 2012.

1)     Please could you outline what you consider to be:

a)     The successes within the remit of your Portfolio?

b)     Areas of concern within the remit of your portfolio?

2)     What are your long-term plans for:

a)     The REDI Centre?

b)     The Anchorage?

3)           How will the implementation of new ICT systems at the Council impact on the service delivered to customers?

4)           Following transformation of the services within your remit:

a)     How will the Council deliver solutions for customers?

b)     Where will the funding for these solutions be obtained from?

c)      Will any cuts have to be made?

5)           How is the Council mitigating the risks involved in reducing the budget available for maintenance of Council properties?

a)     What are the current methods used for assessing these risks?

6)           Does the Council undertake an annual inventory of telephone, ICT systems and PAT testing?

a)     If so how does this work?

b)     What are the current figures for use of Redditch Borough Council telephone and ICT equipment?

 RESOLVED that

1)           the questions detailed in the preamble above be addressed by the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Management during his annual report to the Committee on Tuesday 11th September 2012; and

2)           the report be noted.

To note the contents of the Overview and Scrutiny Actions List.

(Report attached)

Members noted that a briefing note on the subject of taxi vehicles’ road worthiness had very recently been circulated to Members as requested.

RESOLVED that

the Committee’s Actions List be noted.

To consider the minutes of the latest meeting(s) of the Executive Committee and to consider whether any items on the Forward Plan are suitable for scrutiny.

 (Minutes and latest edition of the Forward Plan attached).

The Committee received the minutes of the Executive Committee meeting held on 24th July 2012 and considered the latest edition of the Forward Plan.

Officers explained that the new edition of the Forward Plan was due to be published on 15th August and would subsequently be circulated for Members’ consideration.

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 24th July 2012 and the Forward Plan be noted.

To consider any scoping documents provided for possible Overview and Scrutiny review.

(No reports attached)

There were no draft scoping documents.

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

The current reviews in progress are:

a)     Access for Disabled People – Chair, Councillor Andy Fry;

b)     Concessionary Rents Short, Sharp Pre-Scrutiny Review – Councillors Andrew Brazier and Juliet Brunner;

c)      Redditch Market – Chair,  Councillor Andrew Brazier; and

d)     Sickness Policy Short, Sharp Pre-Scrutiny Review – Councillors John Fisher and Pat Witherspoon.

 (Oral reports)

The Committee received the following reports in relation to current reviews:

a)         Access for Disabled People – Chair, Councillor Andy Fry

There was no further update.

b)         Concessionary Rents Short, Sharp Pre-Scrutiny Review – Councillors Andrew Brazier and Juliet Brunner

Members were informed that good progress had been made with the review and the Councillors were on target to present their findings on 11th September 2012.

c)         Redditch Market – Chair, Councillor Andrew Brazier

Councillor Brazier explained that the Group would soon be meeting with representatives from the North Worcestershire Economic Development Unit to discuss what Officers had undertaken to improve the market place in Redditch since assuming responsibility the year before. Members of the group were also due to visit another market within the region to witness how it had been revitalised.   

d)                 Sickness Policy Short, Sharp Pre-Scrutiny Review – Councillors John Fisher and Pat Witherspoon

Councillor Witherspoon informed Members that the review had been progressing and a number of meetings had taken place. The Councillors were due to meet with the relevant Portfolio Holder, Councillor Phil Mould, before the report would be prepared for the next Committee meeting on 11th September 2012.

The participating Councillors on the short, sharp reviews thanked the relevant Democratic Services Officers for their hard work and support during a busy period.

RESOLVED that

the update reports be noted.

There were no referrals.

RESOLVED that

the Committee’s Work Programme be noted.