The minutes of the meeting held on 3 September 2018 were submitted and approved, and the Chair was authorised to sign them as a correct record.

Budget - Members noted that the request recorded in the minutes of the last meeting for further information in respect of recent capital asset acquisitions, revenue returns, and a breakdown of the corporate landlord cost centre, had not yet been circulated. The Monitoring Officer would chase this as a matter of urgency.

There were none.

There were none.

On matters not already included on the agenda and for which prior written notice has been given (total time allowed 15 minutes).

There were none.

The Chairman to notify the Committee of any items of urgent business to be added to the agenda.

There were none.

The Chairman to report any requests received to address the Committee from a member of the public or from a Councillor in respect of an item listed below and to invite the Committee to consider taking such items at the commencement of the meeting.

There were none.

Report of Director of Regeneration and Planning.

Members received the report which outlined the current performance of the Eastbourne Community Safety Partnership, and welcomed District Commander Anita Turner and Councillor Ungar, Cabinet Member for Community Safety.

Discussion included:

Street Communities – The District Commander reported that Operation Mascot was taking a holistic approach for providing support for people with complex issues such as substance misuse and mental health. The Community Safety Partnership was making long term plans to tackle these problems, including appointing an Outreach Worker to identify and engage with members of the street community and direct them to services they need to address their barriers to housing.

Road Safety – The District Commander noted member concerns with speeding along Beachy Head, and advised that they were working closely with the Eastbourne Joint Action Group to discuss the best approach to tackling this, e.g. the possibility of setting up Community Road Safety Campaign.

Members praised the work of the Community Safety Partnership and thanked District Commander Anita Turner and Councillor Ungar for attending the meeting and contributing to the discussion.

Resolved:

That the Scrutiny Committee note the achievements and activities of the Eastbourne Community Safety Partnership during 2017/18 and future risks/opportunities to performance.

Reason:

To allow the Scrutiny Committee to consider progress on delivery of the current Community Safety Plan.

Report of Director of Planning and Regeneration.

The Scrutiny Committee considered the report of the Director of Planning and Regeneration regarding the development of the Sustainability Policy for Eastbourne Borough Council.

Observations submitted in response to the draft policy included:

·       Sustainability - The committee suggested that a clearer definition of ‘sustainability’ be provided in the report;

·       Air Quality – The committee suggested that officers elaborate on air quality and make specific reference to exploring alternative means of transport; and

·       Conservation and Heritage – The committee suggested that the report refers specifically to Conservation and Heritage of the built environment.

Officers noted members’ suggestions and reiterated that the policy was intended to be high level.

Resolved:

That members had considered the proposed Sustainability Policy and referred their observations to Cabinet.

Reason:

To support the development of the Sustainability Policy for Eastbourne Borough Council.

Report of Deputy Chief Executive.

Part B to follow.

The Scrutiny Committee considered the report of the Chief Finance Officer regarding Quarter 2 2018/19 performance against the Corporate Plan priority actions, performance indicators and targets.

Discussion included:

Sovereign Centre – Members were reminded that there was a Sovereign Centre Task Group which looked at potential uses of the current Sovereign Centre Site, and that the final report would be coming to the Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 4 February 2019.

Fly tipping – Officers discussed the differentiation between what was classified as fly tipping and resident’s rubbish – the latter of which would not be removed by the Council.

Recycling – Officers noted member’s concerns regarding what plastic could be recycled, and assured the committee that regular communication campaigns went out to help educate the community. Members also noted that from June 2019 the waste service contract would have ended, which means that Eastbourne recycling would be co-mingled.

Eastbourne Park Initiatives – Members requested an update regarding the Eastbourne Park Initiatives as they did not agree that the project was complete.

Customer Contact Centre – The Director of Service Delivery provided an update regarding call statistics of the Council, including the notably improved performance in the percentage of calls answered within 60 seconds during recent months.

Homelessness - Members noted that there were seven new trainees at the Council as part of a graduate entry scheme to support with demand/resourcing in the mid-term. Trainees would also be working towards receiving a Level 3 apprenticeship in Housing/Property Management.

Resolved:

That the Scrutiny Committee note the achievements and progress against Corporate Plan priorities for 2018/19, as set out in the report.

Reason:

To demonstrate the discharge of the Scrutiny Committee function to monitor all aspects of performance management activities, as required by Part 3 section 2.2 (7) of the Constitution of the Council.

Report of Chief Finance Officer.

The Scrutiny Committee received the report of the Chief Finance Officer regarding the Council’s Financial Performance for Quarter 2 2018/19.

Due to members not receiving the supplementary report in the post until the day of the meeting and no members of the finance department being present, it was agreed that a special meeting should be arranged before the Scrutiny Committee meeting on 4 February 2019 for members to discuss the report.

Resolved:

That the Committee Officer would liaise with members/officers to arrange a Scrutiny Committee meeting during January.

Reason:                                            

To enable the Scrutiny Committee to demonstrate the discharge of the Scrutiny Committee function to monitor all aspects of performance management activities, as required by Part 3 section 2.2 (7) of the Constitution of the Council.

To receive the Forward Plan of the Council.

The committee received the Forward Plan for the period from 1 November

2018 – 31 March 2019.

Resolved:

That the Forward Plan of the Council for the period from 1 November

2018 – 31 March 2019.

Reason:

To demonstrate the discharge of the Scrutiny Procedure Rule 13.2 that the

Scrutiny Committee will have access to the Cabinet’s Forward Plan.

To receive the Scrutiny Work Programme.

The committee considered the work programme, which set out in-year variations to the annual scrutiny work programme for the forthcoming year.

Members requested that the Team Manager from East Sussex County Council be invited to provide an update regarding the A27 at the special meeting which was to be arranged before the meeting on 4 February 2019.

The Committee Officer noted an error in the work programme, in that the Performance Monitoring 2018/19 Quarter 3 report would be coming to the committee on 4 February 2019, rather than 10 June 2019.

Resolved:

That the Scrutiny work programme be noted.

Reason:

To demonstrate the Scrutiny Committee’s entitlement of in-year variations to the Work Programme, as indicated by Part 4 section E4 (7.4) of the Constitution of the Council.