Venue: Court Room at Eastbourne Town Hall, Grove Road, BN21 4UG
Contact: Committee Services on 01323 410000
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Minutes of the Special Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 17 January 2019 Minutes: The Minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2019 were submitted and approved as a correct record subject to the amendment of minute 41. Councillor Metcalfe was a reserve member for the Committee, and therefore his apology was removed from the minute.
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Apologies for absence Minutes: Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Dean Sabri.
Councillor J Coles declared that she was acting as substitute for Councillor D Sabri for the duration of the meeting.
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Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPIs) by members as required under Section 31 of the Localism Act and of other interests as required by the Code of Conduct Minutes: There were none.
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Questions by members of the public On matters not already included on the agenda and for which prior written notice has been given (total time allowed 15 minutes).
Minutes: There were none.
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Urgent items of business The Chairman to notify the Committee of any items of urgent business to be added to the agenda.
Minutes: There were none.
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Right to address the meeting/order of business 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.
Minutes: There were none.
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Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) Policy 2019/2020 PDF 60 KB Report of the Director of Service Delivery Additional documents: Minutes:
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Equality and Fairness Annual Report PDF 75 KB Report of the Director of Regeneration and Planning Additional documents:
Minutes:
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Performance Monitoring 2018/2019 - Quarter 3 PDF 97 KB Report of the Director of Regeneration and Planning Additional documents:
Minutes: The Committee considered the report of the Director for Regeneration and Planning regarding performance against Corporate Plan priority actions, performance indicators and targets over Q3 2018/19 period.
Members discussion included: · A request for an update on the doors to the Beacon which create a wind tunnel and cause minor flooding. · A request for information on further plans to improve other parts of the town centre. · A request for clarification on whether the reference to Quarter 4 in the Sovereign Centre review project update related to 2019-2020. · A continued concern regarding the increase in rubbish deposited across the town, specifically in alleyways, and the need for a different approach to combat the issue. · A request for information on the total number of HMO’s in Eastbourne. · A request for more information on why the figures for core handling times had decreased since December 2018. · Training - Members complimented the Call Centre staff on how well phone calls were answered. · An interest was raised regarding JTP phase 3 and the effect on staff. It was important that support for staff continued during this period.
Officers responded that: · Concerns regarding the doors to the Beacon were noted. Officers would liaise with Lisa Rawlinson and update members accordingly. · Members were advised that Quarter 4 in the Sovereign Centre review update, related to Q4 in 2018-2019. · The Director of Service Delivery stated that he would speak with Councillor Dow, Lead Member for Place Services, regarding concerns relating to the issue of fly tipping in alleyways across the town. · In the future, waste data would be made available in a more timely manner when the waste is collected in-house by the Local Authority controlled company. · The Director of Service Delivery would confirm the total number of HMO’s. · The figures for the number of calls received by the Contact Centre changed daily. These figures showed an improving trend for Q3 and are broadly on target so far in Q4. · The previous roles of two heads of Service had been reviewed resulting in there now being a single Head of Customer First. · Call handing - Training for the Contact Centre Advisors covered many aspects and this was coming to fruition.
Resolved:
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Council Budget Proposals 2019/2020 PDF 109 KB Report of Chief Finance Officer Additional documents:
Minutes:
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HRA Revenue Budget and Rent Setting 2019/20 and HRA Capital Programme 2018/22 PDF 135 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: The Committee noted the report of the Chief Finance Officer which detailed HRA budget proposals, rent levels, service charges and heating costs for 2019/20, and the HRA Capital Programme 2018/22.
Resolved: That Members note the following recommendations to be considered by the Cabinet on 6th February 2019:
i) The HRA budget for 2019/20 and revised 2018/19 as set out in Appendix 1; ii) That social and affordable rents (including Shared Ownership) are decreased by 1% in line with Government policy; iii) That delegated authority be given to the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Cabinet Portfolio holders for Financial Services and Direct Assistance Service, to take measures in the management of the Week 53 rent year; iv) That service charges for general needs properties are decreased by 13.20%; v) Those service charges’ for the Older Persons Sheltered Accommodation are increased by 0.24%; vi) That the Support charge for Sheltered Housing Residents remains at £7.20 per unit, per week; vii) That heating costs are set at a level designed to recover the estimated actual cost; viii) That water charges are set at a level designed to recover the estimated cost of metered consumption; ix) Garage rents remain at current levels; x) To give delegated authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Portfolio Holders for Financial Services and Direct Assistance Service and the Head of Finance to finalise Eastbourne Homes’ Management Fee and Delivery Plan; and xi) The HRA Capital Programme as set out in Appendix 2.
Reason: The Cabinet has to recommend to Full Council the setting of HRA revenue and capital budget and the level of social and affordable housing rents for the forthcoming year.
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Forward Plan of Decisions PDF 183 KB Minutes: The Committee received the Forward Plan for the period from 1 February 2019 to 31 May 2019.
Resolved: That the Forward Plan of the Council from 1 February 2019 – 31 May 2019 be noted.
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.
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Scrutiny Annual Work Programme 2018/19 PDF 76 KB Minutes: The Committee noted the report of the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services. The report detailed the Annual Work Programme for Scrutiny, which enables the process for the committee to review proposed policies of the Cabinet, the outcome of such decisions and the call-in of alleged unlawful decisions in accordance with constitutional rules.
Resolved: That the current Annual Work Programme be noted and that the Committee notes the need to formulate a refreshed programme at the June 2019 meeting for subsequent approval by Full Council.
Reason: To discharge scrutiny procedure rule 7.1 to prepare and submit an Annual Work Programme to the Full Council.
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Pat Taylor Minutes: Members were advised that Pat Taylor, Strategy and Partnership Lead (Thriving Communities) would be retiring in March 2019. Members thanked her for her hard work and contribution to the Scrutiny Committee.
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Date of the next meeting To note that the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to be held on 10 June 2019 in the Court Room, Town Hall, Eastbourne, commencing at 6:00pm. Minutes: Resolved: that the date of the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee be scheduled to be held on Monday, 10 June 2019 in the Court Room, Eastbourne Town Hall, Grove Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4UG.
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