Agenda and minutes

          There we no public questions submitted or asked during the meeting.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th January 2017.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th January 2017, be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Director of Law and Democratic Services submitted a report introducing decisions arising from the Cabinet meeting held on 8^th February 2017.

86.     Budget 2017/18 and Beyond

Councillor David Renard, the Leader of the Council and Councillor Russell Holland, Deputy Leader of the Council, Vice Chair of the Cabinet and Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services responded to questions put by the Chair and Councillors Steve Allsopp, Des Moffatt, Jim Robbins and Chris Watts on the following matters:

·       Financial assistance available to schools within the Borough that might be under financial pressure following their Central Government financial settlement.

·       The inclusion of the “Old Swindon Special Expenses” within the 2017/18 Council Budget.

·       The sustainability of the Council budget and level of financial reserves held by the Council in the proposed 2017/18 Budget.

·       The percentage increase in Council Tax proposed for the Financial Year, 2017/18.

·       The rationale for different areas of the Borough paying different levels of Council Tax and having different percentage increases in Council Tax.

·       The Central Government financial settlement for the Council.

·       Additional funding for adult social care through monies seconded from the New Homes Bonus scheme and through allowing Council’s to raise Council Tax by an extra 3%.

·       The need to lobby Central Government to receive the same reported financial settlement offered to Surrey County Council.

·       Representations made to Central Government in regard to the Council’s financial settlement.

Resolved – That it be noted that Minute 86 of the Cabinet is a Minute for Confirmation by the Full Council.

87.     Capital Programme 2017/18

Councillor Russell Holland, Deputy Leader of the Council, Vice Chair of the Cabinet and Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services responded to questions put by the Chair and Councillors Des Moffatt and Maureen Penny on the following matters:

·       The current budget for maintain Council buildings, and in particular, those being transferred to parish councils.

·       The need to ensure all parish councils are invited to discussions relating to the transfer of assets from this Council to parish councils.

(Councillor Tim Swinyard made a personal, non-prejudicial declaration of interest in respect of agenda this item in his capacity as a Trustee of Roughmoor Community Centre.)

Resolved – That it be noted that Minute 87 of the Cabinet is a Minute for Confirmation by the Full Council.

88.     Treasury Strategy Statement 2017/18

Councillor Russell Holland, Deputy Leader of the Council, Vice Chair of the Cabinet and Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services responded to questions put by the Chair on the risk to the Treasury management Strategy should Government policies change.

Resolved – That it be noted that Minute 88 of the Cabinet is a Minute for Confirmation by the Full Council.

89.     Housing Revenue Account (HRA) – Rents and Charges 2017/18

Councillor Russell Holland, Deputy Leader of the Council, Vice Chair of the Cabinet and Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services responded to questions put by the Chair and Councillor Steve Allsopp on the following matters:

·       Pressures on the Housing Revenue Account  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66.

Councillor Oliver Donachie, Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, was in attendance and presented to the Committee a detailed report summarising progress and performance in respect of each of the following service areas within his portfolio of responsibility:

·       Allocations and Advice Services

·       Empty Homes

·       Estate and Tenancy Management

·       Housing Enabling and Strategic Services

·       Homeline Services

·       Homelessness

·       Housing Right to Buy/Sales Services

·       Neighbourhood Wardens

·       Private Sector Housing Renovation Grants

·       Repair and Improvements to Council Housing Stock

·       Sheltered Accommodation

·       Police Authority/Police and Crime Commissioner liaison

·       Community Safety Partnership including young offenders and reducing anti-social behaviour

·       Environmental and Public Protection Services Gypsies, Travellers and Unauthorised Encampments

·       Reducing Drugs, Alcohol and Substance Abuse

·       Control Room Operations

·       Principal Member for consultation on Public Space Protection Orders

·       Licensing

·       Community Safety Partnership including young offenders and reducing anti-social behaviour

·       Reducing Domestic Violence and Abuse

At the request of the Chair, Councillor Donachie, in his presentation of the report, commented specifically on those elements within his portfolio which he felt had been most successful, those where a different approach might have produced better results and the lessons that might have been learned as a consequence, and the challenges he expected to be faced by the Council in relation to these service areas in the coming year and beyond, particularly in relation to on-going budgetary constraints.

Councillor Donachie expressed his recognition of the work undertaken by the tenant and leaseholder representatives and Councillors with respect to the valuable work undertaken by the Housing Advisory Forum.

Following his introduction of the report, Councillor Donachie responded to the observations and questions from the Chair and Councillors Steve Allsopp, Claire Ellis, Emma Faramarzi, Gemma McCracken, Teresa Page, Maureen Penny, Jim Robbins, Tim Swinyard, Chris Watts and Keith Williams on the following issues:  

·       The enforcement of the Public Spaces Protection Order to cover the control of dogs in Lydiard Park.

·       The review of the Public Spaces Protection Order to cover the control of dogs to ascertain whether it may be applied Borough wide.

·       Assistance available from the Council to tenants who are the victim of revenge evictions by landlords.

·       Work currently being undertaken in liaison with the Community Safety Partnership to close pop up brothels within the Borough.

·       The current Housing Maintenance contract and the replacement double glazing for Old Age Pension Bungalows in Highworth as part of the contract.

·       The enforcement of the use of dog leads within public areas and the acceptable definition of such leads.

·       The provision of dog waste bins and the potential use of bye-laws to combat dog fouling within the Borough.

·       Work to reduce the sale and use of legal highs within the Borough.

·       The award of food hygiene stars to premises within the Borough and the current inability of the Council to enforce their display in a public area on the premises.

·       The work currently being undertaken to extend the scheme for licensing Houses in Multiple Occupation in the Borough.

·       The work currently being undertaken to maintain the Decent Homes Standard in respect of Council housing.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.

Councillor Keith Williams, Cabinet Member for StreetSmart, Highways and Transport, was in attendance and presented to the Committee a detailed report summarising progress and performance in respect of each of the following service areas within his portfolio of responsibility:

·       Strategic Transport Network;

·       Traffic and Transport Forward Planning (including Local Transport Plan and Implementation of Local Transport Plan);

·       Highways Maintenance and Repair Works;

·       Street Lighting;

·       Public Transport (including Concessionary Fares, Specialist Transport, Council Transport and Fleet Management);

·       Streetsmart

·       Waste Disposal / Waste Minimisation and Recycling

·       Refuse Collection and Street Cleaning

·       Grounds, Open Spaces, Parks, Verge and Tree Maintenance

·       Envirocrime, Graffiti and Abandoned Vehicles

·       Public Toilets, Cemeteries and Crematoria Assets, Waterside Depot Management;

·       Building & Engineering;

·       Building Services, cleaning, catering & security services; and

·       IT Strategy, Delivery and Digital by Design

At the request of the Chair, Councillor Williams, in his presentation of the report, commented specifically on those elements within his portfolio which he felt had been most successful, those where a different approach might have produced better results and the lessons that might have been learned as a consequence, and the challenges he expected to be faced by the Council in relation to these service areas in the coming year and beyond, particularly in relation to on-going budgetary constraints.

Following his introduction of the report, Councillor Williams responded to the observations and questions from the Chair and Councillors Steve Allsopp, Cathy Martyn, Gemma McCracken, Des Moffatt, Teresa Page, Maureen Penny, Jim Robbins and Chris Watts on the following issues:  

·       The redesign of the Bruce Street Bridges road layout and liaison with utility companies regarding any proposals.

·       Budget savings proposed within his portfolio and in particular under Theme 2 “Going Local” identified within the Cabinet Papers.

·       The devolution of services to parish councils as part of the Council’s budget proposals.

·       The scope of proposed services to be transferred to parish councils.

·       The Council’s response to parish council concerns regarding service transfers and funding.

·       Recent work undertaken on the Greenbridge Roundabout and road layout.

·       Infrastructure work to support and facilitate the Eastern Villages expansion and the budgets available to fund this work.

·       Work undertaken, including prosecutions, by the Enviro Crime team to combat fly tipping.

·       The responsibilities, in the new Municipal Year, of the Council and parish councils in preventing fly tipping and in clearance of fly-tipping where necessary.

·       The criteria for prioritising the resurfacing and repair of roads within the Borough.

·       The transfer of responsibility for grass cutting to parish councils.

·       Future plans for the redevelopment of Fleming Way road.

Resolved – That Councillor Williams be thanked for attending the meeting to present his performance report and for his full and open responses to members’ questions and observations on the issues raised.

(Councillor Tim Swinyard made a personal and prejudicial declaration of interest in respect of the Committee’s consideration of this item as he was employed by Halcrow.)

(Councillor Keith Williams made a personal, non-prejudicial declaration of interest in respect of the Committee’s consideration of this item as his brother  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Law and Democratic Services setting out the topics for inclusion in the 2016/17 Scrutiny Work Programme as agreed by the Committee at its meeting on 20^th June 2016.

The Chair requested that the Committee Officer arrange a meeting of the Chair and members of the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committees prior to the next Scrutiny Committee meeting to discuss the Committee’s workloads.

Resolved – That the work programme 2016/17 be noted.

The Committee received an updated report advising on the status of outstanding issues and member requests for information.

          Resolved – That the report on the status of outstanding issues and member requests for information be noted.