Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: The Guildhall, Northampton

Contact: Tracy Tiff, Democratic Services 

Items
No. Item

31.

Declarations of Interest

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

32.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 251 KB

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 14 December 2021.

Minutes:

Councillor Enam Haque advised that apologies had been submitted for the meeting of 14 December 2021

 

RESOLVED that: the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed the minutes, subject to the amendment, of the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 14 December 2021.

33.

Chairman's Announcements

To receive communications from the Chairman.

Minutes:

The Chair reminded the Committee of the additional meeting on 31 January 2022, added to the municipal calendar to meet the demand of the planned work programme.

34.

Farthinghoe Bypass pdf icon PDF 614 KB

To receive an update on the interim solution on the Farthinghoe bypass for Scrutiny input.

 

6.05pm to 6.40pm

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet member - Environment, Transport, Highways and Waste introduced the agenda item and highlighted the following contextual points:

 

·         Installation of traffic signals on the A422 was proposed

·         The pinch point in Farthinghoe – making it one-way could be considered a possible resolution

·         Proposed work being developed within government guidelines

·         Continued to work with the Parish Council and representatives

·         A parish consultation would be undertaken in due course

·         Would be working with the community and the detailed scheme would be worked on once consultation complete

·         It had been recognised that a site marshal would be beneficial to this development, and an advertisement for the role was imminent.  One element of the role would include community liaison. A full job specification would be drawn up

·         Emphasis would be given to implementation of the right governance being in place, to ensure the facilitation of efficient communication and that the correct focus was given to the right issues

 

The Committee considered the presentation and members raised the following points:

 

·         No mention of the A43, nor Northampton, Should the government be looking at the larger picture

·         HS2 work traffic had and would continue to cause disruption.  When both the Farthinghoe and the HS2 works were in progress simultaneously what plan was being considered for mitigating the disruption on these routes?

·         HS2 development, Farthinghoe could see increased number vehicles and a significant number being HGV’s, should consideration be given to fast tracking the traffic lights

 

The Cabinet member - Environment, Transport, Highways and Waste made the following points in response:

 

·         The original report for Farthinghoe dated back to 1980, predated the building of the M40

·         The marshal would be responsible for managing the road closures

·         The public consultation needed to be undertaken, completion estimated as Autumn/Winter 2023

 

RESOLVED that: the report to the Committee be noted.

35.

Tree Policy and Strategy Task and Finish Group

The Chair of the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Tree Policy and Strategy Task and Finish Group to provide a progress report to the Committee on the review.

 

6:40pm to 6:50pm

Minutes:

The Chair of the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Tree Strategy and Policy Task and Finish Group provided a verbal update regarding the progress and highlighted the following points:

·         Meetings in 2021 build the works programme and developed core questions

·         Questions were circulated to:

o  cabinet members and heads of service

o  schools, community groups, housing associations, parish councillors, save our street trees

·         Consultation aimed at:

o  Identifying issues to ensure trees are planted in the right places to mitigate damage, insurance claims and harm from fruit droppage

o  Changing terminology from urban and rural to open areas, enclosed spaces

o  Identifying diseased trees, consideration to be given to the feasibility of a replacement programme

o  Development of a holistic policy

o  Historic issues should inform the policy to ensure trees planted now do not impact future generations

·         Identified that an extension of time would be required to enable an informed report to be presented to Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee - the end of April was proposed

 

A tree issue in a member’s local ward was highlighted and the question would be put to Executive Director Place and Economy outside of the meeting.  The Committee heard that removal of trees was now legislated and a consultation process was in place and notice had to be given.  The Committee were also informed that there are three criteria for removal:

·         Danger to life

·         Danger to property

·         Diseased

 

The Committee considered the presentation and members raised the following points:

·         Had Northampton Partnership Homes (NPH) and tenants been invited to respond to the core questions.

·         How was the invitation received by NPH

 

The Chair of the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Tree Strategy and Policy Task and Finish Group made the following points in response:

·         NPH and other housing associations had received an invitation to respond.

·         NPH have indicated that they would be interested in engaging with the policy.  They could consider revising contracts for their tenants.  Cabinet would review the contracts.

 

RESOLVED that: the verbal update be noted.

36.

Crime and Disorder Scrutiny pdf icon PDF 729 KB

The Committee to receive a performance report from the Chair of the Community Safety Partnership (CSP).

 

6:50pm to 7.10pm

Minutes:

The Executive Director for Adults, Communities and Wellbeing introduced the report to the Committee.

 

The Community Safety and Engagement Manager presented the report and gave an overview of current performance and trends relating to crime and disorder within the remit of West Northamptonshire Council and highlighted the following points:

·       Performance – the report separates Daventry, Towcester and Northampton reflecting how they were historically recorded

·       The statistics recorded would not reflect a normal year due to the differing trends during the national pandemic

·       Crime down across all areas albeit indicating some pressure points

·       Violence against women warranted an ‘action point’ so the activity reflects the priority given to addressing this

·       In April 2021 a statutory duty was introduced for provision of support to victims of domestic abuse

·       Local domestic abuse board – Tailoring services

·       Strategy – cross country, worked with colleagues and then development of strategy

·       Current Priorities

1.   Focused on strengthening governance

2.   Early intervention and prevention

3.   Provision of Services

4.   Minimising Harm

5.   Justice and Recovery

·       Northampton town council data collection for future to be at ward level so priorities would reflect the needs of the ward

·       Data indicated crime levels similar to other areas

·       Provision of two-way comparison would be useful. Peer reviews in future reports compare how West Northamptonshire Council compares across towns

·       WNC and Police priorities refreshed in line with community groups, community representative forums.  The information received would inform the priorities and drive activity at a local level

·       Stalking and harassment category would also include neighbourhood disputes and showed an increase correlating with the pandemic

o  Jan 2022 indicated both trends showed decline as nationally people spent less time together as they mobilise

·     Police and parish councils have a rapport through the police liaison representative

·     Public perception of work being carried out to address crime is low.  Members were invited to provide the team with ideas for improvement

 

The Committee considered the presentation and members raised the following points:

·       What’s WNC doing to take remedial measures regarding gun crime?

·       Has there been a lot of enforcement by police tackling issues on county lines?

·       Is there a list of community representative forums?

·       How can roads being used as rat runs be addressed?

·       Drink spiking in Brackley

·       Could reports be provided at ward or possibly parish level?

·       Community group, over lockdown reported shed crime and car crime. Police targeted the area and named and shamed culprits. 

·       Members noted that the police liaison representative in parishes wasn’t consistent throughout West Northamptonshire Council

 

The Executive Director for Adults, Communities and Wellbeing and the Community Safety and Engagement Manager made the following points in response

·       WNC working with:

o  neighbourhood engagement groups,

o  Action Plans in place.

o  Building relationships.

o  Active around Spring family centre,

o  work closely with children’s trust,

o  safeguarding.

o  Neighbourhood working group,

o  in schools working with children

o  series of activities working with communities

·       It’s recognised that organised crime could be taking advantage of County lines

o  Looking at interventions to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

37.

Review of Committee Work Plan 2021/2022 pdf icon PDF 393 KB

To Committee to review and note the work programme for 2021/2022.

 

7.10pm to 7.20pm

Minutes:

The Deputy Democratic Services Manager introduced the report inviting the Committee to review the proposed new items for inclusion on the Place Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme 2021-2022.  A full review of the work programme would take place at the committee meeting held on 31 January 2022.

 

The Chair presented the proposed action plan and invited the Executive Director, Place and Economy to address the Committee.

 

Active Travel:

·     Funding from government

o  Task and finish group would be required to report to this Committee and then to Cabinet; it would comprise a number of committee members

o  It would be a 6-12 months commitment

o  A short presentation would be made a future Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee before a decision would be made on members for a Task and Finish Group, this would provide background information in relation to Active Travel

·     Consultants would be brought in to assist in relation to scooters and electric hubs. Lambrettas were proposed also as a form of active travel.

 

The Committee discussed the proposed agenda item, and felt that Active Travel should be included onto the Work Programme and a Task and Finish Group would lead on this work.

 

St James Bus Lane:

o   Bus Lane had been made 24/7 enforcement

o   Council’s reputational damage

o   Severe financial loss/hardship to residents

o   Delegated decision, redelegated to a manager

o   Manager had over ruled decision of residents and ward objections

 

The Committee discussed the proposed agenda item, St James Bus Lane and found that:

·       The Monitoring Officer had deemed due process had been followed

·       Cabinet had reversed the decision that had been made previously therefore the situation had been remedied

·       Rationale had changed resulting in less delegate powers

 

Proposed Development – Northampton Railway Station Car Park

·       At the meeting of Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee to be held on 31 January 2022, a presentation would be provided regarding Northampton Town Plan (planning and growth including other main town progress and review). It was suggested Councillor Stone is invited to attend that meeting of Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee before further consideration be given for inclusion on the work programme

 

The Committee considered three new topics identified my members.

 

RESOLVED that: the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

a)    Agreed the inclusion in its work programme for 2021/2 of the topic Active Travel.

b)    St James Bus Lane, would not be included on the work programme

c)    Proposed development – Northampton railway station car park. An initial recommendation be made that Councillor Stone is invited to attend the meeting of Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 31 January 2022 where the proposed development in Northampton would be discussed, before further consideration be given for inclusion on the work programme.

38.

Urgent Business

The Chairman to advise whether they have agreed to any items of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

Minutes:

There were no items of urgent business.