Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: The Forum, Towcester, NN12 6AD

Contact: Tracy Tiff, Democratic Services  01604 837408

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence and Notification of Substitute Members

2.

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.

3.

Chairman's Announcements

To receive communications from the Chairman.

Minutes:

There were no Chairman’s Announcements.

4.

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.

5.

Terms of Reference for the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee pdf icon PDF 412 KB

Purpose of the Report

 

The purpose of this report is to set out the proposed remits for West Northamptonshire Council’s Place Overview and Scrutiny committee.

 

Recommendation

 

The Committee is Recommended:

 

 

1.1  To note the Terms of Reference for The Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee

 

 

** Please note, that this report is to follow **

 

Minutes:

At the Chair’s invitation, the Deputy Democratic Services Manager presented the report and explained the remit for the Place Overview and Scrutiny committee as approved by the Overview and Scrutiny Coordinating Group.

 

The Committee made comments, asked questions and heard:

 

·         It was confirmed that when issues identified for scrutiny in the work programme span the remit of two or more Scrutiny groups, it would require the relevant groups meet with a common goal

 

Agreed:

 

That the Terms of Reference for the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted.

 

6.

Overview and Scrutiny Work Programming Process pdf icon PDF 631 KB

Purpose of the Report

 

The purpose of this report is to identify the work programming process for 2021/2022

 

Recommendation

 

The Committee is Recommended:

 

1.1  To note the Overview and Scrutiny work programming process for 2021/2022

 

 

** Please note, that this report is to follow **

 

Minutes:

The Deputy Democratic Services Manager presented the report and explained the Scrutiny Work Programming process and timetable for 2021/2022 as approved by the Overview and Scrutiny Coordinating Group at its meeting on 17 June 2021.

 

The Committee made comments, asked questions and heard:

 

Task and Finish groups may be deployed as required

·         It was confirmed that it is within the remit of the scrutiny committee to hold organisations/developers to account

·         A short-term programme for this committee would be identified

 

Agreed:

 

That the Overview and Scrutiny work programming process for 2021/2022 be noted.

 

7.

Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2021/2022 pdf icon PDF 383 KB

Members to discuss possible items for inclusion in the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s work programme for 2021/2022.

 

Minutes:

The Committee received a verbal report from Executive Director Place and Economy who welcomed scrutiny of all areas within his remit to improve both the perception and the delivery of service for residents.  An outline of work carried out within the service area was provided to facilitate the Committee’s discussions when developing suggestions for its work programme.

 

The Committee made comments, asked questions and heard:

·         Potential Scrutiny activity was suggested:

Ø   to review the funding gap for North West Relief Road and assess the current processes.

Ø   to review the Council’s Tree Policy as West Northamptonshire.

Ø   The Committee to confirm the date for its Work Programming Event.

Ø   to review regeneration of the Town Centre, including culture.

Ø   to monitor and review the Broadband Contract.

Ø   to review congestion and parking within Northampton Town Centre.

Ø   to review how Fly tipping is dealt with.

Ø   to review the business case for the Farthinghoe Bypass.

Ø   to have an overview within the constraints of the Highways Contract.

Ø   Waste Disposal Contract - to investigate how waste is dealt with, including the harmonisation of green waste.

Ø   to provide scrutiny input into the Bus Strategy.

Ø   to provide scrutiny input into the Assets Strategy.

Ø   The Committee to consider the Council’s Economic Strategy.

Ø   The Committee to review the Council’s Carbon Programme.

Ø   Crime and Disorder Scrutiny. The Committee to receive a performance report from the Chair of the Community Safety Partnership (CSP). It was noted that this is a statutory function of Overview and Scrutiny.

Ø   The Committee to consider the Performance Monitoring Report so that it can undertake Performance Management Scrutiny.

Ø   The Committee to undertake scrutiny of the Flood Risk Management Strategy.  It was highlighted that this is a statutory function of Overview and Scrutiny

Ø   The Committee to produce its Annual Overview and Scrutiny Report 2021/22 for submission to full Council for information.

Ø   Skills Strategy - to provide a scrutiny co-ordinating role, working with universities, schools (and parents), colleges and businesses.

Ø   to review Apprenticeships within the organisation, including the apprenticeship levy and levels of apprenticeships, for example: technical and graduate.

Ø   to review Home to School Transport.

Ø   to consider the Emergency Planning processes and procedures for events.

Ø   Gigaclear - to ask North Northamptonshire Council to provide a report to enable a review of the arrangements and the progress of the contract and consider the element of value for money

 

Agreed that:

 

The draft Work Programme 2021/2022 for the Place Scrutiny Committee (as attached at Appendix A) for presentation to and for the consideration of, the Co-ordinating Overview and Scrutiny Group at its meeting on 21 July 2021.