Agenda and minutes

This being the first meeting of the new Civic Year the Chairman welcomed all those in attendance. 

Up to 15 minutes are allowed for public participation.  Participants are restricted to 3 minutes each.

There was no public participation.

(a)          Meeting of the Prosperous Communities Committee – 19 March 2019.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Prosperous Communities Committee held on 19 March 2019 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

(b)          Meeting of the Concurrent Prosperous Communities Committee and Corporate Policy and Resources Committee – 28 February 2019.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Concurrent Prosperous Communities Committee and Corporate Policy and Resources be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Setting out current position of previously agreed actions as at 22 May 2019.

Members gave consideration to the Matters Arising Schedule which set out the current position of all previously agreed actions as at 22 May 2019. 

It was noted that the two green actions related to items which needed adding to the Committee’s work plan.  A work planning meeting was scheduled for next week and these matters would be addressed at that meeting.

RESOLVED that progress on the Matters Arising Schedule, as set out in the report be received and noted.

Members may make any declarations at this point but may also make them at any time during the course of the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made at this stage of the meeting.

Member champions had been invited to the meeting to briefly address the Committee, setting out the activities they undertook in the role.

Apologies had been received from the Member Champion for Armed Forces, the Member Champion for Transport and the Member Champion for Young People/Skills.

Written updates had been submitted by the Member Champion for Safeguarding/Mental Health and the Member Champion for Neighbourhood Planning and Localism these were shared with the Committee.

The Member Champion for Heritage and Tourism was in attendance and spoke at length to the Committee regarding his role and the activities he undertook.

Members gave consideration to a report which assessed the performance of the Council’s services through agreed performance measures, as at the end of Period 4.    Members were asked to review performance and recommend areas where improvements should be made, having regard to any remedial measures already included within the report.

The report summary was structured to highlight those areas that were performing above expectations, and those areas where there was a risk to either performance or delivery.

Section 2 of the Executive Summary included comparison tables showing a summary of performance across the four periods to-date, as well as the direction of travel over the four periods.  These were brought to Members’ attention.

Areas described as performing well included:

*           Trinity Arts Centre

*           Waste Collection

Those areas described as risks included:

*           Home Choices

*           Local Land Charges

*           Housing

Further information was given on each of the above.

Debate ensued and with regard to the Trinity Arts Centre Members sought assurance that the targets set were stretching.  Officers advised that in 2011/12 the Centre had been struggling, however since that time there had been a continuous improvement plan in place and the Centre had improved year on year.  The targets had also been reviewed each year and “stretched” accordingly.

Several concurred with this view and spoke of the major changes and improvements which had been realised, praising the new centre manager. 

It was also confirmed the Centre was losing less money. Closing the Centre would have cost the authority in the region of £80k and therefore if losses were less than £80k the Centre was in effect in profit.

Officers undertook to provide Members with information detailing the current level of subsidy in respect of the Centre.

In response to comments regarding the Director of Travel table contained within the Executive Summary, the Executive Director of Operations confirmed that the report format would be improved for 2019/20.

Making reference to Markets, some Members questioned the figures stated as too high in light of the fact that often on a Saturday there was no more than three or four stalls.

In response the Executive Director of Operations advised that the figures related to the number of stalls paid for and it could be that a trader pays for a stall but then does not trade.  Markets had been in decline for a considerable period and a lot of soul searching had taken place as to how the situation could be reversed.  An improvement plan was in place.  The Council was working closely with Marshall’s Yard to further promote the Markets, the re-location of the Farmers Market was part of this programme.  A number of operational changes had also been made to reduce costs and make trading more attractive and easier.

Clarity was sought and provided in respect of the data relating to Council Tax and Business rate collection rates, and it was clarified how more money could be collected whilst the collection rate had fallen.  Officers advised that benchmarking  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Members gave consideration to the Committee Work Plan.  Reference was again made to the forthcoming work planning meeting which would see the work plan extended.

Some suggestions were made for consideration including: -

·         Local Plan Review

·         Access Foundation

·         RAF Scampton Update

The Chairman paid tribute to the previous Chairman for her excellent stewardship.

RESOLVED that the workplan as set out in the report be received and noted.

To resolve that under Section 100 (A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED that under Section 100 (A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To note the exempt record of the meeting.

The exempt record of the concurrent meeting held on 28 February 2019 was noted.