Meeting documents

To approve the minutes of the Cabinet held on 5 February 2019.

The minutes of the Cabinet held on 5 February 2019 were approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record. 

There were no declarations of interest.

The Cabinet received a report attaching the draft 28-Day Notices which provided a forward look at the Agendas for the next meetings of the Cabinet and Chiltern and South Bucks Joint Committee. 

The items scheduled for the Cabinet meeting on 23 April were noted. 

RESOLVED -

That the Cabinet and Joint Executive 28-Day Notices be noted.

(i)         Councillor P Martin -

Councillor P Martin announced that the draft Local Plan documents were being presented to Members for discussion at meetings of the Joint Planning Policy Members Reference Group being held on 19 March at Chiltern District Council and 20 March at South Bucks District Council. Revised dates were being arranged for the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Joint Committee to present the draft Local Plan to be submitted for inspection and consultation, and it was anticipated that this would then be presented to full Council on 22 May 2019.

A reply had been received from the Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth in response to permitted development rights and implications of changing use from office to flats, although the reply was a generalised reply which did not address the question in its entirety.

(ii)       Councillor L Walsh -

Councillor L Walsh reported that the Community Youth Awards held on 14 March 2019 had been well attended and the event had been a success. All of the young people involved had their hard work recognised and it had been humbling to see how much many of the districts young people do for others in the community. 

Further, the Community Cards Scheme was in its fifth year and would launch on 25 March 2019. The scheme encouraged Year 6 pupils to get involved with activities, care for their communities, be safe and engage with local community organisations. 23 schools had already agreed to take part in the scheme.

The Cabinet received a report which sought approval for the refreshed Joint Business Plan 2019-20 as set out in the Appendix to the report.

The Cabinet received a report which sought approval for the refreshed Joint Business Plan 2019-20 as set out in the appendix to the report. The Joint Business Plan was reviewed annually to reflect the changing needs of the locality and the communities that live and work within the district, as well as the service planning process.

There had not been a significant change from the previous year and the Cabinet was informed that figures included in the Joint Business Plan would be updated at the end of quarter 4 2018/19 prior to publication.

The Cabinet considered a report which provided the service plans of all service areas within the Council. Service plans were an important part of the Council’s performance management framework as detailed in the Joint Business Plan 2016 - 2020 and linked to the Council’s policy objectives. The service plans had changed format from the previous years to be more concise and allow for easier reading.

The Service Plans had been considered by the Services Overview Committee and Resources Overview Committee. Amendments would be made to the service plans which reflected the recommendations of the Resources Overview Committee, these were to reduce wording on infographics, ensure figures were highlighted, remove some data only sections and add asterisks to certain sections to explain anomalies.

RESOLVED

That the services plans be noted.

The Cabinet received a report which updated Members on the outcomes of the Performance Indicator (PI) review for 2019/20 and which sought approval for the proposed changes to reporting. Reviewing performance indicators allowed each service to adjust targets, add in more relevant indicators and remove those indicators which did not provide valuable information.

RESOLVED that the changes to the Performance Indicators for each service be approved.

The Cabinet received a report which updated Members on the outcomes of the Performance Indicator (PI) review for 2019/20 and which sought approval for the proposed changes to reporting. Reviewing performance indicators allowed each service to adjust targets, add in more relevant indicators and remove those indicators which did not provide valuable information.

The changes to Performance Indicators were highlighted on pages 124 to 125 of the reports pack with the majority of Performance Indicators remaining the same from the previous year.

RESOLVED that the changes to the Performance Indicators for each service be approved.

The Cabinet considered a report which outlined the annual performance of Council services against pre-agreed performance indicators and service objectives for Quarter 3 of 2018-19.

It was noted that performance indicator CdEH1 - Percentage of food hygiene inspections of category A - D food business achieved against the inspections due by quarter was back above target of 91% at 93% due to successful recruitment to vacant posts.

RESOLVED

That the performance reports be noted.

The Cabinet received a report which advised on the recommendations of the Healthy Communities Policy Advisory Group following a review of CCTV cameras in the district.

RESOLVED

1.     That the recommendations from the Healthy Communities Policy Advisory Group following the review of CCTV in the district be noted

2.     That the bringing forward of expenditure up to £210,000 from the allocated Capital budget 2019/20 to 2023/24 for the replacement of the current 42 CCTV cameras with digital units be agreed.

3.     That authority be delegated to the Head of Healthy Communities to carry out the procurement and to make a decision on the final contract for the replacement of CCTV equipment in accordance with the Council’s contract procedure rules.

4.     That authority be delegated to the Head of Healthy Communities in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Healthy Communities to decide on the location of any relocated or new public realm CCTV cameras.

The Cabinet received a report which advised on the recommendations of the Healthy Communities Policy Advisory Group following a review of CCTV cameras in the district.

Following a detailed and well attended meeting of the Policy Advisory Group on 12 February 2019 it was recommended to Cabinet to:

·       Retain the CCTV units in appendices 1 and 2 and bring forward expenditure from the allocated Capital budget 2019/20 to 2023/24 for the replacement of the 42 CCTV cameras with digital units.

·       To use the planned mobile CCTV units in areas of crime and disorder hotspots.

The digital images captured from the upgrade of equipment, would assist identification of crime perpetrators and allow clear viewing of incidents. Mobile CCTV units which could be moved between crime hotspots had been supported by Members and had been included within the budgeted funds. 

RESOLVED

1.     That the recommendations from the Healthy Communities Policy Advisory Group following the review of CCTV in the district be noted

2.     That the bringing forward of expenditure up to £210,000 from the allocated Capital budget 2019/20 to 2023/24 for the replacement of the current 42 CCTV cameras with digital units be agreed.

3.     That authority be delegated to the Head of Healthy Communities to carry out the procurement and to make a decision on the final contract for the replacement of CCTV equipment in accordance with the Council’s contract procedure rules.

4.     That authority be delegated to the Head of Healthy Communities in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Healthy Communities to decide on the location of any relocated or new public realm CCTV cameras.

Cabinet received a report which sought authority to recommend full Council adopt and implement the revised Bucks Home Choice Allocations Policy following consideration by the Services Overview Committee.

The Cabinet considered a Council report which sought authority to adopt and implement the revised Bucks Home Choice Allocations Policy. Following a report to Cabinet in October 2018 a consultation exercise had now taken place on the proposed revisions to the Policy with the majority of respondents being in favour of the revisions with the exception of the proposal that same sex siblings should be expected to share a bedroom until the older child reached the age of 21. This had been revised to the age of 18 following comments from consultees, particularly housing associations and this would regularly be reviewed.

A final draft of the proposed revised Bucks Home Choice Allocations Policy had now been prepared with minimal changes to the version that was previously reported to Members and issued for consultation. The four District Councils in Buckinghamshire were now seeking to adopt and implement this revised policy.

The revised draft was currently being reviewed by the Legal Services of the four District Councils and the final draft would include any amendments required to ensure that the policy met statutory and legal requirements.

Members are asked to note the Minutes of the following meetings of Joint Executive Committees:

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the following Joint Executive Committees be noted:

1.     Chiltern and South Bucks Joint Committee 13 February 2019

2.     Aylesbury Vale, Chiltern and Wycombe Districts Crematoria Joint Committee 23 January 2019

To resolve that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Paragraph 3 - Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

RESOLVED:

That the confidential notes from the following PAG meetings be noted:

1.     Healthy Communities PAG 12 February 2019

The Cabinet received a report which provided Members with an update on the work on the HS2 project, resources and expenditure and further provided summary information on the main issues for consideration and the budget for the resources of the HS2 Project Team working on the project.

It was noted that delays to the project had been frustrating for residents and the Council. There was continued concern from residents around lack of community engagement from HS2 and works falling behind schedule. Further, despite ecology assurances from HS2, it had been unsatisfactory that hedgerows and trees had been removed during nesting season. The local MP was aware of the wide range of issues and it was hoped these would be raised in Parliament in the coming weeks.

RESOLVED:

1.     That the report and progress made on the project be noted.

2.     That the financial implications contained in the report that will be met in 2019/20 from the reserves of each authority for these purposes be noted.