Meeting documents

The Committee is asked to consider and comment on the attached report to Council.

Members considered a report on the granting of an award to Chilterns Dial a Ride for the purchase of a new vehicle. This would enable accessible transport options to vulnerable persons.

Chilterns Dial a Ride submitted a large grant application for a replacement vehicle, but due to the demand for the large grants and the need to provide investment in facilities that would benefit children and young people opportunities to develop play this became ineligible.

Following the previous meeting of the Services Overview Committee officers carried out further research and feedback from users and talk back showed that the Dial a Ride service was extremely useful. There had been previous concern that the service was more expensive than taxis however very few taxis are suitable for disabled passengers, particularly those who are frail and unable to use ramps or steps and require a hoist. Further, taxis would not help passengers to and from the car to their front door as Dial a Ride does. It was further clarified that membership was an annual fee of £20, not £30 per month as members had previously been concerned about. As noted in the report, the Committee acknowledged that Dial a Ride costs were lower than taxi charges.

Through its own fundraising Dial a Ride had raised £17k toward the total cost of the new vehicle and had also been awarded a separate £10k grant.

The Committee is asked to consider and comment on the attached Cabinet report.

The Committee considered a report which sought Cabinet consideration on the waiving of standing order procedures to appoint Gatherwell as the external lottery manager for the new Buckinghamshire lottery. This would enable the appointment of Gatherwell Ltd to the ELM for the new Buckinghamshire Lottery which will be operating from 1^st April 2020.

It was reported that Gatherwell met the needs of the Councils in Buckinghamshire and provided the website platform and support for a good transparent administration of the lottery. Around eighty other local authorities used Gatherwell and any existing direct debits in place would transfer. Members noted that many good causes had already been supported and a number of prizes were won regularly by those who play.

The Committee is asked to consider and comment on the attached Cabinet report.

The Committee considered and noted the establishment and proposed terms of reference for the Chiltern Lifestyle Centre Community Liaison Group following which it was

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)

The Committee is asked to consider and comment on the attached Cabinet report.

Members received a report which advised on progress with the Chiltern Lifestyle Centre; on proposals to agree entering into Heads of Terms/Lease arrangements with a private nursery operator to enable future occupation of the nursery space in the Chiltern Lifestyle Centre; to advise members on changes to the Public Works Loan Board and to advise on proposals to agree funding for outreach youth activity.

The business case remained positive despite changes to the Public Works Loan Board interest rates and it was confirmed that SLM had been appointed as the leisure operator. Work was anticipated to begin on improvements at Chesham and Chalfont leisure centres in May 2020. Managers of the existing sites had been made aware of the new operator and staff TUPE arrangements were under discussion.

Heads of Terms had been agreed with the Community Association and Library to allow legal agreements to be entered into following completion of the Chiltern Lifestyle Centre and the Committee agreed with the recommendation to Cabinet that delegated authority be provided to the Head of Healthy Communities in consultation with the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to enter in to Heads of Terms and lease arrangements with a private nursery operator.

With the Chiltern Lifestyle Centre development containing a community hall, meeting rooms and activity spaces, the needs of the youth club would change and be less reliant on a physical building to one of delivering outreach activity. Forward funding Amersham Town Council to employ professional staff to connect with young people who may be congregating in other areas in Amersham would support young people to learn a range of new skills. Amersham Town Council were still to make a decision, although it was clarified that it would not be for the Town Council to source the staff but the youth club itself. The Committee agreed that the funding would be beneficial to local young people and promote positive activities.