Meeting documents

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2016.

The minutes of the PAG held on 15 September 2016 were received.

To consider the report of the Director of Services.

Members of the PAG considered the Portfolio Budgets 2017/18 report.

The report noted that local authorities continue to face financial pressure due to reductions in central government funding, and that no extra funding for service expansion or improvement has been included in the budget. Joint working arrangements across SBDC and CDC will allow staff to explore improvements to efficiency and customer service. The report confirmed a funding increase of £334k (35.9%), bringing the total budget to £1,265,000. This rise is due to inflation, certain unavoidable cost increases, including £250k for the housing benefit subsidy for homeless cases which is now listed in the homelessness cost centre. Members noted that the budget includes provision for corporate advice linked to statutory obligations, expenditure on environmental health, affordable housing, licensing, community safety and community and leisure initiatives. Members discussed the financial risks including a potential rise in homelessness expenditure, legal fees relating to appeals and resourcing costs. However, it was noted that actions have been taken to mitigate risks.

To consider the report of the Head of Healthy Communities.

Members considered the report Review of the Council’s Community Development, Subs and Donations and Chairman’s Community Fund Grants.

The report proposed that to streamline and build community capacity the Community Development grants, Subs and Donations should be merged into one application process, whilst the Chairman’s Fund and other funding opportunities are also publicised. In the report 3 different reorganising options were detailed:

Option 1:

o          Amalgamate the Community Development Grants and Subs and donations Awards in to a single grant scheme.

o          Manage the new Community Development Grant scheme via the Heart of Bucks Community Funding Trust with the Councils contribution match funded

o          Develop a local authority lottery

o          Subsidise the new Community Development Grant via the local authority lottery.

o          Support community groups to crowd fund projects

o          Direct applicants to funding support and advice to access other grants

Option 2:

o          Continue operating three separate grant schemes but reduce the overall funding by £18K

Option 3:

o          To consider other options as discussed by members.

Members discussed the report and acknowledged the benefits of option 1 making the grants system and the funding of community groups more modern and streamlined.

To consider the report of the Head of Healthy Communities.

Members considered the report Local Authority Lottery.

The report acknowledged that local community and charitable organisations are finding it more difficult to access funding. Therefore, it is proposed that a joint community lottery between SBDC and CDC, where a percentage of ticket sales goes to local community and charitable organisations, is implemented to help diversify and improve funding. Members discussed the report’s preference for Gatherwell to be appointed as the lottery operator and clarified that 60% of ticket sales would go to good causes, 50% to named causes and 10% to a central fund which the council would manage. Members also discussed that there had previously been a South Bucks charitable lottery and that should the lottery go ahead CDC would need to agree to it. Members established the set-up costs and how local organisations become beneficiaries, which officers confirmed was via donations through individual web pages.

To consider the report of the Head of Healthy Communities.

Members considered the report Extension to the GLL Contract to Manage the Evreham Centre.

The report detailed the current User Agreement between SBDC and Bucks County Council (BCC) who jointly fund the Evreham centre. Members clarified the legal status of the agreement and noted that on a day-to-day basis the centre is run by Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL). It was noted that there is low footfall and GLL is currently subsidising the centre at a rate of £30k pa. It is intended that the centre is kept open until 2021, whilst replacement options and the redevelopment of the site is researched by a joint Project Group. Members acknowledged that some short-term repair work is necessary, which will be paid for using the joint maintenance budget. Members confirmed the running costs going forward and agreed that the extension to the contract allows for discussion on the best way forward after 2021.

To consider the report of the Head of Healthy Communities.

Members considered the report Joint Private Sector Housing Strategy and Financial Assistance Policy.

The report detailed a number of amendments to the strategy and associated policies, including changes reflecting acts of parliament, the incorporation of members’ feedback and further flexibility to the Financial Assistance Policy, which will improve conditions for residents in Houses in Multiple Occupations (HMOs). Members understood that due to likely changes stemming from the Housing and Planning Act (2016), it would be practical to give the Head of Healthy Communities the delegated power to amend the Enforcement Policy and Houses in Multiple Occupation Policy, as and when statutory changes come into effect.

Following discussion and feedback from members, the Portfolio Holder NOTED:

·         The outcome of the consultation on the joint draft strategy and associated policies.

To consider the report of the Head of Healthy Communities.

Members considered the report Chiltern District Council and South Bucks District Council Temporary Accommodation Framework.

The report detailed the recent legal duty for councils to provide a public statement on how they supply temporary housing, which members acknowledged.

Members and the Portfolio Holder received the reports from Cllr Matthews on the September and October meetings of the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee, as well as the report from Cllr Pepler on the September meeting of the Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust.

It was RESOLVED that the reports be noted.

To receive a verbal update from the Head of Healthy Communities.

Members received the update report from the Head of Healthy Communities, which included updates on Bucks Home Choice, Homelessness, Private Sector and Affordable Housing, Housing Support, Licensing, Environmental Health, Community Safety and Community and Leisure.

At the meeting the Head of Healthy Communities reiterated that affordable housing is lacking in the district and that positive initiatives include 12 affordable rental flats on the SGT site. Members clarified where temporary housing is located and emphasised the importance of affordable housing initiatives. Officers confirmed that affordable housing is included in SBDC planning policy. Good results in environmental health, including near 100% food inspection completion and 96% for regulatory compliance, were shared with members. Members were pleased to hear that bids for external funding to tackle air pollution were in hand. The rise in burglaries, up 36%, vehicle theft, up 24.5%, and violent crime, up 36.3% were also discussed. The rise in violent crime is linked to recent changes to national recording standards and therefore is not strictly comparative with previous years. Members requested that a breakdown of crime in the district is circulated to members, which the Head of Healthy Communities confirmed had been requested.

After discussion within the PAG, the Portfolio Holder RESOLVED that the report be noted.

None.

"That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 following item of business is not for publication to the press or public on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act."

"That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 following item of business is not for publication to the press or public on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act."

To consider the report of the Head of Healthy Communities.

The Portfolio Holder confirmed that the issue in the report should be discussed further amongst members and, subject to confirmation of dates, presented at the meeting of the PAG currently scheduled for 13 June 2017. 

The Portfolio Holder RESOLVED to defer the report.