Meeting documents

Venue: Room 6, Capswood, Oxford Road, Denham, UB9 4LH

Contact: Democratic Services 

Items
No. Item

79.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 73 KB

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 5 December 2016.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on the 5 December 2016 were confirmed.

80.

Reports from Members

To receive any reports from Members.

Minutes:

The reports from Dr. Matthews and Cllr. Pepler were received by the PAG with thanks.

81.

Healthy Communities Update Report

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

Minutes:

The Members of the PAG received a verbal update from the Head of Healthy Communities. 

 

Members were informed that the Workplace Health & Wellbeing event which ran from 23 January – 17 February had an extremely good response from Officers, and included events such as Boogie Bounce, Led Walks and Mindfulness sessions. Further to this, the workplace strategy will be developed with HR.

 

The Open Spaces Survey was seen to be currently running, with a target completion date of 31 March; the results of the survey will allow the identification of opportunities to improve open spaces within the District.

 

The audit for BSCS S11 had been submitted; training for this will continue, with activities such as Early Help and the extending of training to contractors, partners and communities to be made mainstream. In terms of safeguarding, managers had completed their Level 1 Adult Safeguarding training, and the child protection e-learning will continue to be rolled out to all teams associated with the safeguarding officer group.

 

As with previous updates, there are continued pressures on temporary accommodation, with the current number standing at 60, producing a knock-on effect on the Portfolio’s budget. There was also an increase in the number of homelessness review requests for those the Council had deemed intentionally homeless.

 

Officers were exploring opportunities to reduce TA through the possibility of site development and acquisition including the possibility of acquiring a property in Iver.

 

Following the introduction of shared services some long term nuisance issues had now been resolved assisting the team reduce the number of repeat requests. 

 

82.

Motorway Air Quality Monitoring Station in South Bucks pdf icon PDF 79 KB

To consider the report of the Environmental Health Manager.

Minutes:

The Members of the PAG received a report proposing that the existing motorway continuous air quality monitor, situated close to the M25 in Gerrards Cross is decommissioned, allowing the Council to refocus on other hot spots in the District.

 

It was noted by Members that a review of the current automatic monitor had identified that:

·         The current running costs stand at approximately £5,800 per year.

·         The kit is over 15 years old, thus more likely to fail.

·         The existing budget could be more effectively utilised in monitoring other hotspot areas.

·         New base line data could be established to support the review & assessment process in other areas of the district such as Iver.

 

Officers clarified that closing the monitoring station would cost approximately £1000, with the possibility that the TEOM could be sold for approximately £500, but no buyer being identified at the time of this report. Officers were seen to have explored the possibility of Highways England taking over the running of the station; however they have confirmed they are not interested in doing so.

 

 

Further to discussion, the Portfolio Holder RECOMMENDED to Cabinet that:

 

a.       The current motorway air quality monitoring station be decommissioned.

b.       The existing allocated budget be retained to undertake enhanced monitoring/action in other hotspot areas as identified in the statutory review and assessment of air quality in the District.

 

 

 

 

 

83.

South Bucks Community and Wellbeing Plan Update Report pdf icon PDF 55 KB

To consider the report of the Head of Healthy Communities.

Minutes:

Members of the PAG received a report containing the South Bucks Community and Wellbeing Plan 2017-2020 as an Appendix. The report detailed how the Healthy Communities Portfolio will work with the community and alongside partners over the next 3 years.

 

Members were reminded that the former Community PAG agreed the following six aims at their meeting held on 4 December 2014:

·         Facilitating community participation, engagement and action to develop sustainable communities

·         Supporting services that improve opportunities for older people to live fuller, safer, more active and ultimately more fulfilling life styles

·         Improving the health and well-being of the population and reducing health inequalities

·         Providing an environment for young people to enjoy, stay safe, be healthy, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well-being

·         Helping to stimulate and support a vibrant local economy

·         Helping to support, promote and celebrate the rich and diverse wealth of cultural heritage in South Bucks.

 

Further to this, a workshop was held on 18 May 2016 with the Chiltern and South Bucks Strategic Partnership to review existing aims and the current underpinning projects, with further consultation undertaken with a range of community groups. The results of this will be delivered through the existing work programme for the Healthy Communities service area, with the aims updated in the South Bucks Community & Wellbeing Plan 2017-2020.

 

Discussion was had by Members regarding the importance of consultation with other projects such as the Local Plan, and the importance of accessing funding including s106, CIL, HS2 Wellbeing Fund and locally-accessed funding such as Lottery funding. Members wished to thank the team for their hard work.

 

 

Further to this, the Portfolio Holder RECOMMENDED to Cabinet that:

 

·         The South Bucks Community and Wellbeing Plan 2017-2020 be approved for onward submission to Council, following the incorporation of any comments arising from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

 

84.

Buckinghamshire Armed Forces Covenant pdf icon PDF 60 KB

To consider the report of the Head of Healthy Communities.

Minutes:

Members of the PAG received a report detailing the continued support of the Buckinghamshire Armed Forces Covenant, and the associated 2016/17 Action Plan appended to the report.

 

Members were reminded that on the 5 July 2012, the Buckinghamshire Armed Forces Covenant was signed by groups including the County Council, all four district councils, NHS Buckinghamshire, Bucks Fire and Rescue and Thames Valley Police. The covenant aims to help reduce isolation, improve health and facilitate education and employment opportunities for armed forces staff and their families.

 

Members were pleased to note that since 2014 there have been community-led remembrance events across the District since 2014, including processions, services, exhibitions and intergenerational work with school and the armed forces charities including the Royal British Legion. In terms of commemoration of the First World War, Town & Parish Councils and Schools have been asked to inform the Council of their plans in order that they can be supported in delivering these commemorations.

 

 

Further to discussion, the Portfolio Holder RECOMMENDED to Cabinet the continued support of the Buckinghamshire Armed Forces Covenant and agrees the Buckinghamshire Armed Forces Covenant’s associated 2016/17 action plan.

 

 

 

85.

Community Grants Criteria pdf icon PDF 58 KB

To consider the report of the Head of Healthy Communities.

 

Decision:

The Members of the PAG considered the delivery of the South Bucks District Council Community Grants Programme through Heart of Bucks.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

·         The South Bucks District Council Community Grants programme be delivered by Heart of Bucks, and match funded by a donor to increase the size of the funding pot available.

·         The South Bucks District Council Community Grants Criteria be agreed as detailed in Appendix 1.

·         The Portfolio Holder for Healthy Communities be nominated as the Council’s representative on the Heart of Bucks decision-making panel.

·         The full panel pack of grants be distributed to the appropriate ward Member, who could feed back to the Portfolio Holder.

Minutes:

The Members of the PAG received a report that considered the delivery of the South Bucks District Council Community Grants Programme through Heart of Bucks.

 

Members were pleased to note that the delivery of South Bucks District Council Community Grants Programme through Heart of Bucks would enable the grant funding to reach a larger audience within South Bucks by utilising Heart of Bucks’ funding presence within the community. This would also enable additional resources to be available in South Bucks, via Heart of Bucks’ match-funding of the community grant.

 

The process was shown to involve applicants applying for funding via a link on the SBDC website, with HOB managing the application process. Further to this, decisions are made by the HOB Grants Panel to which SBDC can nominate a representative – proposed as the Portfolio Holder for Healthy Communities. The Community Development Grants is intended to be an annual application each July, with an application launch of April each yet. The initial award of funding by South Bucks District Council to the HOB administered Community Grant is proposed at £10k, to be matched by a donor.

 

Further to discussion, the Portfolio Holder in conjunction with the Head of Healthy Communities suggested that a fourth recommendation be added to allow for local knowledge to feed into the process, via the distribution of grants panel packs to the appropriate ward Member.

 

It was accordingly RESOLVED that:

 

·         The South Bucks District Council Community Grants programme be delivered by Heart of Bucks, and match funded by a donor to increase the size of the funding pot available.

·         The South Bucks District Council Community Grants Criteria be agreed as detailed in Appendix 1.

·         The Portfolio Holder for Healthy Communities be nominated as the Council’s representative on the Heart of Bucks decision-making panel.

·         The full panel pack of grants be distributed to the appropriate ward Member, who could feed back to the Portfolio Holder.

86.

Community Safety Update pdf icon PDF 66 KB

To consider the report of the Head of Healthy Communities.

Minutes:

The Members of the PAG were introduced to Inspector Brendan Murray, who verbally updated Members as to the trends and issues in Community Safety within South Bucks.

 

In terms of trends, the number of burglaries (dwellings) were seen to have increased, with a larger than usual peak. South Bucks was said to be unique for the Thames Valley area in terms of this, as the District tends to attract cross-border criminal, rather than those that are home-grown. This poses its own challenges in terms of identifying which groups are targeting the area. Over the last month, since the figures were collated for the report, the numbers have dropped remarkably. Cross-border force co-operation has been key in tackling this, including forces from Hertfordshire, Slough and the Metropolitan Police, with significant arrests having been made, and although not necessarily leading to prosecution, had been seen to act as a warning to those who may commit burglary. There had also been evidence of gangs using burglary as initiations.

 

Burglary among non-dwellings was seen to be fairly consistent year-on-year. The police are working with the Community Safety team to make people less vulnerable to burglaries, especially in rural areas where non-dwelling burglaries tend to be spontaneous. The increased visibility of police and community safety officers on the streets tends to lead to a decrease in these types of burglary.

 

Theft from motor vehicles has a tendency to fluctuate throughout the year, and can be opportunistic. In terms of predicting where these thefts will occur, this is nigh on impossible, with prevention being key.  PCSOs were being instructed to educate builders and tradesmen who may have tools on show during the day. Members were informed that at this time of year it is mainly vans that are targeted.

 

Violence against a person was shown to be low in terms of figures, partly due to the low night-time economy of the district. When dealing with schools and children, there is recognition of a need to record what has previously gone unrecorded – data can now be recorded to maintain a record of issues, without action being taken. Child protection case conferences involve disclosure of or by children, which was also previously not recorded. These details are now recorded. When looking at child sexual exploitation, this is an area that previously went unrecorded – the authorities are hopeful that it is decreasing in numbers, but the change in recording proves difficult to demonstrate this.

 

The Members of the PAG thanked Brendan for his update.