Meeting documents

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 23 February 2017.

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 February 2017 were confirmed.

Councillor Walters expressed a personal interest in his capacity as a trustee of Padstones mindful that they were referred to in items 9, 11, 12 and 13 of the agenda.

To receive any reports from Members.

No reports were presented by members.

The PAG received and noted a report providing an update on a number of subjects including:

·        Bucks Home Choice  -number of  applicants registered, availability and number advertised

·        Homelessness and the number of applications determined

·        Private Sector Housing and DFGs

·        Affordable Housing and details of two new affordable housing schemes in Taplow

·        Housing Related Support

·        Licensing

·        EH – Public Protection

·        EH Environment and Sustainability

·        Community Safety

·        Community and Leisure.

In response to requests the Head of Healthy Communities undertook to:

·        Approach Thames Valley Police to see if they could provide backdated crime figures so that some comparisons could be made with current trends.

·        see if arrangements could be made for the Dementia Bus to be located at the Beacon Centre in Beaconsfield for a period of time.

The PAG received a report inviting it to comment on the draft Home Energy Conservation Act Progress Report which the Council is legally required to publish.

Having considered the advice of the PAG, the Portfolio Holder RESOLVED that the draft Home Energy Conservation Act Progress Report 2017 be approved for publication.

The PAG received a report inviting it to comment on the draft Home Energy Conservation Act Progress Report which the Council is legally required to publish.

The report summarised the progress made since 2013 to improve energy efficiency, updated the Council’s policy and approach to energy efficiency and set out actions and priorities for the next two years.

The report pledges that the Councils will work with partners to promote locally and nationally available financial incentives and advice services to improve energy efficiency and tackle fuel poverty.

After noting the key delivery outcomes it was

RESOLVED

That the draft Home Energy Conservation Act Progress Report 2017 be approved for publication.

The PAG’s advice was sought on whether the Portfolio Holder should agree to provide financial support to voluntary organisations to deliver summer holiday activities.

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Having considered the advice of the PAG, which sought further information  on costs  and the hot spots areas that would be targeted,  the Portfolio Holder RESOLVED that financial support be provided to voluntary youth sector organisations to deliver summer holiday activities.

The PAG’s advice was sought on whether the Portfolio Holder should agree to provide financial support to voluntary organisations to deliver summer holiday activities.

Although the voluntary youth sector delivered a range of summer activities a number of organisations often suspended sessions due to a lack of funding.  Providing funding would reduce the risk of sessions being suspended and so maintain consistent level of support to younger residents; thus reducing the opportunity for them to engage in Anti Social Behaviour. 

The PAG, whilst supporting the proposal, sought further information on costs and the hot spot areas that would be targeted.

Having considered the advice of the PAG, the Portfolio Holder RESOLVED that financial support be provided to voluntary youth sector organisations to deliver summer holiday activities.

The PAG received a report on air quality in Iver including provisional results to date of the local diffusion tube network and noted the intention to continue to monitor the nitrogen dioxide levels.

The report also explained how the use of a Clean Air Zone could assist the Council in tackling air pollution in the future.

Having considered the advice of the PAG, the Portfolio Holder RESOLVED that

The PAG received a report on air quality in Iver including provisional results to date of the local diffusion tube network and noted the intention to continue to monitor the nitrogen dioxide levels.

The report also explained how the use of a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) could assist the Council in tackling air pollution in the future.

The PAG was particularly concerned to note that the detailed assessment of air quality in Iver demonstrated that there is a likelihood that the nitrogen dioxide objective was being exceeded.

After also noting the minimum requirements that needed to be met to implement a CAZ the PAG advised the Portfolio Holder to proceed with the proposal following which it was

RESOLVED that

The PAG received a report inviting it to comment on the following draft plans prior to them being submitted to Council via the Cabinet for adoption:

·       Joint Food and Health and Safety Business Plan

·       Food Policy

·       Health and Safety Enforcement Policy

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The PAG   received a report inviting it to comment on a proposal to review the current Housing and Homelessness Strategies for Chiltern District Council and South Bucks District Council and update it them in the light of the current housing situation across the two districts and the new statutory requirements that were coming into force.

Since the joint Member Housing Workshop on 3^rd February 2016 which had focussed on three key areas a draft Housing (Affordable Housing and Homelessness)   Strategy had been developed and was attached as an appendix to the report which explained the intention to subject the draft to consultation over a 6 week period.

In welcoming the joint strategy the PAG emphasised the importance of increasing affordable housing as this would help both Councils to deal with their statutory duties for homelessness more effectively.

The Regulators’ Code, which came into statutory effect on 6 April 2014, requires the Council to have an enforcement policy explaining how it responds to regulatory non-compliance.With the majority of services now being shared across both Chiltern and South Bucks District Councils  the PAG  received a report explaining that the opportunity had been taken to  review   the enforcement policies  and  draft  a joint Corporate Enforcement Policy  setting  out  the guiding principles of how regulatory services will engage with those they regulate.

The Regulator’s Code is based on 6 broad principles and the PAG noted what was expected of the regulator in each of the 6 cases. The PAG also noted how the local authority would respond to non-compliance, one of the key actions required to ensure compliance with the Code.

South Bucks District Council is a member of the Bucks-wide Affordable Warmth Network, a partnership of the four district councils, the county council and the National Energy Foundation, which aims to ensure that all residents of Buckinghamshire can heat their homes adequately and affordably.

In 2009, the partnership produced a county-wide Affordable Warmth Strategy, which identified the geographical areas and communities most at risk of fuel poverty, the range of help assistance available and set out an action plan to target the key causes of fuel poverty.

In view of the many changes that have been made since 2009 an exercise had been carried out to update the Strategy to provide a clear direction and focus to the Council and its partners in targeting actions towards those residents most at risk of fuel poverty.

The PAG received a report attaching a draft of the updated Strategy on which the National Energy Foundation is currently undertaking a 6 week consultation with key stakeholders.

During the discussion the PAG welcomed the Update which they agreed would contribute to the Council’s objectives of working towards safe and healthies communities and striving to conserve the environment and sustainability.

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In 2011 the Cabinet approved the following 4 schemes to deliver affordable housing units through the use of commuted sums:

       a) The Acquisition programme delivered by L&Q, to buy back ex-social housing

       b) The provision of Your Choice Equity Loans delivered by Catalyst Housing.

       c) Downsizing – The ‘incentive to move’ scheme of approved funding.

       d) Incentive to Purchase –ceased in July 2016 due to limited take-up.

The PAG received a report providing an update on the delivery of each scheme and expenditure as at 30 April 2017 from the commuted sums allocation. The PAG noted from a table in the report that of the £8, 877,438 received £3,650.778 remained uncommitted. The report went on to propose that the uncommitted sum be allocated to exploit the opportunities that arise in working in partnership with Registered Providers, other public bodies and or developer to deliver affordable rented properties on site or to purchase temporary accommodation to support homelessness service.

The PAG received a report seeking its comments on an application from Pop Goes the Choir (PGTC) for funding of £2500 as a contribution towards the total cost of  £5908 for staying at the St Denis De L’ Hotel whilst visiting France to  perform at a Christmas market event as part of Burnham Parish Council’s a twinning celebrations.

The report explained that the Council of St Denis were contributing the equivalent of £1735 towards the hotel cost with PGCT contributing £2000.

During the discussion members of the PAG indicated that they could not support the application and suggested that the organisation applied to other bodies for funding e.g. the Parish Council and the European Commission which has a specific funding programme for Town Twinning.

Responding to comments made, the Portfolio Holder clarified that the organisation was not part of the Town Twinning Association which in turn was not part of Burnham Parish Council. The organisation was a separate body which had been invited by another separate body, the TTA, to take part in the celebratory event.

Following the meeting, having considered the advice of the PAG, the Portfolio Holder decided that it would be appropriate to recommend to Cabinet that an amount of £1000 rather than £2500 be provided to PGCT and that PGCT be advised to apply for other funding routes like Heart of Bucks and The Heathrow Community schemes/Lottery.

Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) are one of a number of new powers introduced by the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.  The PAG received a report containing a proposal to introduce PSPO for South Bucks.

Using the new PSPO powers to replace current powers for dog fouling would enable standardised fines of £100 to be introduced and make it easier to understand as they would apply across the whole district. At present the offence of dog fouling is restricted to certain areas and controls are not in place to address other antisocial issues relating to responsible dog ownership. A PSPO would allow new dog control measures e.g. failing to put a dog on a lead when directed to do so by an authorised officer and allowing a dog into enclosed children's playgrounds or sports fields.

Responding to comments made, the Head of Healthy Communities explained that the issue of how the offences would be enforced would be the subject of a separate report and agreed that community involvement and use of powers under the Community Accreditation Schemes enabling other bodies to issue FPN would feature very prominently in the enforcement measures.

Having noted the costs of setting up a PSPO of an estimated £3K and considered the benefits the PAG indicated its support for the proposal

otiThe PAG received a report explaining why the existing floor at the Beacon Centre is in need of replacement as a result of the bleacher style seating causing point loading damage.  Following advice given by the PAG at its meeting on 15 September 2016 the seating was removed in February at a cost of £4,670.

The quotes received to replace the floor ranged from £21,980 to £32,772 whilst the quotes for replacing the bleacher seating ranged from £30,556 to £53, 793.

The Portfolio Holder, in putting the report into context, referred to the Open Spaces Joint Study which recommended the setting up of a Working Group to look at issues relating to the Beacon Centre including the floor. However, having visited the Centre and seen for himself the state of the floor and the risk it posed to users he had requested the report to this meeting of the PAG so that options could be identified, agreed and progressed as a matter of urgency.

During the discussion that ensued members, whilst supporting the proposal to replace the floor, felt that the opportunity should also be taken to install bleacher seating as this would increase the potential for the Centre to be used for theatre style events following a market exercise to raise the profile of the Centre and its facilities.

Members also felt that the hiring charges could be increased with the additional income being used by GLL to invest in the Centre by improving lighting, other equipment and the stage.

Having been advised that installing bleacher seating would impact on the type of flooring to be installed and on total costs the Head of Healthy Communities undertook to review the floor options and identify the costs which would need to be contained within the capital budget of £120k.