Meeting documents
Venue: Large & Small Committee Room, King George V House, King George V Road, Amersham
Contact: Democratic Services 01895 837236; Email: democraticservices@chilternandsouthbucks.gov.uk
No. | Item | |
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To approve
the minutes of the Services Overview Committee held on 30 January 2019. Minutes: Councillor
L Smith declared a personal interest in item 13 under the Council’s Code of
Conduct as the appointed district Council representative on the Chalfont St
Peter Village Action Group. |
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Declarations of Interest Minutes: Councillor
L Smith declared a personal interest in item 13 under the Council’s Code of
Conduct as the appointed district Council representative on the Chalfont St
Peter Village Action Group. |
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Minutes: Members
queried when the Review of Remaining Recycling Centres item would be brought to
the Committee for further discussion after it was noted that this item had been
removed from the 28-day notice for this cycle of meetings. A response would be
provided to the Chairman. RESOLVED: That the 28 Day Notices be noted. |
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Refreshed Joint Business Plan 2019/20 PDF 31 KB The Committee is asked to consider and comment on the attached Cabinet report. Minutes: The Committee
considered a report which sought approval of the refreshed Joint Business Plan
2019 - 20. The Joint Business Plan was refreshed each year to reflect the
changing needs of the locality and the communities that live and work within
Chiltern, as well as the service planning process. The proposed refreshed Joint
Business Plan 2019/20 was appended to the report. The Committee
was advised that the document would be updated to include facts and figures
that remained outstanding from 2018/19 and further information would also be
included on the budget including a breakdown of where funds were spent. The
document had been amended to reflect the implementation of the customer
experience programme and to reflect the impact of the unitary decision. Members queried
the graphic which noted that 80% of the district was in the green belt as it
was understood to be 87%. This would be amended accordingly. A question was
asked about what the waste team were planning to do to support residents to
reduce waste and increase recycling. Members were advised that it was
understood that literature was to be sent out to residents and a campaign was
planned to increase awareness of the importance of recycling paper, amongst
other projects.
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Service Plans 2019/20 PDF 42 KB The Committee is asked to consider and comment on the attached Cabinet report. Minutes: The Committee
considered a report which provided each of the Service Plans for 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 2016-20
and linked to the Council’s policy objectives. The Committee
was advised that the service plans had been condensed in size from previous
years and had been made more user friendly. Portfolio
Holders, Management Team and Heads of Service had viewed the service plans and
approved the content. In relation to
the PI target for monthly missed household waste collections it was clarified
that 1,600 was the target maximum number to be missed and had been calculated
as a reasonable figure in relation to the population. The percentage that 1,600
was of households in the district would be circulated
to Members for information. The PI in relation to removing fly-tips was
data-only however was calculated from any report the council received,
regardless if it was the County Council’s responsibility. Members noted
that the document recognised the hard work of staff and thanked the officer for
the work put into producing the Joint Business Plan and Service Plans which were
relevant, modern, and representative of the Council.
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Performance Indicator Review 2019/20 PDF 69 KB The Committee is asked to consider and comment on the attached Cabinet report. Minutes: Members
received a report which gave an update on the outcomes of the Performance Indicator
(PI) review for 2019/20 and sought approval for proposed changes to reporting.
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Performance Report Quarter 3 2018/19 PDF 66 KB The Committee is asked to consider and comment on the attached Cabinet report. Minutes: The Committee
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. Members
queried the fall in user numbers at the Chalfont Leisure Centre which had
appeared to fall by 10,000 for two consecutive quarters. It was agreed that
this would be investigated and a response circulated to Members.
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Bucks Home Choice - Revisions of Allocations Policy PDF 64 KB The Committee is asked to consider and comment on the attached Full Council report. Minutes: The Committee considered
a report which sought Full Council authority to adopt and implement the revised
Bucks Home Choice Allocations Policy. Following a report to Cabinet in October
2018, a consultation exercise had taken place on the proposed revisions to the
policy with the majority of respondents being in favour of the proposed
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. The
four District Councils in Buckinghamshire were now seeking to adopt and
implement the revised policy. It was
summarised that minimal changes had been made from the draft previously
presented to the committee and paragraph 4.3 of the report summarised the key
responses from the consultation. The revised
draft is also currently being reviewed by the Legal Services of the four
district councils and the final draft will include any amendments required to
ensure that the policy meets statutory and legal requirements. In relation to
the proposal that same sex siblings should be expected to share a bedroom until
the older child reached the age of 21, it was queried how the question was put
in the consultation and how the revised age of 18 had been reached. The
Committee was advised that existing housing providers were amongst the
consultees and had raised issue with the age being 21 as it contradicted their
policies. The consultation worded the question with answer options as
‘agree/disagree/don’t know’ and included an open text section. There was a
mechanism to review the policy post-adoption with a Partnership Board in place
which consisted of representatives from each of the District Councils in
Buckinghamshire; this was further underpinned by a practitioner group. It was said
that whilst those in their late teens were accepted on to the waiting list,
there was no guarantee of housing and there were often significant wait time’s
dependant on individual circumstances and housing need. In terms of
partnership working with the County Council, whilst each Council had its own
pressures there was a positive working relationship. Provision was made by the
district Council to support care leavers who were ready to move on
independently. Those with more intensive needs were not covered by this scheme
as the County Council procured more specialist schemes.
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Community and Wellbeing Plan Annual Review PDF 57 KB Minutes: The Committee
received a report which detailed the positive work undertaken through the
Chiltern Community and Wellbeing Plan during 2017/18. The Community and Wellbeing
Plan and Annual Review were appended to the report. The Community
and Wellbeing Plan was adopted in May 2017. Projects
supported to date were highlighted in the report. £32,500 had been awarded in
grant awards to 44 community groups, helping support a diverse range of
community projects and also levered in extensive external funding. A member
queried whether schemes were still granted for heating and insulation
improvements. It was clarified that the Council supported the National Energy
Foundation (NEF) who in turn helped residents access
sources of funding. The improvement schemes on offer vary, however the NEF stay
on top of this and provide advice as appropriate. The Committee
noted that 920,000 customer visits had been made to the Chiltern Pools, Chesham
and Chalfont Leisure Centres and questioned whether an 800,000 target for the
proposed development to Chiltern Pools could be reached. It was explained that
the proposed development would be significantly larger and have a wider range
of facilities and further work was ongoing with the project. Members
identified that the taxi trade was well aware of child sexual exploitation and
to increase further protection against this, ongoing training was offered by
the Council. It was also recognised that whilst an aim of the Plan was to help
stimulate and support a vibrant local economy whilst protecting the
environment, certain issues such as loss of large employment sites were not
through the fault of the Council but rather Government changes at national
level. The Committee
thanked all officers involved in the work that was highlighted in the report
and were in agreement that the community work carried out by the Council was
invaluable to residents. RESOLVED That the positive work undertaken during 2017/18 be recognised and the report be noted. |
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Community Lottery Review Minutes: The Committee
received a report which provided an update on the Chiltern and South Bucks
Lottery’s first year of operation and the positive impact of the scheme. It was
reported that the scheme had a positive start with 51 live voluntary groups on
the platform that to date had collectively raised in excess of £24,000 for
local good causes. The lottery had awarded £4,150 in prize money. It was
highlighted to Members that further work would be carried out with a focus on
marketing and ensuring the lottery was promoted in the community. Community
groups also had to work on promotion as the more members they achieved, the
more funds they would receive. It was noted that Gatherwell, the external
lottery manager took a small percentage, however the lottery was still cost
effective and had already been of benefit to a number of groups. Every group
that had signed up automatically received information on how to promote the
scheme and had contact details for Gatherwell. Members were
encouraged to view the websites which could be found here: https://www.chilternsouthbuckslottery.co.uk/
RESOLVED That the report be noted. |
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Revitalisation Groups Annual Report 2018/19 PDF 71 KB Minutes: Members
received an update on projects delivered across the Councils seven
Revitalisation Groups. A summary of the wide range of schemes completed during 2018/19
for each group was detailed in the report. The report also highlighted two
capital projects which the Council was funding through the revitalisation
capital grant scheme in Chalfont St Peter and Great Missenden respectively. The Groups had
been pro-active in seeking external funding which allowed them to carry out a
range of schemes in partnership with various groups/organisations. The funding
through the capital grant scheme supported the Chalfont St Peter Village Action
Group who were leading on a Memorial Garden project
which was a large scale community project and had attracted significant
external funding. This was a substantial project which would make a real
difference to the village and increase footfall. The funding also supported the
Great Missenden Parish Revitalisation Group improving public space and the
overall attractiveness of the village. The group was working hard to improve
two untidy grass areas at the front of the Prestwood High Street car park, by
providing seating within a pleasant garden and new community notice and local
history board. The
revitalisation groups were working together on creating a visitor strategy to
improve the local economy and footfall which included a Midsomer Murder
Amersham/Chalfont trail, River Misbourne walk and a Chess walk linking with
external bodies such as Visit Bucks. Members
recognised the difference that these groups were making to communities and
praised their commitment in improving the towns and villages of the District. RESOLVED That the positive work of the Revitalisation Groups be noted. The
2019/20 annual grant for each group was noted as was the £14,000 of the capital
programme which supported Chalfont St Peter and Great Missenden and Prestwood
Revitalisation Groups. |
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World War 1 Special Commemoration Small Grants Scheme PDF 49 KB Minutes: Members
received a report which gave an overview of the World War One (WW1) special
small grants scheme and the successful projects awarded funding to commemorate
this landmark year. The report outlined the projects which had been delivered
by a mix of voluntary and community groups to Parish and Town Councils through
the Council’s special small grant scheme. The Committee
was advised that the scheme had a hugely positive impact across the district
and had supported local communities to recognise and reflect on the contribution
of the armed forces locally. Town and Parish Councils and community groups were
invited to apply for funding of up to £300 per project, there had been eleven
successful applications awarded a total of £1,837.32. The work and
contributions of volunteers was recognised by the Committee and thanks were
given to the officers involved who had helped create such excellent value. It
was suggested that similar schemes be explored for 2020 which marked the 75th
anniversary of the end of World War 2 and the 80th anniversary of
the Battle of Britain. Armed Forces
Day was being celebrated in the County on 29 June and air displays were being
held at Booker Airfield. The Committee asked that the district Council hold an
event to recognise the armed forces during armed forces week. Officers agreed
to investigate this along with the possibility of an armed forces
representative giving a presentation at a future meeting of Full Council. RESOLVED That the positive work undertaken through the World War One
special small grant scheme be recognised and the
report be noted. |