Agenda and minutes

Economy, Residents and Communities Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 29th November, 2021 10.00 am

Venue: By Teams. View directions

Contact: Wyn Richards, Scrutiny Manager and Head of Democratic Services  Email: wyn.richards@powys.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillor D Jones-Poston and from Cabinet Members R Harris (Leader) and R Powell (Portfolio Holder for Young People and Culture. An apology was also received from Nina Davies (Head of Housing and Community Development).

2.

Disclosures of Interest

To receive any disclosures of interests by Members relating to items to be considered at the meeting.

Minutes:

The Committee received the following discloses of interests by Members relating to items to be considered at the meeting:

 

Item 4 – Community Safety Partnership Update – disclosure of a personal and non-prejudicial interest by County Councillor J Pugh whose son's partner works for Kaleidoscope which is mentioned in section 3.2 of the report. However, the organisation was not discussed during the meeting.

3.

Declaration of Party Whips

To receive disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member has been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011.

 

(NB: Members are reminded that under Section 78 Members having been given a prohibited party whip cannot vote on a matter before the Committee.)

Minutes:

The Committee did not receive any disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member has been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011.

4.

Community Safety Partnership Update pdf icon PDF 1 MB

To receive and consider the report of the Community Safety Partnership Co-ordinator, together with information requested by the Committee at the last meeting.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

Documents Considered:

·                 Report of the Community Safety Partnership Co-ordinator together with information requested by the Committee at the last meeting.

 

The Chair welcomed Inspector Brian Jones (Dyfed Powys Police) to the meeting.

 

Issues Discussed:

·                 The Community Safety Partnership has changed significantly over recent years. It has been over 20 years since the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 created the concept of statutory partnerships and responsible authorities to address community safety issues.

·                 An actions update was circulated to Committee. Cycle Safety Campaign was followed up with a publicity campaign called Operation Edward (each day without a road death) which occurred in September. A seasonal road safety programme is currently being developed by the Road Safety Team.

 

·                 Questions:

With regard to Operation Edward, have been involved in a speed watch locally. We've been trying to get more volunteers trained with four people want to volunteer but its taken 12 months for them to be trained. Is there any feedback on this.

The Portfolio Holder indicated she was having similar issues in her ward. Covid has delayed the training. The CSP Co-ordinator indicated that GoSafe are those leading on community speed watch schemes and will take up the issue of volunteers waiting to be trained.

In relation to community safety and speed watch a driver exceeding the speed limit will get a warning letter from GoSafe but how does this link with the Council and traffic calming measures. It is good that volunteers are checking speeds but what is the outcome and how does it impact on the Council's strategy for speed calming measures.

 

In relation to volunteers as a whole how does the Council assist to support volunteers with other bodies and statutory organisations such as PAVO.

The CSP Co-ordinator agreed to take these issues forward as an action following the meeting.

The report identifies that there has been success in taking those who make money from drugs off the streets. The recognition from the local community is that they are still dealing with the problem and a recent survey of residents resulted in a low score to the question "how safe do you feel in your home". The reason for that is the drug dealing that is going on around their houses.

 

The problem is not going away and there is a need to bring police and local people trying to tackle the issue together more.

 

Inspector Jones suggested that this can be picked up in his report about the proactivity of drug targeting, intelligence gathering and people's safety.

 

 

·                 The report to scrutiny has been amended from the way that the partnership reported previously. It was suggested that a representative could attend scrutiny in future to brief Members on specific topics within the community safety arena.

 

·                 Inspector Brian Jones – Crime and Disorder.

·                 The figures in the report are national statistics to the end of June 2021, updated to provide an additional five months' information to November 2021. There are common themes in national statistics but there are different dynamics  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Performance and Risk - Quarter 2.

5.1

Performance Report - Quarter 2

To receive and consider a report by County Councillor Beverley Baynham, Portfolio Holder for Corporate Governance and Regulatory Services.

 

Please click on the link below to access the performance report:

 

Link to Performance Report - Quarter 2

 

Minutes:

 

Documents Considered:

·                 Report by the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Governance and Regulatory Services – Performance Report – Quarter 2.

 

Issues Discussed:

·                 The Council was in business continuity mode for much of the reporting period which has affected the ability to report performance against the Corporate Improvement Plan. There were 68 objectives in the plan and 37 of those reported in the quarter. Of those 27 were on target and 9 not on target. Of the 133 measures, 71 were reported in the quarter, with 47 on target and 12 not on track, 6 were annual targets, and 6 had no target. Although it was not possible to report against half of the measures and objectives services have continued to deliver against key milestones and Vision 2025 outcomes.

 

·                 Property, Planning and Public Protection:

·                 Three KPIs for the service (i) Percentage of Planning appeals dismissed - 100% for quarter (ii) Percentage of Planning Applications considered within time  - 90% which is on target (iii) Abermule Business Park – on target to construct commercial units by the end of March 2022.

 

In relation to planning appeals there appear to have been no appeals in the quarter. Can you explain the process and is this an area causing concern. How do appeals affect the service.

 

In relation to intensive poultry units, how is this affecting planning approvals.

There were three appeals determined in quarter 2. One related to a poultry unit which was dismissed. The second related to a qualification for a rural enterprise dwelling which was dismissed. The third related to development in a flood zone which was dismissed.

 

In relation to poultry units, if this is regarding phosphates, every development has to show either no impact or a beneficial impact on phosphates. It is causing more scrutiny and raising more issues for the ecologist to consider. Additional ecological capacity is also being secured from the Highways Engineering Team.

 

ACTION – look at this in Working Group looking at phosphates in rivers.

Are there applicants for the business park units at Abermule and when will the units be ready.

The units will be completed by the end of March next year and there is interest being expressed with discussions being undertaken with potential tenants.

With applications that take longer than the specified time, are applicants being made aware why there are delays in the planning process.

Applicants are made aware of delays and an agreement is made with them specifying how long is required to determine the application. The delay is usually to request additional information from the applicant e.g. ecological survey. If this agreement is undertaken by letter then application is deemed to be within time.

 

·                 Housing and Community Development:

 

In relation to the Public Accountability Measures (PAMs) for Homelessness and housing for the second quarter in a row this is poor performance. The report shows limited options to rehouse families due to a constriction on the private sector housing and high demand for one bedroom accommodation. This is not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.1

6.

Strategic Risk Register - Quarter 2 pdf icon PDF 100 KB

To receive and consider the report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

Documents Considered:

·                 Report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance – Strategic Risk Register – Quarter 2

 

Issues Discussed:

·                 None

 

Outcomes:

·                 As there were insufficient Heads of Service and Portfolio Holders present at the meeting the Committee decided to defer consideration of the item.

 

7.

Scrutiny Work Programme

To note that future meetings of the Committee are scheduled as follows:

 

27-01-22

10.00 – 12.00

Q3 Performance and Risk

Covid Recovery Fund Process and other grants

31-01-22

14.00 – 16.00

Draft Budget

28-02-22

10.00 – 12.00

Climate Emergency and WG Carbon Budget

23-06-22

10.00 – 12.00

High Street / Future use of Town Centres

 

Housing Update – Housing management restructure / housing stock / homelessness

25-07-22

14.00 – 16.00

Q1 Performance and Risk

Regulatory responsibilities – Property Planning and Public Protection Service

19-09-22

10.00 – 12.00

Public transport networks

 

31-10-22

10.00 – 12.00

Q2 Performance and Risk

 

12-12-22

10.00 – 12.00

 

 

Minutes:

The Committee noted that future meetings were scheduled as follows:

 

27-01-22

10.00 – 12.00

Q3 Performance and Risk

Covid Recovery Fund Process and other grants

31-01-22

14.00 – 16.00

Draft Budget

28-02-22

10.00 – 12.00

Climate Emergency and WG Carbon Budget

23-06-22

10.00 – 12.00

High Street / Future use of Town Centres

 

Housing Update – Housing management restructure / housing stock / homelessness

25-07-22

14.00 – 16.00

Q1 Performance and Risk

Regulatory responsibilities – Property Planning and Public Protection Service

19-09-22

10.00 – 12.00

Public transport networks

 

31-10-22

10.00 – 12.00

Q2 Performance and Risk

 

12-12-22

10.00 – 12.00